West Ham v Liverpool - Prematch

[dunlop liddell shankly]

Xabi Doubt For Hammers Trip

Xabi Alonso is a doubt for Saturday's trip to West Ham - though both Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres should be fit.

Alonso left the field on a stretcher last weekend following a high challenge from Newcastle's Joey Barton.
 
The Spaniard was followed into the treatment room by Mascherano, who was substituted with a twisted ankle.
 
"Xabi is the main doubt for the weekend," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv. "He has been working and hopefully he will be better in a few days. He is improving but we have to wait.
 
"We'll have to check him for the weekend because it is more serious than Mascherano's injury."
 
Fernando Torres is in line for a return at Upton Park after missing Sunday's 3-0 win with a hamstring problem.
 
"He is training with the physios and maybe tomorrow he will start training with the rest of the team," added Benitez. "I think he will make the weekend."
 
Meanwhile, Torres is likely to travel with Spain to the Confederations Cup in South Africa next month, but Benitez is hopeful his star striker will have plenty of recuperation time during the summer.
 
He said: "We have to work together with the fitness coaches and also the doctors of Spain during the summer and hopefully it will be okay for him."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N164277090506-1148.htm

[chats]

Bit of a blow to have Xabi out, but hopefully he'll make a speedy recovery and he can always rest against West Brom if needs must.

Toughest fixture left in my view.

[KidBlink56]

Bummer about Xabi, I expect we'll do alright though. It'll be good to see Torres back out there especially with Gerrard. I think we'll get all 3 points.

[KidBlink56]

Bit of a blow to have Xabi out, but hopefully he'll make a speedy recovery and he can always rest against West Brom if needs must.

Toughest fixture left in my view.

Nah, Tottenham is, We'll get past West Ham.

[Bpatel]

Gutted about Xabi. It Must be so devastating for him to be injured at such a crucial stage in the season. Hope he's back soon.

Going to be a tough match, not expecting a big scoreline but we will win.

[chats]

Nah, Tottenham is, We'll get past West Ham.

God to agree to disagree there.

In my view this is a pretty tricky game, Zola seems to have got a good West Ham team together and going to Upton Park is always tricky.

We'll win but it will be a hard fought win in my view.

[Adryan]

His face last weekend showed that he's really disappointed he got that injury. Gutted that one of our best performers have to sit out thanks to Joey Barton.

Still, no reason to not win although Upton Park is a difficult place.

[samylfc]

Sahme about Xabi, especially under the circumstances he got injured! but let's not even mention the name of the thug who did that to Xabi.

As long as he recover for the other remaining fixtures I'll be happy, we proved that we can perform even with key players out, and I have no doubt that we will prove it again. The game against west ham will be tricky, a 1-0 victory would do lovely, at least we can expect them to go for it and give us space in their back four, and with Torres back we could be on for a treat..

[catflap13]

No surprise about Xabi but we have enough form players to win this, especially with Stevie and Nando back

[Brian78]

This is a huge game. No argument.

Win go top with the manc derby on Sunday to put pressure on utd. Draw or lose and thats that. Geting butterflies writing that and that proves how massive it is on Saturday evening.

If Xabi aint 100 per cent dont play him, drop Stevie back to midfield with Yossi off Nando. West Ham arent a bad side but we have them in every area of the pitch for quality and Im sure our lads hunger and desire will see us get the 3 points

[ayrton77]

Very much looking forward to this match.

Obviously I look forward to watching all our games, but as the season is drawing to a close, the pressure mounts and we're still in with an outside chance of nicking the the title, I can't help but savour the anticipation of each game.

As Brian has said, clearly the win is crucial, though I don't think the margin of victory is important. To have a chance of winning the league we need United to draw a few or lose a couple, either of which will obviously leave us well ahead on GD if we keep winning.

Just need the players to keep calm, play the way they know best, and stick the f**king ball in the net whenever we can!

[pool4life]

Here's a Stat for you, heard it on MOTD. Last 3-0 victory against N. castle made it the first time since 1979 we have scored 3 goals in 5 straight games. We are going places, we all expect that poor game to come but I don't think it will happen, this is a totally different liverpool than anybody 30 or younger knows. For example we had a poor game against Hull but guess what 3-1 will do. The only struggles we have had was a few defensive lapses against chelsea and Arsenal. I think we win this game 2-0 or 3-1.

[Brian78]

Just need the players to keep calm, play the way they know best

Ayrton you dont know how right you are. That is vital

Damn this thread im buzzing like the game was in an hour

[ayrton77]

Ayrton you dont know how right you are. That is vital

We've seen them trying to force things from the whistle in the past and it doesn't really work. The passes are forced and often go astray, then frustration can settle in and panic, even when there's loads of time left on the clock.

I hope Xabi will be fit, because there's no-one better in the current side at putting his foot on the ball and picking out the right pass. I don't mean this in a bad way, but if Liverpool were an engine, Xabi would be the grease that keeps everything running smoothly.

When he's in the side he sweeps the ball from right to left, and back again if needs be. He can misplace a pass like anyone else, but he rarely makes the wrong choice of pass, if you follow me.

[Magillionare]

I trust Lucas to play there with Mash so I do, even though it's not his position he has been very solid as of late and I think he'll do a fine job. The other option is of course, Aurelio playing there as he done really well before...Plessis may even step in

[Ross]

                Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Agger Insua
Kuyt Gerrard Mascherano Riera
             Benayoun
               Torres
             

[thedagger]

This squad´s very good but I think that Nando wont´ be able to play, maybe Xabi too. I suppose that Babel´ll play because he hasn´t played fot long time from 1st minute.

[northennutta]

gutted for Alonso, would like to see a 4-4-2 with masch and Gerrard in the middle, riera left Benny right and kuyt and torres both up front. with the ability for the wingers to cut in and the forwards to go wide.

not that Lucas has been playing that bad recently would just prefer to have Benny in than Lucas.

[nnilswerdna]

We need to score BIG in this match, 3, 4 nill.  The mancs are 3 behind at present but they can catch that up in one match.

Im praying Manure can slip up

[Babel-Torres-Gerrard]

I reckon our line-up should be:

Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Mascherano, Benayoun, Riera, Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt.

a 4-1-3-2 as shown below:

------------------------Reina------------------------

-----Arbeloa-----Carragher-----Agger-----Aurelio-----

---------------------Mascherano--------------------

---Benayoun----------Gerrard----------Alberto Riera---

-------------------Torres-----Kuyt-------------------

[Dmasta]

Shame about Xabi but I'm confident lucas can come in and do a good job. This wont be as easy as the newcastle game (so I wont be predicting 12-0 this time ) but If we play like we did last time out we should still win comfortably 2-0 I reckon.

[john jones]

1-3 Liverpools new goal poacher (kuyt)to get 2 and set torres up for the 3rd

[JD]

Who needs crossbar bouncing Alonso when we've got 'one chance one goal' Leiva?

Seriously though I expect Alonso to be fit, fit enough for the bench at least.  Hope Mascherano has a good game against his old club. 

In any case, we owe West Ham one.

[dunlop liddell shankly]

West Ham are a good little team, still fighting for that 7th place. Zola has them playing good football and hard to break down, especially at home so this is no easy game for the Reds. But as we've proven this year, our away form is exceptional (forget White Hart Lane and The Riverside) so I have huge expectations for the weekend.

Even if our squad is slightly dented with injuries I think we'll have enough for the Hammers. A welcomed return for our number 9 can be made even better with a few goals against my name sake.

Three points are a must and I don't really care how we get them. If it comes from a debatable penalty or offside decision then so be it, at this stage of the season all points in any shape or form are welcomed. No more slip ups lads.

[red trooper]

This has to be a 3 pointer ! although west ham are a useful side I feel they don't have a lot to gain by throwing everything at us ,let's face it they have had some decent results and in the top half of the prem league ,we on the other hand have to score to get a sniff at the title and also to put the sh**s up  whisky nose , with nando,stevie,dirk, I cannot see us not scoring twice at least ! score early and then shut the doors would be best ,cannot see anyone getting past agger /skerts/carra/ and the best goalie in the prem pepe

[Singh_YNWA]

They are all tough now, no one is easier than other. If West Brom are not down by the time we play them, it could also be tricky. We should win all of our remaining games if we play on form.

------------------------Reina------------------------

---Arbeloa-----Carra-----Agger-----Aurelio-----

---------------------Mascherano--------------------

---Benayoun----------Lucas-------------Gerrard

-------------------Kuyt-----Torres-------------------

[dunlop liddell shankly]

^^^^

If that's the XI who play mate, it's more likely to have Benayoun and Gerrard on the opposite flanks. Stevie right, Yossi left.

[Singh_YNWA]

^^^^

If that's the XI who play mate, it's more likely to have Benayoun and Gerrard on the opposite flanks. Stevie right, Yossi left.

Maybe. Been seeing Gerrard playing on the left side more than the right. Benny is more useful on right on his natural side. None of our left side midfielders are on form so I would have Stevie there with support of Aurelio.

[flafson]

Stevie and Yossi can play everywhere, doesn't really matter, they switch sides at will anyway...

[Billy1]

 As with all games at this time of the season 3 points is the critical factor and it does not matter how we get them.I think RAFA will play Lucas in place of Alonso and it looks like Torres and Mascherano will be allright to play.Go for a win that will really put the pressure on Manure,I will go for a 3-1 to us.