Pre Match: West Ham v Liverpool Sat 2nd January 12:45KO

We travel to Upton Park on Saturday looking for another win to help our top four push.

I'd go with a similar side as against Sunderland:

Mignolet

Clyne
Lovren
Sakho
Moreno

Lucas
Emre Can

Firmino
Coutinho
Lallana

Benteke

Subs: Bogdan; Toure, Smith; Henderson, Milner; Teixeira, Ibe.

Guessing Hendo won't start after coming off injured last night, but hopefully both he and Milner will be fit enough to make the squad at least.

I would like Ibe to start in place of Lallana but he could be important in this game.

Going for a 3-1 win, we are slowly getting some confidence and I think we will start to kick on again now.

Yeah, it's basically the exact same side as we don't have many other options.  Until we get Studge, Origi, and Milner back we really don't have many other options who look like breaking into the starting 11 -- Ibe seems like the only one.  Seems a daft move to have loaned Markovic out now.....

I'm nervous about this one, but hopefully we can get a win and continue to build some momentum.  Come on lads, let's start to assert ourselves and climb the table!!

The starting eleven almost picks itself for this match. Lovren and Sakho have looked a decent pairing recently so the threat from Carroll should be zero

----------------------------Mignolet

Clyne------------Lovren------------Sakho------------Moreno

-------------------Can----------------Lucas

Ibe-----------------------Coutinho---------------------Lallana

----------------------------Firmino

The starting eleven almost picks itself for this match. Lovren and Sakho have looked a decent pairing recently so the threat from Carroll should be zero

----------------------------Mignolet

Clyne------------Lovren------------Sakho------------Moreno

-------------------Can----------------Lucas

Ibe-----------------------Coutinho---------------------Lallana

----------------------------Firmino

As much as I would love to see this, I don't see Benteke being dropped after consecutive match winning goals.

As much as I would love to see this, I don't see Benteke being dropped after consecutive match winning goals.

But surely the overall performance will be considered as well, No?

But surely the overall performance will be considered as well, No?

I'm hoping so, but I just don't see it happening.

I expect the West Ham test to be bigger than that of Sunderland. They'll be aggressive and are quite good going forward (unlike Sunderland). They also have a tactically good coach. We'll be needing lots of luck to win this one especially given the fact that the boys have lesser recovery time. I'll go for a 4-2-3-1 formation of:
              Mignolet
Clyne Lovren Sahko Moreno
          Lucas Allen
    Lallana Firmino Ibe
           Benteke

Sub: Bodgan, Toure, Smith, Sturridge, Coutinho, Henderson, Milner

A defensive minded back six and an attack minded front four (for counter attacking strategy)... Benteke's height needed to contribute defensively during corners.

Hard game for sure. Would like to see someone else come on for Can to be honest. Yes he's young and aggressive, but IMO he doesn't put in enough quality in either attack or defence, plus he gives away needless free kicks. Anyone can do lots of running around, just ATM there isn't any end product from him.

more or less same team, our squad is pretty depleted.

mignolet clyne lovren sakho moreno lucas can lallana coutinho ibe firmino

in a slightly reverted 4-3-3 formation. hopefully we'll see studge on the bench??

Not going in with Benteke against WHam would be madness.  I'm not his biggest fan, but he's scored two consecutive winners, has height to challenge the likes of Carroll and Collins at both ends of the pitch, and his confidence will be high.
I'd bring in Ibe for Coutinho or Firmino.  Looks like Hendo will be out so Allen comes in.  Wish I felt more confident but we have some momentum going into a tricky game like this.  Got some faith in the back line now!

Happy new year everybody, let's hope 2016 is good to us, the boys (and girls) in red.

Happy New Year to all.

Is Sturridge an actual chance to play today? It would give us a great boost.

A bit of payback must be exacted against this mob, and they will scrap for 90 minutes. This will be a great litmus test to see how our recent revival will fare.

Is there anyone fit left?

Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Allen (sorry), Milner/Ibe, Coutinho, Benteke

Running out of players fast at the moment. Hopefully Sturridge will get a few minutes in this game before his next injury. I presume Henderson and Origi will be out?

Need to be ready for another battle in this game, a bit of revenge would be nice so I'm going for us to win 4-0 Benteke 2, Coutinho 2

Happy New Year everyone.


New Year's Day question.... Who scored the last goal for Liverpool in front of the standing Kop?

I see some of you would rather have Firmino up front instead of Benteke, because he better suits our playing style, fair enough, but if I was to put money on either Firmino or Benteke scoring in a game my money is going on Benteke!
 I've seen nothing to suggest that Firmino is suddenly going start being prolific.
This is likely to be a scrappy win if we get it, so I'd play the guy that's most likely to sneak a goal for us.

Well we do look a lot more settled and solid at the back now. Not giving up too many chances to the opposition lately. Mid field need to be more cohesive than they were against sunderland, and get better service to those ahead of them. Then we need to put away our chances. Big Ben still needs to make more aggros runs behind their back line, and more anticipated movement across the pitch in general.
If we could nick this one I'd be delighted. Think it would give the lads much more confidence than the win against Sunderland, which was expected really. Tough game, but if we get the attitude right from the off, I'm hoping for a 2-0 win.

hold the front page Sturridge is fit (well at 10.25 am he is) what a fantastic bonus he would be if he was fit for W.Ham.
Every game now is an important one.We play early so can go above UTD and put pressure on Spurs in 4th who play Everton.
Happy New Year to everyone lets hope its a good one

We have to crowd the midfield and not let the hammers run riot there and we stand a chance of winning. We can expect crosses to come into our box so cutting out the supply to their wingers will be crucial. Will be happy to settle for a 1-0 win.

Will be a tough game, but the first (if I am not mistaken) game where we are facing a team we have played once before this season in the Prem.

Last time we lost 3-0 at home and will be going with a very similar lineup (aside from Milner out and Sakho in). Will be very interesting to see 'how far we have come' this season. Especially as this is away.

West Ham seem to believe this will be an easy win (according to my friend who is a hammer, they always beat us now - not so sure on that one) and are on good form unbeaten in 6.

I predict another scrappy game, would be very surprised if we keep a clean sheet and would bite off anyone's hand who offers me a result where we take 3 points. Thinking a draw for this one, but optimistic we can get all 3 points and give out a bit of a battering. I honestly feel we are due to give out a hiding to someone very soon!

1-2 away win I'm going on this one. Hard battle ahead, but revenge for the reverse at anfield earlier in the season.

Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Allen (sorry), Milner/Ibe, Coutinho, Benteke

Running out of players fast at the moment. Hopefully Sturridge will get a few minutes in this game before his next injury. I presume Henderson and Origi will be out?

Need to be ready for another battle in this game, a bit of revenge would be nice so I'm going for us to win 4-0 Benteke 2, Coutinho 2

Happy New Year everyone.


New Year's Day question.... Who scored the last goal for Liverpool in front of the standing Kop?

Barnes?

Barnes?

Nope. Someone connected to West Ham.

Nope. Someone connected to West Ham.

Was it Dicks?