WEST HAM take on champions Liverpool this afternoon as they chase a fifth-straight Premier League victory.
- Kick-off time: 4.30pm GMT
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Main Event/NOW TV
- West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Bowen, Benrahma, Antonio.
- Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Henderson, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Thiago, Shaqiri, Salah, Origi.
Follow ALL the build-up and action with our live blog below…
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PRE-MATCH CHAT
Jurgen Klopp and David Moyes exchange a word or two before kick off.
Credit: Reuters
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WARMING UP
The warm-ups are underway at the London Stadium ahead of this afternoon’s clash between fourth and fifth in the league.
Kick off is less than half an hour away!
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MANE’S IMPACT
Since Mane joined Liverpool, their Premier League win percentage without him is 58 percent, compared to 69 percent with him.
The only Premier League game he has missed this season was the 7-2 defeat to Villa.
MORE GOALS FOR MO?
Since the 2017/18 season, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored in six of his seven Premier League games against West Ham, netting seven goals.
Will he end his six game goal drought in the league today in East London?
Credit: EPA
SUPER SOUCEK
Tomas Soucek’s seven Premier League goals have been worth 10 points to West Ham so far this season.
The last player whose goals earned the Hammers more points in a single Premier League campaign was Dean Ashton in 2007-08 (11).
Soucek netted twice for the Hammers in Tuesday’s win over Crystal Palace, and will be hoping to get on the scoresheet again tonight.
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NO JESSE
Jesse Lingard completed a loan move to West Ham from Manchester United on Friday.
Today’s game comes too early for Lingard to feature though, with Wednesday’s game against Aston Villa likely to be Lingard’s first involvement for the Hammers.
Speaking on his move to East London, Lingard said:
“I’m excited. It’s another new chapter in my life. Nothing is guaranteed but I’ve come here to work hard and help the team and bring my experience. That’s the main aim.
“I just want to enjoy my football and get back playing again and get my feet back on the pitch.”
ONE GOAL KINGS
West Ham’s first two Premier League wins this season were 4-0 against Wolves and 3-0 against Leicester.
Since then, the Hammers have won eight more league games, with each of these victories being by a one-goal margin.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
It’s a milestone day for Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson.
He becomes the fourth highest capped Premier League player in Liverpool’s history.
MISSING MANE
A minor muscle strain is the reason for Sadio Mane’s absence today.
Divock Origi leads the line for the Reds with Roberto Firmino also dropping to the bench.
Xherdan Shaqiri and Mohamed Salah make up the rest of Liverpool’s front three.
LIVERPOOL BENCH
13 Adrian, 62 Kelleher, 9 Firmino, 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain, 17 Jones, 18 Minamino, 21 Tsimikas, 46 R. Williams, 76 N. Williams
WEST HAM BENCH
25 Martin, 24 Fredericks, 23 Diop, 41 Johnson, 4 Balbuena, 16 Noble, 10 Lanzini, 7 Yarmolenko, 45 Odubeko
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI
Sadio Mane misses out for the Reds after picking up a knock meaning Divock Origi starts.
Nat Phillips partners Jordan Henderson at the back.
1 Alisson, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 47 Phillips, 14 Henderson, 26 Robertson, 5 Wijnaldum, 7 Milner, 6 Thiago, 23 Shaqiri, 10 Salah, 27 Origi
WEST HAM STARTING XI
Here’s how the Hammers line-up this afternoon:
1 Fabianski, 5 Coufal, 15 Dawson, 21 Ogbonna, 3 Cresswell, 41 Rice, 28 Soucek, 18 Fornals, 20 Bowen, 9 Benrahma, 30 Antonio
GOLDEN BOOT RACE
Mohamed Salah has not found the net in the Premier League since the 7-0 rout of Crystal Palace on December 19.
He still leads the race for the golden boot, but will want to get back among the goals this afternoon.
LAST TIME OUT
It’s just over a year to the day since these sides last met at the London Stadium.
Mohamed Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were on the scoresheet for the Reds that day.
IN FORM HAMMERS
West Ham have won each of their last six games in all competitions.
Only twice in their history have they won seven in a row, doing so between November/December 1985 and January/February 2006.
David Moyes will be hoping his West Ham side can be the third to achieve such a feat this afternoon.
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OUTSIDE THE GROUND
Some local residents getting in their daily exercise outside the London Stadium.
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IN THE BUILDING
The home side arriving at the London Stadium ahead of this afternoon’s clash with Liverpool.
David Moyes’ Hammers are looking to pick a fifth league win on the bounce.
AS IT STANDS
The Hammers can go above Liverpool and into the top four with a win this afternoon, while Liverpool can close the gap on leaders Manchester City to four points with a victory.
It should be an absolute belter.
Team news is coming up in twenty-five minutes.
BOGEY TEAM
West Ham United are winless in nine Premier League matches against Liverpool (D2 L7).
It’s their worst run against them since going ten games without a win between September 2000 and January 2007.
Can David Moyes’ side end that winless run this afternoon?
BACK IN TOWN
The Reds are back in the capital after Thursday night’s win at Tottenham.
That was only the second win in nine league games for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who today face the highest placed team in London.
GOOD AFTERNOON
Welcome to our live coverage of West Ham United against Liverpool.
It’s fourth against fifth in the Premier League, with the Hammers two points behind last year’s champions at the start of play.
David Moyes’ side have won three games on the bounce and will be looking to capitalise on an injury ravaged Liverpool side.
Fabinho and Joel Matip have picked up recent knocks to add to Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez being long term absentees.
Nat Phillips or Rhys Williams are set to partner Jordan Henderson in a hastily assembled back line.
Having ended a run of 482 minutes in the league without a goal in Thursday night’s 3-1 win over Tottenham, Jurgen Klopp’s side are looking to pick up back-to-back league wins for the first time since October.
West Ham though will be full of confidence coming into the game, having won all six games so far in 2021.
The Hammers have never won six successive games at the start of a calendar year in their entire history.
Jesse Lingard could make his debut for the Hammers after signing on loan from Manchester United earlier this week, while Arthur Masuaku and Darren Randolph remain out for David Moyes.
Kick off is at 4.30pm and team news will follow shortly.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
