Liverpool Match Preview
Recently, West Ham United have struggled to win a Premier League game immediately after a European night as last weekend’s demoralising defeat at Crystal Palace showed. After a free week, the Hammers will be hoping to get back on track here when Jürgen Klopp brings his Liverpool squad to Stratford for today’s early kick-off.
The hosts have only won one match in April; a 2-1 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers and whilst they know it will be tough here, they will still be keen to notch up their first top-flight home success since 26 February.
This will be the third time that the Irons have come up against Klopp’s men this season and although they are yet to come out on top, it has to be remembered that both Chelsea and Manchester United have both left here with nothing this season. It won’t also be forgotten that they knocked Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup back in November too!!!
The home side will definitely be the fresher of the two sides after having five days to erase the memories of the result and performance at Selhurst Park from their systems and prepare for this game, whereas the Reds will want to bounce back after the 2-0 defeat against Merseyside rivals Everton in midweek.
Konstantinos Mavropanos will face a late fitness test, while David Moyes revealed in his pre-match news conference on Friday that Nayef Aguerd won’t be involved, as the Moroccan defender hasn’t yet recovered from the ankle injury he picked up nine days ago. Ben Johnson could also replace Angelo Ogbonna in the starting line-up.
Jarrod Bowen played in the second-leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie against Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen as he was given an injection, but then was left out of the clash with the Eagles three days later. Moyes is hoping that he will be available.
Alphonse Areola was back on the bench last weekend and he could replace Łukasz Fabiański in goal.
The match is a 12:30pm kick-off and live coverage will be screened by TNT Sports with the broadcast scheduled to begin at 11am. The referee is Anthony Taylor.