Ahead of West Ham’s crucial early season game at Liverpool this weekend, we spoke to Ben Smith from Read Liverpool. He gives us his insight into the Liverpool dressing room, and what we can potentially expect on the day.
1) Although we are only three games into the current season, Liverpool are yet to concede a goal in the top flight. Do you expect this defensive masterclass to continue?
I see no reason why it shouldn’t – particularly as West Ham don’t seem to have any fit strikers for Saturday! We have been really impressive at the back. Brendan Rodgers’ decision to go with Dejan Lovren rather than Mamadou Sakho has been vindicated and the signings of Nathaniel Clyne and Joe Gomez appear to be master-strokes. James Milner also offers plenty from a defensive perspective so I’m confident we can stop the Hammers creating too much. And if we do manage to get ourselves into the international break having not conceded a goal, that stands us in great stead going into the next phase of the campaign.
2) Having only won by a slender controversial goal in the opening home fixture at home to AFC Bournemouth, do you expect additional pressures from the officials? For example, perhaps decisions not being as lenient as they usually would be?
I don’t think so. Officials should always be balanced regardless of how previous decisions have gone for a particular side. We have been fortunate enough to benefit from two iffy offside decisions in the last two games, but hopefully the quality of the football will dominate the headlines in Sunday morning’s papers – rather than the officials.
3) The Monday night game at the Emirates was perhaps one your side were unlucky to win. Will Brendan Rodgers’ players be fired up even more than usual, or will they possess nerves aplenty?
There’s no reason to be nervous, really. They certainly won’t underestimate West Ham – after all they did win at the Emirates this month – but Liverpool will be brimming with confidence at the moment. All minds will be focused on the task in hand, and everybody at the club will know that 10 points from a possible 12 would be a superb return from the first four games.
4) With the Reds only scoring two goals thus far, can we expect to see various changes to the Liverpool line-up, with perhaps the likes of Danny Ings et al?
It will be interesting how we line up on Saturday. At home against teams that aren’t direct rivals, we shouldn’t really be starting with both Lucas Leiva and Emre Can. I’d be wanting to give Lucas as many games as possible during the first half of the season because we will need him a) to stay at the club, and b) to be match-sharp for the tough away fixtures we have got coming up. So I would sacrifice Can – who played well at Arsenal – for this fixture, and move Philippe Coutinho back into midfield. That leaves a space available in the front three; and with young Jordon Ibe struggling to kick into gear and Adam Lallana injured, it’s as good a time as any to give Danny Ings his debut. His inclusion would also give us the option of changing to a diamond if necessary, with Roberto Firmino at the tip. It’s just good to have options for a change!
5) Which individual poses the strongest threat to the West Ham defence?
Coutinho. It really hasn’t taken him long to get going this season. You’d have thought he may have spent these first four fixtures easing his way back into fitness after a hectic summer but he’s as majestic as ever right now. His stunning winner at Stoke, his encouraging link-up play with Benteke against Bournemouth, and his faultless display on Monday had all of our jaws dropping. He spells danger for the Hammers.
6) This fixture saw a comfortable 2-0 win for the Anfield outfit last season, where Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling both found the net. Does the absence of both of these attacking players worry you at all?
It does a bit, but Benteke is fully capable of finding the net himself – and I fancy him to do so. If Ings (should he play) and Firmino can get close to him and make runs in behind, there’s plenty of pace and energy there to cause problems. In truth, though, I’d take another scrappy 1-0. The goals should begin to really flow when Sturridge returns after England play whoever it is they’re playing.
