West Ham United head to Liverpool for their Premier League fixture this weekend. The Hammers are in strong form, having gone unbeaten in their last three league games, closing the gap to safety to just two points.
Liverpool did Nuno Espirito Santo’s side a favour last week, by beating their relegation rivals, Nottingham Forest, 1-0. The Reds sit three points outside of the Champions League places and will expect to beat West Ham, despite the Irons recent form.
Here’s who we think will start today’s game.
Mads Hermasen (GK)
The shot stopper has played the last three Premier League games and is key cog in West Ham’s strong defensive core.
Mailck Diouf (LB)
Malick Diouf has had a quiet few games but remains the club’s best option on the left-hand side of defence.
Axel Disasi (CB)
Slowly becoming one of he Hammer’s best defender, Axel Disasi keeps his place as West Ham continue to be strong defensively.
Konsantinos Mavropanos (CB)
Disasi’s partner in the back line and arguably the Irons best player through the defensive from. There’s no dropping Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has had some good performances at Anfield before. The hard-tackling full-back will need to be at his best to stop the on-coming Liverpool wide attack.
Soungoutou Magassa (CDM)
Soungoutou Magassa came in for the suspended Freddie Potts against AFC Bournemouth last week. The performance wasn’t spectacular but did the job and helped Mateus Fernandes to continue pulling the strings on the other side of midfield.
Mateus Fernandes (CDM)
Relishing in his new role, Mateus Fernandes is un-droppable at the moment. There will be a key factor in counter-attacks in this game, and Fernandes will be the man to connect all the dots, making those attacks happen.
Crysencio Summerville (LW)
The Dutch winger has been in the best form of his Premier League career over the last month and a half. Crysencio Summerville has a decent record of scoring at Anfield, and the West Ham may need him to do so again.
Tomas Soucek (CAM)
Fresh off his birthday, Tomas Soucek stays in the line-up in the attacking midfield role. Likely to drop back in transition, the big man offers physicality in the middle and aerial attack from set pieces, which could be so important in this game.
Jarrod Bowen (RW)
The captain keeps his place in the starting XI despite some indifferent showings. Jarrod Bowen will need to find his shooting boots soon if he wants his place to be guaranteed.
Valentin Castellanos (ST)
The Argentinian did not get the best service last week, but did manage a couple of efforts on goal. Valentin Castellanos won’t get anymore service this week, but when the ball does come, he has to take his chances.
Hermansen (GK); Diouf; Disasi; Mavropanos; Wan-Bissaka; Magassa; Fernandes; Summerville; Soucek; Bowen; Castellanos
