Liverpool entertain West Ham United tonight knowing they need just five more wins to secure a first league title in 30 years. The Reds will be looking to respond from their Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid without captain Jordan Henderson while West Ham are seeking a first league win since New Year’s Day.
Liverpool Entertain West Ham
Captain Jordan Henderson Misses Out Through Injury
Jurgen Klopp is targeting another win this evening as Liverpool edge closer towards the Premier League title. The Reds need just five more wins to secure their first league title in the Premier League era. Victory against West Ham will take them another step closer. In addition to this, should Liverpool secure another win, they will equal Manchester City’s record of 18 consecutive Premier League wins.
However, Liverpool will be without influential captain Jordan Henderson who is ruled out with a hamstring injury and joins Xhedran Shaqiri on the injury list. Klopp must decide who fills the void in midfield with Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita the likely candidates to fill the role.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is arguably playing his best football in Liverpool colours. He certainly could drop back into central midfield with Liverpool’s front three fully fit and raring to go. Klopp could turn to the experienced figure of James Milner who gives 100% to the course week in, week out and certainly would solidify their midfield. Naby Keita could also be given the chance to impress. The Guinean international has shown in glimpses how good he is but has lacked consistency during his time at Anfield. A tough conundrum for Jurgen Klopp but he has faith in all his players, so he won’t be too concerned about the loss of Henderson.
The signs certainly point to a Liverpool victory with the Reds unbeaten in their last seven league meetings with the East London side. The Hammers have a rotten record at Anfield winning just three league games in 57 visits.
Opponents West Ham Are In Rotten Form
Liverpool welcome a West Ham side struggling to find wins and form at the moment. The Hammers are winless in six league games collecting just two points in that run. David Moyes hasn’t had the desired impact; that tremendous win over Bournemouth in his returning game appears a distant memory for the Hammers.
Moyes will have to do without Ryan Fredericks, Andriy Yarmolenko and Jack Wilshere who are all ruled out with injury. Pablo Zabaleta will fill the void at right-back; Moyes is likely to stick with the 5-4-1 set up used in their last league game against Manchester City.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Naby Keita, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Salah
West Ham XI: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Ngakia, Rice, Felipe Anderson, Snodgrass, Mark Noble, Soucek, Antonio.
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