David Moyes looks set to make three West Ham changes for Liverpool as one of two favourites face the chop. If David Moyes really does want to save his future at West Ham, beating Liverpool and going on to secure a fourth successive European qualification would be a good place to start.
Speculation over the manager’s future with the Hammers has dominated the build-up to West Ham’s clash with Liverpool.
Saturday lunchtime’s Premier League clash with the Reds is a big game for both teams.
For Liverpool a shot at the title is at stake while a European spot is still withing West Ham’s reach if they beat Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Do-or-die clash for West Ham and Liverpool
So much focus has been on new managers for West Ham and Liverpool in the build-up. It’s easy to forget the clubs go into the match off the back of dismal defeats. The Hammers were battered by Crystal Palace 5-2 last Sunday, a performance Moyes labelled ‘atrocious’ and ’embarrassing’.
Liverpool meanwhile lost the Merseyside derby 2-0 to Everton, seriously damaging their title hopes. This could be Moyes’ penultimate home game at the London Stadium should he depart.
So how will he approach the match given what went on at Selhurst Park last weekend?
We predict Moyes makes three West Ham changes for Liverpool as one of two favourites face the chop.
Fans were not impressed by Lukasz Fabianski’s performance at Palace. Number one Alphonse Areola has been back in training for several weeks now following a wrist injury.
We think he will come back into the team from the start against Liverpool in change number one.
Change two will see Konstantinos Mavropanos come back into the starting line-up after injury. Moyes revealed Nayef Aguerd is yet again ruled out but said big Greek defender ‘Dinos’ has a chance of playing.
The Scot rarely makes such statements if a player has no chance of featuring. So we are assuming he will make it to replace Angelo Ogbonna.
Then comes the tough decision for Moyes over who to drop for the returning Jarrod Bowen. James Ward-Prowse has been very hard-working of late. And set pieces have proved a problem for Liverpool recently. So it would be a surprise if he is benched for Bowen.
Big call to be made between Antonio and Soucek
We believe it is between Michail Antonio, who is in good goalscoring form, or Tomas Soucek – both favourites of Moyes.
Antonio rarely has a good game against Liverpool and has admitted Virgil van Dijk is his toughest opponent.
Soucek has been in a difficult spell of form but brings height, graft and defensive discipline to the team.
We think Moyes will be cautious and keep Soucek in, with Antonio dropping out for Bowen in the final change.
It may seem unambitious but it’s somewhat understandable as you have to try and win the midfield battle with Liverpool, or at least suffocate key man Alexis Mac Allister to have a chance.
And of course Ward-Prowse and Soucek are key to West Ham trying to exploit Liverpool at set pieces.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Liverpool:
Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Mavropanos, Emerson, Soucek, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta, Kudus, Bowen.
Pundits Paul Merson and Gabby Agbonlahor have predicted two very different outcomes for the game, which kicks off at 12.30pm.
