Liverpool FC Forum

The games are coming thick and fast now (we have Leicester away on tuesday in the EPL too)

West Ham have been something of a bogey team for us in recent seasons, they have a very strong team and always seem to get one over on us

Even though we are through to the final of the League Cup, this FA Cup run is equally important seeing as top 4 is pretty much off the table for us now

The performance against Stoke wasn't great, neither was our defensive performance against Norwich last saturday

We need to seriously step up our performance levels for this match or we will once again be pushed aside by the hammers

Lovren is fit and training so i would be keen to re partner him with Sakho at the centre of the defence, they were doing well before injury, i would also consider a change at left back, Moreno is starting to become a liability at times and will be exposed by the hammers if he's not on his game, i am thinking perhaps Brad Smith as 2 games in a week may be too much for Flanno

If Clyne is still injured then Flanno may have to cover right back regardless

The usual conundrum is as always, does Benteke start up front or do we continue with Firmino AND should Joe Allen be starting in central midfield and if so who do we take out of the team ?

We owe the hammers for a few defeats and this would be the time to do it, but don't underestimate them, they are a very strong side

Let's take the game to them, win it and get to the next round 

Won't be easy but being at HOME should help 

devaney » Thu Jan 28, 2016 8:39 am wrote:Won't be easy but being at HOME should help 

Would be nice to see the crowd the same way they were against Stoke City, that was a great atmosphere and can be our 12th man, especially with us being at  at home 

sturridge and Coutinho might be back for this one;...

We needs some attacking flair for this one and i hope the above post is true.

I think this will be a scrappy 1-0 win either side.

Hope Smith, Brannagan, Tex and Ojo start the game. They deserve it as the standouts from the two Exeter games.

According to printed transcript of press conference... Allen, Benteke, Ibe, Smith, Lovren & Caulker set to start against West Ham.

I hope we don't take these too lightly, they are a big, strong, powerful side with quite a bit of flair too, Payet in particular is on fire atm. They have already beaten our first XI twice this season and if we put out a second string side they will kick our @rse again.

7_Kewell » Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:09 am wrote:sturridge and Coutinho might be back for this one;...

I'd only give Sturridge 5 mins on the pitch if Klopp decided to throw him in. Should be enough to score the winner then sub him off and back to the Corporate box, in the bubble wrap body suit in time for the lobster salad lunch.

See him again in 3 months.

150k a week well spent 

Apparently West Ham might make one or two changes themselves so it mightn't be the end of the world if we mix it up and give some of the younger lads a chance. We have got a huge game away at Leicester on Tuesday which is probably coming into Jurgen's thinking as well.

We looked lethargic in the semi final against Stoke so I don’t think we have much option but to change things up. Some players like are starting to look real leggy and others like Sakho and Henderson are trying to manage ongoing injuries. Our first team have already lost twice against West Ham so why not put out a fresh and highly motivated 11. Wouldn’t include Flanagan at all after he played 100+ mins midweek.

                       Mignolet

Randall     Caulker     Ilori     Smith

                          Allen
            Teixeira          Brannagan

                   Ojo          Ibe
                       Benteke

Official team to face the hammers....

Mignolet, Clyne, Caulker, Lovren, Smith, Brannagan, Stewart, Allen, Ibe, Teixeira, Benteke.

Subs...

Ward, Enrique, Ilori, Chirivella, Sinclair, Ojo, Randall

Joe Allen is captain

and it's snowing at Anfield

Tough match up with all the youngsters...West ham are way too physical.