Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has two headache vs West Ham
Liverpool boss Klopp heaps praise on West Ham's Moyes ahead of match
Liverpool face West Ham at Anfield today looking to make it 18 games unbeaten across all competitions. The Reds can extend their winning streak to six matches against the Hammers and Jurgen Klopp is expected to switch up his starting line-up from the team that defeated LASK in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Klopp made 11 changes to his starting eleven in Austria with Caoimhin Kelleher, Stefan Bajcetic, Kostas Tsimikas, Harvey Elliott, Ryan Gravenberch and Ben Doak making their first starts of the season. Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners with Gravenberch particularly impressive.
The Dutchman went off with cramp but is expected to be in the squad against West Ham. He is likely to start on the bench, however, with the first-choice trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones poised to face up against the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Lucas Paqueta and Edson Alvarez.
At Wolves last weekend, with Ibrahima Konate unavailable and Virgil van Dijk suspended, Jarell Quansah partnered Joel Matip at centre-half with Joe Gomez at right-back. Though Trent Alexander-Arnold is almost fit again, Gomez is expected to start on the right-hand side once more for this contest.
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The returning Konate and Van Dijk started at LASK and should both feature from the beginning here. Andy Robertson, pivotal to the Molineux turnaround, will come back in at left-back with Alisson resuming his place in goal.
But in attack come Jurgen Klopp’s two dilemmas. Luis Diaz played 90 minutes in midweek off the back of a 45-minute cameo at Wolves. He was only benched at Wolves due to his international exertions.
However, that Diogo Jota did not get a minute in the Europa League may suggest the Portuguese will start at left wing this afternoon. He was quiet against his former club in the last Premier League match and may feel he has a point to prove.
Mohamed Salah, with three goals and four assists in six outings this season, will start on the right. Through the middle, Cody Gakpo scored with his last touch at Wolves but was otherwise underwhelming in the Midlands.
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While Nunez played the full 90 in Europe, the Uruguayan has been a livewire in recent outings. He was heavily involved in wins over LASK, Wolves, Aston Villa and Newcastle and Klopp may decide to start him over the more technical Dutch striker to open up gaps in a West Ham defence that will look to frustrate the hosts.
That XI – Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Jota – would then still have Diaz, Gakpo, Gravenberch and Elliott as attack-minded options in reserve. Endo, Bajcetic, Matip and potentially Alexander-Arnold will help complete the bench too.
Liverpool be wary of a West Ham side who have swept aside Brighton and Chelsea in recent weeks. Though David Moyes’ team lost to Manchester City last Saturday, they put up a stern fight and carry significant set-piece threat, particularly with Ward-Prowse now in the squad.
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