« on: November 7, 2021, 03:34:21 pm »
MATCH PREVIEW – West Ham Utd vs Liverpool
Date: Sunday 7 November 2021
Kick Off/TV 4.30pm, Sky Sports
Officials
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Lee Betts, Adam Nunn
Fourth Official: Andre Marriner
VAR Official: Stuart Attwell
Assistant VAR Official: Constantine Hatzidakis
Premier League Form Guide
Liverpool - WDDWWD
West Ham - LWLWWW
Recent Meetings
31/01/2021 – West Ham 1-3 Liverpool
31/10/2020 - Liverpool 2-1 West Ham
24/02/2020 – Liverpool 3-2 West Ham
29/01/2020 - West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
Some History
I chose this write-up as West Ham played a part in my earliest memories of football. Growing up in Southend-on-Sea, West Ham were the closest big team with significant support, as former Eastenders traded up after the war and spread out along the Essex estuary. The first Cup final I remember was 1980, West Ham v Arsenal, and our street was mostly decked in claret and blue. The West Ham team at that time, while not as illustrious as the 1960s sides, had a number of class footballers. Phil Parkes, Billy Bonds, Alan Devonshire, Geoff Pike and of course MOTD’s finest, Trevor Brooking. West Ham won 1-0 with a stooping Brooking header but the game is best remembered for the most cynical professional foul I’ve ever seen which makes this past weekend’s red cards seem trifling by comparison. Youtube “Willie Young and Paul Allen” if you haven’t seen it.
Liverpool met West Ham in two finals in that period. The Charity Shield in 1980 and the League (Milk) Cup Final in 1981. Liverpool won both but needed a replay to win the League Cup after a dramatic first tie saw a late Alan Kennedy goal in extra time cancelled out by a Ray Stewart equaliser in the 120th minute. In more recent years there was of course the 2006 FA Cup Final and the Gerrard goal followed by a diabolical penalty shoot-out, with Liverpool taking the trophy home that day.
West Ham have also had a habit of tripping up that lot down the East Lancs Road in title run-ins. In a period when we were miles away from competing for titles, what little pleasure we had was gleaned from Man Utd being denied. An already relegated West Ham side defeated Man Utd 1-0 to hand the title to Leeds in 1992 - the final year before the League became the Premier League - and a fighting 1-1 draw with Man Utd on the final day in 1995 helped Kenny’s Blackburn team win the title despite losing at a mentally conflicted Anfield.
Match Preview
On to the present season and West Ham have continued their tradition of trying to play football rather than resorting to the nihilistic bus-parking tactics of many mid and lower table teams. They currently sit 4th in the table and have a durable back line, a teak tough midfield base in Rice and Soucek, a creative midfield sparked by Benrahma, Fornals and Bowen and a striker who seems to enjoy playing the game in Michail Antonio. Playing at home, the Hammers are likely to try to take the game to us and we will hopefully have ironed out (pardon the pun) the weaknesses in our structure apparent in this weekend’s 2-2 draw with Brighton. West Ham can both play the ball through midfield or go long to Antonio so we’ll need to be on our mettle to win.
There has been much hand-wringing in the past few days over the surrender of a 2 goal lead against Brighton and the earlier draw against Brentford. We should however remember that Jurgen and the boys have an uncanny habit of reacting to disappointing results by going on a run of wins and the performance against Atletico was just what the doctor ordered in terms of settling nerves with the return of Fabinho instantly making us much harder to break down. No one wants to go into an international break having to digest a loss or a draw so I expect to see a sharp performance from the boys on Sunday.
Possible Line-up
This is a must-win game (inasmuch as any league game is) and with an international break to follow, we surely go strong. Assuming no late injury news, we may see Konate ahead of Matip so as not to overwork Joel and also because Ibou is better equipped to wrestle Antonio. Otherwise the back 4 picks itself. Fab and Hendo start if fit and it’s between Thiago, Ox and Curtis depending on fitness. A shout-out to Ox who had a nice game I thought against Atletico. Front 3, Jota starts with Bobby now out with a hamstring issue.
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Jones, Mane, Jota, Salah.
I’ll say 2-1 to the Reds and 3 points.
« Last Edit: November 7, 2021, 06:17:31 pm by TepidT2O »
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“Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
“Generosity always pays off. Generosity in your effort, in your work, in your kindness, in the way you look after people and take care of people. In the long run, if you are generous with a heart, and with humanity, it always pays off.”
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