Sunday 11 December 2016

Angry Liver Birds Ready for the Plucking...


"When reason ends, anger begins" - perhaps something Jurgen Klopp might want to consider ahead of today's tussle with West Ham where he has promised to send out an 'angry' Liverpool team. And therein lies the key to West Ham taking something from their visit to Anfield.

After a week of hands-on coaching for their brittle defence, the Hammers need to keep it tight and frustrate the temperamental Reds. Last season the Hammers pulled off a stunning 3-0 victory - their first at Anfield in over 50 years. That performance was based upon keeping it tight and then punishing Liverpool as they became increasingly frustrated and overcommitted offensively. A similar philosophy can do the trick today and lift the Hammers out of the bottom three.

Interestingly, instead of his preferred 4-2-3-1, Slaven Bilic matched Liverpool's 4-3-3, but produced a masterclass in counterattacking after taking a 3rd minute lead which forced Liverpool to push up - with disastrous results for them. A committed and disciplined back four was protected superbly by Obiang, Kouyate and Noble, allowing Dimitri Payet and Lanzini the freedom to catch Liverpool on the counter.

For once, Bilic has decent choices up front with both Ashley Fletcher and Andy Carroll available. Michail Antonio has been our biggest attacking threat this season and the good news is that he is fit to return. Bournemouth provided the Hammers with a decent insight into Liverpool's defensive frailties but the key will be to keep it tight at the back - something we have struggled with so far this season.

Many Hammers fans have forgotten that with 15 minutes to go last week we were very much still in the game and looked most likely to score until Arsenal belted us with a series of excellent strikes. We will need better luck today and a big performance from our defensive midfielders. Big Andy will likely enter for the final quarter - let's hope we are still in the game and provide a platform for him to stick it to his ex-employers!

COYI!!!

Predicted starting XI: Randolph, Reid, Ogbonna, Collins, Cresswell, Antonio, Kouyate, Noble, Obiang, Payet, Lanzini, Fletcher. 

4 comments:

  1. 4-0 to the Pool. That will silence you cockney loudmouths.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oops! Kouyate out. Presumably Fernandes in.

    ReplyDelete
  3. No chance of winning need new manager and new captain ASAP don't keep living in cookoo land surported w ham 50 years now so obvious what's needed got to happen soon before its to late

    ReplyDelete
  4. We'll soon see if the writer soon eats his words or not. Matip makes a big difference in our defense and he's back today.

    ReplyDelete

Feel free to comment - bad language is strictly forbidden and please refrain from any nasty 'isms'