Barclays Premier League: Liverpool vs West Ham United Match Preview
Anfield
Liverpool host West Ham looking to build on their impressive home form, while West Ham have been poor visitors of late. A battle of completely contrasting styles await at Anfield as two teams look to edge closer to their season's aspirations.
Liverpool
Probable Line ups:
Reina, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson, Enrique, Gerrard, Lucas, Coutinho, Sturridge, Suarez, DowningForm:
(LWWWLW)Home form sees Liverpool winning 5 out of their last 6 games, which just a single blip against West Brom, and dispatching Norwich, Fulham, Swansea, Sunderland and Spurs, scoring an incredible 20 goals in those 6 games. The resurgence is definitely on but a top four looks very far away, although Rodgers would be very pleased if Liverpool finish closer to their rivals and finish above Everton.
Men to Watch:
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| 6 Apps, 2 Goals, 3 Assists |
Sturridge and Suarez have formed a formidable partnership upfront with both players using their flamboyance to great effect. Sturridge has improved his decision making and Suarez is in the form of his life, but for me the little Brazilian Coutinho is my man to watch for this one, West Ham are pretty much a 1-dimensional side, and it is easy to get through their midfield, but for Liverpool to do it, Coutinho needs to play and if he plays their should be plenty of tiki-taka around along with some Brazilian Samba style football.
West Ham United
Probable Line ups:
Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Reid, Collins, Demel, Nolan, Diame, Jarvis, O'Neill, Vaz Te, Cole
Form:
(WLLWLW)
West Ham away form is the complete contrast of that of the home side, picking up just one win from their last 6 trips, the rest of the games have all ended in defeats for the Hammers. Another worry for Big Sam is apart from the clean sheet away to Stoke, they have conceded more than 2 in the rest of the games. With a team that is based on defense rather than offense, that is a pretty sorry stat.
Men to Watch:
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| Combative General |
With the big Andy Carroll unable to play against his parent club, onus will be on Cole and Vaz Te to provide the ammunition, but a charged-up Mohammed Diame might be the difference in this one, as he was at home to Chelsea and in plenty of other games. Liverpool bank on their midfield to keep possession, West Ham reserve themselves to the long ball style, It will be a mis-match as far as styles are concerned but it will be quite an intriguing contest for both midfields.
Prediction:
Last game between the two ended in a defeat for the home team, where own goals from both teams were scored, former players scored, and a penalty was awarded, in short a game that comprised every bit of drama there can be in a football game. West Ham's physical play will cause Liverpool defenders some problems and Liverpool's attractive, quick play will cause West Ham's stagnant defense a lot of issues. This time around, I predict more of the same from last time, but the home team will come out on top. Futhermore, both teams have not had a draw in their last 6 games, and West Ham are joint second in terms of least draws this season with a misery 6 drawn games; they either win or they lose.
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