---
title: "Preview: Liverpool vs. West Ham"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/first-team/preview-liverpool-vs-west-ham/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Smith"
section: "First Team"
published: "2015-01-31T01:08:49Z"
modified: "2015-01-31T01:08:49Z"
---

# Preview: Liverpool vs. West Ham

**Gerrard to miss out, Sturridge comeback, Hammers defensive woes**

Liverpool host seventh-placed West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday, four days after the Reds’ 10-game unbeaten run was brought to a devastating end by Chelsea in the Capital One Cup semi-finals.

Whilst the 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge (agg 2-1) was difficult to take, there’s still a sense that the Reds’ momentum hasn’t been halted. Supporters were encouraged by the manner in which the team stood toe-to-toe with the Blues for 210 minutes, and were as good, if not better than the eventual winners of the tie.

The much criticised Simon Mignolet had one of his best games this season, and the Belgian goalkeeper’s confidence appears to be growing gradually.

Lucas Leiva – who looked as though he was ready to leave Anfield and head to Italy – continued his recent upturn in form with an admirable display at The Bridge. His midfield partnership with Jordan Henderson is one that works nicely, and brings the solidarity required for players further up the pitch to have more freedom.

Chance creation and conversion has been the biggest issue for Brendan Rodgers – but that problem could be mitigated for this Saturday’s game against West Ham, as Daniel Sturridge is in line for a long-awaited return.

The England striker hasn’t featured for Liverpool in five months. His pace, movement, and goals have been sorely missed. If he plays from the start at the weekend, then the Hammers defence will be given much more of a headache than they had when the two sides met at Upton Park earlier this season.

The Reds were 2-0 down within seven minutes in East London last September, courtesy of a Winston Reid header and a Diafra Sakho chip. Raheem Sterling gave Liverpool a foothold in the 26th minute, but they couldn’t find a leveler and Morgan Amalfitano put the result beyond any doubt with a late strike.

West Ham are one point above Liverpool in the Premier League table, and haven’t lost in 2015. They began the year with three consecutive 1-1 draws – against West Bromwich Albion, Everton (FA Cup), and Swansea City respectively. The Hammers won their cup replay against the Toffees, and their fourth round tie at Bristol City, with a 3-0 league triumph over Hull City wedged in between.

Sam Allardyce’s side have picked up 13 points on the road this season – winning three of their 10 away fixtures (Crystal Palace, Burnley, West Brom).

Worryingly for Liverpool, West Ham have scored more goals in their 10 away fixtures than the Reds have in their 11 league matches at home.

Aston Villa, Hull and Sunderland have all come away from Anfield with a clean sheet in 2014-15, as have Real Madrid in the Champions League, and Bolton Wanderers in last weekend’s FA Cup fourth round encounter.

Liverpool put four past the Hammers at Anfield last season. A Guy Demel own goal, a Mamadou Sakho effort, and a Luis Suarez double saw off West Ham who benefited from a Martin Skrtel own goal midway through the second half.

Skrtel’s own goal was the first that the Reds had conceded at home to the Hammers since Bobby Zamora put one past Pepe Reina in August 2006.

Reina was also at fault for Dean Ashton’s goal three months prior in the most famous meeting between the two clubs – the FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium. The Spaniard redeemed himself with his penalty shootout heroics after Steven Gerrard rescued Liverpool from defeat.

The Reds skipper will sit out Saturday’s game after playing 120 minutes in midweek – Adam Lallana could potentially take his place.

Sakho may also be absent after he suffered a back injury against Chelsea.

**Provisional Liverpool squad**: Mignolet, Johnson, Can, Sakho, Skrtel, Manquillo, Moreno, Henderson, Allen, Enrique, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling, Lovren, Lucas, Lambert, Borini, Sturridge, Rossiter, Markovic, Ward.

The visitors could be without Alex Song, and face big problems at the back as Carl Jenkinson, James Tomkins, Joey O’Brien and James Collins could all miss out.

**Provisional West Ham United squad**: Adrian, Jaaskelainen, Cresswell, O’Brien, Reid, Demel, Collins, Jenkinson, Noble, Kouyate, Song, Nolan, Amalfitano, Downing, Poyet, Jarvis, Cole, Carroll, Sakho, Valencia.