Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he is worried about facing Nuno Espirito Santo’s much-improved West Ham while delivering an update on whether his £256m trio will be available.
The Hammers take on defending Premier League champions Liverpool at the London Stadium in what has become a huge game for both clubs.
It says everything about Arne Slot’s predicament at Liverpool that the game is arguably bigger for the Reds than West Ham, despite the Hammers’ Premier League lives being on the line.
Debate has raged over whether now is a good or bad time for West Ham to face Liverpool.
Especially after the Reds lost for the ninth time in the last 12 games following a 4-1 defeat at home to PSV in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
What do West Ham have to do to beat Liverpool this weekend?
“It just becomes a mess for Liverpool, and they’ve got a huge problem defending set-pieces. Everyone now is going to play on that fact.”
– Jamie Carragher
“I would describe [our form] as ridiculous, almost. Something I did not expect. That is unbelievable. Unexpected for the club, for me and everyone”
– Arne Slot
“This season, we don’t have any consistency. We concede far too many goals, we are losing battles, and everyone is responsible for it”
– Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool’s woeful form is unprecedented.
But West Ham have perennially been the gift horse for teams or managers desperately in need of a victory.
Will Liverpool be a wounded animal taking out their pain on the Hammers or can Nuno Espirito Santo pile the misery on Slot, who is now the subject of rumours over his future at Anfield.
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An official once banned from all Liverpool matches has been chosen to oversee the West Ham clash.
But that is not the only thing Slot has to worry about at the London Stadium, by his own admission.
West Ham have been a different side in recent weeks under Nuno.
Nuno Espirito Santo talks to Jarrod Bowen after Everton v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport/CameraSport via Getty Images
Nuno’s improving West Ham worry Arne Slot
The Irons go into the Liverpool game off the back of two wins and a draw in their last three games, their best form of the calendar year.
West Ham’s seven-point haul has seen the club climb out of the relegation zone and Nuno will be keen to continue their upward trajectory.
That has not gone unnoticed by Slot, who has openly admitted the revitalised Hammers pose a real threat under Nuno.
And in the same breath, Slot has revealed whether three of Liverpool’s big money stars will be available to face West Ham in a clash that suddenly looks far from straightforward for the Reds.
Liverpool’s £70m goalkeeper Alisson Becker and £116m midfielder Florian Wirtz both missed the PSV game ahead of the trip to West Ham.
Meanwhile, £70m striker Hugo Ekitike came off with a knock in the Champions League hammering.
West Ham stars celebrate a vital Premier League win over Newcastle
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Slot reveals availability of £256m Liverpool trio for West Ham
Slot has suggested that while Alisson should return against the Irons, Ekitike and Wirtz were less likely.
“Ali trained again with the team today, so we hope and expect him to be available on the weekend,” Slot said in his pre-West Ham press conference.
“Florian will have his final day of rehab tomorrow (Friday) so if that all goes well he could train with the team on Saturday.
“The third one was Hugo (deep intake of breath), they (the medical team) don’t expect that it has to be a big issue but the games come (around) fast so let’s see if we can’t (get him fit for West Ham), but it shouldn’t be a big (long-term issue).”
Slot is wary of upwardly mobile West Ham, saying Nuno has proved to be a difficult manager to face.
And he noted that Liverpool will be facing a Hammers side much more difficult to play against than earlier in the season.
“Like you said (West Ham are in an upward trajectory), he’s having an impact on their results,” Slot said.
“He’s done so well everywhere he worked here in England and did so well at Forest, now he’s doing well at West Ham again.
“He’s proven to be a difficult manager to play against, not only for me but for everyone because he always has a very good game plan.
“It’s a tough team to beat at the moment West Ham, which was different maybe in the beginning of the season.
“But we face them now and that’s why we definitely need to be ready for a challenge because that’s what they will give us.
“Because they know after our recent run of results that it is probably different for them to play against us than it was three or four months ago.”
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