Liverpool Limping Into London
For once, and I mean for once, West Ham might actually be facing a big side at exactly the right time.
Liverpool are stumbling into the London Stadium like someone who’s lost their house keys, their phone, and possibly their manager. Wednesday night’s 4-1 humiliation against PSV Eindhoven was a full-on collapse — defenders panicking, Van Dijk handling the ball like he was setting up a volleyball block, and Konaté benched for being… well… Konaté.
And just to sprinkle a bit more chaos into proceedings, Hugo Ekitike — who actually has been playing quite well for them — is now a fitness doubt after a back injury. Arne Slot confirmed the lad couldn’t run properly after about ten minutes. That said, this is West Ham after all and the paranoid Hammers fan within me is now concerned that Isak will suddenly look like a £125m footballer.
Most Read on West Ham News
Liverpool already have injury problems, confidence problems, and now an “is Slot getting sacked before Christmas?” problem.
West Ham fans know all about these “two games to save your job” briefings — but usually it’s about our manager. This time, it’s the other fella.
And if we beat them, we go four points behind the Premier League champions. Just let that simmer for a second.
Arne Slot thinks about his Liverpool future
Arne Slot could lose his Liverpool job if West Ham win on Sunday
Hammers on the Up
Nuno Espírito Santo has suddenly found a bit of rhythm — unbeaten in three, two straight home wins, and just about clinging on for a point at Bournemouth (aside from the whole second-half collapse malarkey… best not dwell on it).
Lucas Paquetá is back after suspension. Niclas Füllkrug is edging toward full fitness. And if Crysencio Summerville is passed fit, Nuno will have his best possible lineup to go at Liverpool’s nervous defence.
There’s optimism around the place — cautious optimism, obviously, because we’re West Ham and we’ve been burned before — but optimism nonetheless.
Could West Ham End the Slot Era?
Liverpool’s form is so bad that their next two games — West Ham and Sunderland — were reportedly labelled internally as “winnable” tests before judgement day.
If we get into our rhythm early on Sunday, Slot’s position could become genuinely untenable. The Dutchman looked shell-shocked after their Champions League meltdown:
“This is a shock… very, very unexpected if you look at the quality we have.”
Confidence has evaporated, their defending looks like early-season West Ham under Potter, and the Klopp-era aura has fully evaporated.
Everything points to West Ham having the best chance we’ve had in years to take three points off Liverpool.
Nuno Espirito Santo making a decision on Lucas Paqueta
Lucas Paqueta will return to the team to face Liverpool
Team News: Hammers
Paquetá back from suspension
Füllkrug unlikely to start following his half baked cameo
Summerville & Mavropanos to be assessed
Ollie Scarles out long-term
Nuno is expected to ditch the Bournemouth back three experiment after it combusted at 2-0 up. Sensible.
Team News: Liverpool
Ekitike a major doubt
Wirtz touch and go
Frimpong, Bradley & Leoni all out
Joe Gomez might start… might not… Slot doesn’t seem sure
Defensive confidence: also missing
They’re patched up, rattled, and walking into a ground where West Ham have suddenly remembered how to win matches.
Predicted West Ham XI
Nuno returns to a back four, Paquetá in the hole, Summerville if fit, and Bowen running at a Liverpool defence that currently looked worse than Truro who goth thumped by the U21’s this week.
Position Player
GK Areola
RB Wan-Bissaka
CB Kilman
CB Todibo
LB Diouf
CM Fernandes
CM Potts
CAM Paquetá
RW Bowen
LW Summerville
CF Wilson
Final Thoughts: If Not Now… When?
Liverpool are wobbling.
Slot is drowning.
Their defence is leaking.
Their confidence is shot.
And West Ham — for once — look organised, motivated, and ready to take advantage of someone else’s crisis.
If we want to make it four unbeaten, close the gap on Liverpool, and maybe help hand Arne Slot his P45… there may never be a better time. That said, this is West Ham and in many respects, the perfect place for the Anfield mob to start their recovery.
I’m going for a 3-1 Hammers win. #COYI