[Liverpool’s](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-vs-liverpool-preview-team-news-predicted-line-ups/) dreadful defence of their title – with nine defeats in their last twelve competitive fixtures – is about as bad as it gets and one on which West Ham can capitalise, says former West Ham frontman Carlton Cole. The Hammers striker also explained why he loved these televised duels against top-tier opponents and why the Hammers will more than likely raise their game today when the Reds are at their most vulnerable.
Speaking to [thesun.co.uk](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/37483468/west-ham-warned-now-never-misery-carlton-cole-liverpool/), Cole insisted _now is the absolute_ best time to take on Arne Slot’s men as another few months will see them start to gel:
_“The time to play them is now – as next season they will be a different animal, maybe the next half of this season. They have players that can win games but I am not looking at them as a massive threat right now.”_
“_With their squad, Liverpool should be a clean sweep for the Premier League. Ekitike is a brilliant player, then they bought Isak — now they have got to get that cohesion.”_
As ‘The Sun’ is quick to point out, ‘Arne Slot’s £300million attack of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz is yet to sparkle’.
Nine losses in their last twelve outings bodes well for West Ham’s chances today
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For West Ham’s Premier League survival hopes, another lacklustre Liverpool performance will do very nicely. If the Irons can get their noses ahead, the stats for a Liverpool comeback look very bleak – so a tepid, timid first half Hammers display is the last thing the Irons need to allow their opponents to grow in confidence.
Cole issued the challenge to today’s Hammers squad to match the mindset of his own era:
_“We used to love these games back in the day, on TV, the top-four games. We could show that we could be around the elite and there will be a few players up for this game. They’ll want to test their skills against the best”_
Time for a Lucas Paquetá or Jarrod Bowen special moment, then, in front of the cameras and a capacity home crowd looking for a third successive win. The Brazilian in particular is overdue a moment to saviour after a one-match suspension and ahead of a transfer window with no doubt, potential suitors sizing up a move.
Three points could see West Ham climb above Nottingham Forest (who take on Brighton today) and move up one place to sixteenth should the bookies be wrong and Nuno’s men prevail.