Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on November 26, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on November 26, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool team predicted to face West Ham United in the Premier League at the London Stadium
Liverpool head to West Ham United in the Premier League with Arne Slot desperate to turn around his side’s fortunes.
A wretched run of nine losses in 12 games has piled the pressure on the head coach, just six months after engineering the Reds’ Premier League title triumph. Liverpool are sticking with Slot amid calls for him to be axed from some sections of fans - and he must now deliver.
The Reds have already dropped out of the Premier League title race as they sit 11 points behind Arsenal. The challenge is very much for Liverpool to ensure they can finish in the top four this campaign.
Certainly, improvements are needed from the past two games - a chastening 3-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest before a sobering 4-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven. Slot must surely be weighing up changes to his starting line-up and he will hope to have Florian Wirtz, signed for £100 million in the summer transfer window, back after injury.
There are also portions of Kopites that want to see Slot shake-up his XI and give starts to some players who have not had many minutes so far.
Ahead of the West Ham clash, here’s the Liverpool team predicted.
GK - Alisson Becker
The No.1 stopper was absent against PSV because of illness. However, Alisson has returned to training so he will back between the posts against West Ham.
RB - Joe Gomez
There are growing calls for Liverpool's longest-serving player to be handed a start. The Reds have no recognised right-back options but it’s a position Gomez has played plenty in his career and he would help shore up the defence.
CB - Ibrahima Konate
The France international made his latest mistake for PSV’s third goal. But Slot has been keen to stick with Konate so far this season despite his mixed form.
CB - Virgil van Dijk
The Liverpool captain’s form has come under scrutiny and plenty were baffled by the handball he committed against PSV. Needs to lead from the front.
LB - Andy Robertson
Milos Kerkez has started the past two games so Slot may feel that additional experience is necessary to get Liverpool back to winning ways. If Slot does select the back four, it’s the one that many supporters and even former Man United defender Gary Neville has recommended.
CM - Wataru Endo
The cult hero has made just one Premier League start since Slot took charge as Liverpool boss. But the Reds require more protection in front of their rearguard and Endo is the only out-and-out defensive midfielder in the squad.
CM - Ryan Gravenberch
The Netherlands international has not been as effective in the number-six role of late and giving Gravenberch more attacking freedom, with Endo in behind, may bring improvements.
RW - Mo Salah
There are growing calls for Liverpool’s so-called talisman to be benched. However, Slot has no direct replacement with Frimpong injured. The Reds need to get Salah in more goalscoring positions.
AM - Dominik Szoboszlai
Been Liverpool’s best player this season without a doubt and deserves to operate in the role despite Florian Wirtz potentially being back fit.
LW - Cody Gakpo
Starting to frustrate sections of supporters and missed another big chance against PSV. However, Slot seems reluctant to start Rio Ngumoha or Federico Chiesa so Gakpo could continue.
ST - Hugo Ekitike
Limped off against PSV with back spasms after being one of Liverpool’s most impressive performers. If fit, which the Reds are hopeful he should be, then he should keep his spot over Alexander Isak.
Mamardashvili, Ramsay. Kerkez, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Jones, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Isak
Continue Reading