Liverpool predicted line-ups and teams for the Premier League clash against West Ham United on Saturday afternoon
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool with Cody Gakpo
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool with Cody Gakpo(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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All eyes on the Premier League. Liverpool will further ramp up the pressure in the race for a top-five finish and likely Champions League qualification berth when they entertain West Ham United on Saturday afternoon.
Arne Slot's side will be keen to bring more attacking flair against a Hammers team who have lost only one of their last eight games in all competitions.
And here the ECHO writers consider how Liverpool could line up for the clash against opponents who were well beaten at the London Stadium back in November...
Paul Gorst
The return of Jeremie Frimpong has come at a good time for Arne Slot, who can finally name a right-back in that position after over a month of 'getting by' with players out of position.
Frimpong may not have played since going off early in the 6-0 hammering of Qarabag but he returns for me alongside Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez.
In midfield, the absence of Florian Wirtz allows Dominik Szoboszlai to play furthest forward behind Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, who just about gets the nod over Curtis Jones.
Despite the calls for Rio Ngumoha to start, I am going to keep Cody Gakpo in situ and Mohamed Salah starts alongside Hugo Ekitike, who leads the line.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Ian Doyle
West Ham United next up for Liverpool. And perhaps the one guarantee for this game is the Hammers will be better than they were in the first meeting between the teams this season when, to be frank, they were terrible.
What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do?
There are unlikely to be too many changes for the first of seven key games inside 22 days. Alisson Becker remains in goal, while Milos Kerkez is the left-back and Ibrahima Konate is alongside captain Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. But it's time for Jeremie Frimpong to return at right-back after a month out.
In midfield, a tactical switch. Dominik Szoboszlai can join Ryan Gravenberch in the double pivot while Alexis Mac Allister moves up to the number 10 role.
And up top it's Hugo Ekitike down the centre, Mohamed Salah on the right and Cody Gakpo on the left.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Mac Allister, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Richard Garnett
Liverpool's performance against Nottingham Forest, particularly in the first half, left a lot to be desired. They can afford no repeat here against a West Ham side that has lost only once in their last six league outings and will be well drilled under Nuno Espirito Santo.
With that in mind, the return of Jeremie Frimpong is timely. Even if he was only half fit I'd be tempted to throw him back in, but in any case, he looks like a shoo-in at right-back alongside the central defensive pairing of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk. Milos Kerkez can continue his steady improvement at left-back.
The return of Frimpong frees up Dominik Szoboszlai to move back into midfield, but the question is where to play him? With Florian Wirtz out of this one, I want to see the Hungarian taking the game to the Hammers, so am putting him in the attacking midfield berth with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister sitting behind them. Neither have impressed me particularly of late but I think that offers the best balance.
The rest of the team more or less picks itself, with Mohamed Salah on the right, Cody Gakpo on the left and Hugo Ekitike leading the line down the middle. Rio Ngumoha is knocking on the doors for more minutes, but his impact should be off the bench in the second half, when the visitors are tiring.
My team: (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.
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