West Ham have safety in sight when they face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday afternoon and Nuno Espirito Santo looks set to make two big changes.
Anfield is not a very happy hunting ground for any team given how good Liverpool have been down throughout their history, but West Ham’s record is among the worst.
There have been just two West Ham wins at Liverpool since The Beatles were topping the charts.
However, rarely have the stakes been as high for the Hammers as they are heading there in this Premier League run-in.
High stakes as Nuno changes West Ham formation for Liverpool
West Ham know a surprise win over Liverpool would see them climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since November – and for only the third time all season long.
That would be for 24 hours at least with Nottingham Forest away at Brighton on Sunday.
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West Ham United's Mateus Fernandes celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at London Stadium on January 24, 2026 in London, England.
West Ham will look to Crysencio Summerville in a plan to target Liverpool’s biggest weakness as Arne Slot faces a continued right-back crisis.
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That will likely see midfield star Dominik Szoboszlai continue to fill in out of position, a prospect in-form Summerville should relish.
Jean Clair Todibo during West Ham United v Nottingham Forest - Premier League
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Nuno Espirito Santo looks set to make two big changes for Liverpool as West Ham have safety in sight.
The first of those two changes is a fundamental one to the formation of the team.
Despite their underperformance in defending their title this season, Nuno knows Liverpool still carry huge threats – especially at Anfield.
As a result the Portuguese is planning to play a back five against the Reds.
West Ham have had mixed success with a back five under various managers.
Todibo looks set to make West Ham return at Anfield
The only time that formation has ever truly worked on a consistent basis was under Harry Redknapp for a season with Trevor Sinclair and Sebastien Schemmel shining.
Nuno will switch to a back five and that results in the second major change to the West Ham starting XI from the team which disappointingly drew 0-0 at home against Bournemouth last time out.
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West Ham United's Axel Disasi during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium on February 10, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at City Ground on February 22, 2026 in Nottingham, England.
There have been calls for Callum Wilson to come back into the starting line-up.
That would make sense given chances may be at a premium for the Hammers at Anfield and Wilson is by far and away the club’s best and most experienced finisher.
Nuno Espirito Santo with West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen and winger Crysencio Summerville
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
But Wilson will have to make do with a place on the bench yet again as Taty Castellanos continues up front.
His striker partner Pablo remains injured and midfielder Freddie Potts serves the second of a three-game ban for his red card in the FA Cup at Burton.
The second big change sees Jean-Clair Todibo come back into the side for the first time since his red card at Chelsea.
During Todibo’s suspension, his compatriot Axel Disasi has come in on loan and been the solid, consistent presence West Ham have long needed at the back.
The entire defence has improved under Nuno, including Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Now they and Disasi will play together for the first time in a central defensive three to try and thwart Liverpool.
The idea is very much to play in Nuno’s classic counter-attacking style, being solid at the back and spring attacks through Mateus Fernandes, Summerville and Jarrod Bowen.
Soungoutou Magassa will drop out of the side to make way for Todibo.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Liverpool at Anfield:
Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Todibo, Diouf, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville, Bowen, Castellanos.
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