West Ham United will look to move further away from the Premier League relegation zone when they face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
The Irons were slipping back towards the bottom three following a 3-1 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium earlier this month, but they bounced back from that loss with a 2-0 success against Watford at the London Stadium last time out.
Goals from Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic, who came straight back into the starting line-up after recovering from a hamstring injury that saw him miss three matches, gave the east London outfit a crucial win in their battle to avoid the drop, and they are now four points clear of 18th-placed Southampton.
David Moyes’ men will look to build on that victory against the Hornets ahead of the long trip north to Merseyside this weekend, and the Scot will know how important it is that his side keep picking up results to keep them out of trouble.
It certainly won’t be an easy task against Jurgen Klopp’s side though, and their 5-0 win against FC Porto in the Champions League last week saw their attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah reach the milestone of 60 goals between them this term.
Moyes may well be tempted to stick with the same XI that secured the win against Watford, but the Scot could be asking for trouble unless he makes a couple of alterations.
Here are two changes the 54-year-old must make to his team when they face Liverpool…
Winston Reid for Michail Antonio
Moyes made some big selection decisions ahead of the clash against Watford, including bringing Michail Antonio into the team to play as a left wing-back.
It was a risk that paid off as the 27-year-old assisted Marko Arnautovic’s goal in the 2-0 win, but Moyes shouldn’t play him there again against a Liverpool side that will be far more attacking than the Hornets were.
Antonio seems to struggle defensively and the Scottish boss should move Aaron Cresswell from his previous spot on the left side of a three-man defence to the left wing-back role at Anfield, and bring Reid back into the heart of the defence alongside Angelo Ogbonna and James Collins.
The New Zealand international hasn’t started in the Premier League since the 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur on January 4 having been plagued by a groin injury and illness since then – as well as failing to force his way back into the team at Brighton – but if he has recovered from a throat infection that needs to happen on Saturday in order to use his experience to deal with Liverpool’s free-scoring front three.
Manuel Lanzini for Javier Hernandez
Hernandez has scored three goals in his last four Premier League appearances for West Ham as he finally starts to find some form, but he shouldn’t be on the team-sheet against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday – if Lanzini is fit to return.
The Argentina international hinted on his Instagram story, via Football.London, that he is set to be involved against the Reds this weekend having been absent with a hamstring injury he picked up in the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth at the London Stadium last month, and he has been a big miss for the Irons.
Moyes could and probably should choose to go with a more cautious 3-5-1-1 system on Merseyside, and with Marko Arnautovic able to play in the centre-forward role and undroppable in the form he is currently in – as well as the impressive link up he had with Lanzini previously prior to the duo picking up injuries – it is those two that must start in attack for the Hammers on Saturday.
Do you agree, Irons fans? Let us know below.
