Liverpool host a resurgent West Ham United side at Anfield tonight.
It will be a tight game if the history between the two teams is anything to go by, with the Reds edging this fixture 1-0 last season and avenging their 3-2 defeat from earlier in the campaign.
With both teams expected to deploy different systems than usual, we may see goals in this game, particularly with how West Ham are set to line up in a 3-4-3 system which promotes counterattacking plays.
Ranking third in the league for goals scored per match with an average of 2.3, Liverpool will be looking to break down the Irons without response, with West Ham ranking 15th for goals scored per match, averaging 0.9 per game.
There are similarities between both teams this season, though.
Both got off to rotten starts in the league, courtesy of their respective injury crises, and both have turned things around this month, making use of European fixtures to gain much-needed confidence.
Liverpool’s impressive win against Manchester City last weekend adds to their unbeaten home run of seven games since the start of the season, whilst West Ham themselves have not lost in five matches.
Injury News
Speaking to the media ahead of the clash, Jurgen Klopp issued an update on the fitness of his squad, having already sustained devastating long-term injury blows to attacking aces Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.
This update was rather positive, though with the players who were involved in the game against Manchester City last time out said to be available once again.
Speaking to the media, Klopp said: “I think all the other players who started the game are available again.
“Curtis was on the bench – it was clear we will not bring him on, we just had space. He’s in training, looks really good in training but needs further training until he’s really available. He could be a step closer now after two days but didn’t train yesterday, so maybe half a step closer.
“Oxlade is getting closer, yesterday full team training but that needs time. [He] was out for a while and now we have to make sure that he can put all the sessions in his legs, which he needs.
“Naby is now in parts of team training, so all slightly different.
“Ibou not in team training yet but we knew it before it will not be that long – he will be, in the end, out maybe for 10 days until he can start training again. When was it? It was Rangers, so tomorrow it’s a week and then maybe Saturday, whenever, he is back in team training. He was not long out, so if he can train fully, he’s available.
“Joel is still a little bit away and, of course, Luis as well not even close to team training.
“Calvin is completely back in team training. He had a little setback, got hit on the ankle so we had to keep him out. But I think he’s ready to play U21s at the weekend, which would be absolutely great.”
Predicted XI
With the team news covered, here is how we expect Liverpool to line up against West Ham tonight.
4-2-3-1
Alisson
Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson
Fabinho, Thiago
Salah, Firmino, Carvalho
Nunez
Our predicted line-up sees Liverpool make three changes from the line-up against Manchester City at the weekend, with one eye on the clash against Nottingham Forest on Saturday lunchtime.
James Milner will likely make way for £180k-per-week Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is fit once again and must be determined to prove his recent critics wrong.
Harvey Elliott could make way for Darwin Nunez, with Mohamed Salah set to revert to his usual role on the right flank.
In the third and final change, the injured Jota makes way for Fabio Carvalho, who is expected to be deployed as a left winger in Klopp’s 4-2-3-1 setup which served him so well last time out against City.
