The Liverpool team will need to make use of this outstanding player to contain the hungry Hammers.
Liverpool has had a strong start to the 2023–24 season, having won five straight games in all competitions after drawing 1–1 with Chelsea in the Premier League opener at Stamford Bridge.
The Reds are now focused on the domestic stage after defeating LASK of Austria in the Europa League opener on Thursday night. Resilient West Ham United will travel to Merseyside to play the Reds at Anfield.
Since winning the Europa Conference League in June, the Hammers, Liverpool’s competitors in European competition this year, have also had a strong start to the season.
After winning three of their first five games, they are currently in sixth place in the league, just three points and places behind Liverpool. Their lone loss came last time out against defending league winners Manchester City.
To put it mildly, although Liverpool will be confident of winning, they must be alert since, under David Moyes’ guidance, West Ham has developed into one of the most successful teams in English football and has even taken that success to the continental level.
The Irons, who know how to sit deep and soak up danger before striking teams on the break, demonstrated counterattacking mastery last month when they overcame high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion at home.
The Reds may find this challenging, but with offensive prowess to compete with any team in international football, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and co. will be eager for the chance to keep up their hot start to the season.
What recent Liverpool team news is there?
After missing the previous two games after receiving a red card against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park, captain Virgil van Dijk, who started against LASK, is now available for selection in the Premier League.
Despite young Stefan Bajcetic’s impressive performance in the position against LASK, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago Alcantara are not anticipated to be available for the match against the Irons, thus Joe Gomez is likely to fill in at right-back once again.
The midfield trio that helped Liverpool come from behind to defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 at Molineux last Saturday could remain the same under Klopp, with Ryan Gravenberch looking lively and contributing an assist in midweek but leaving with an injury in the second half that is thought to be cramp.
Darwin Nunez scored and assisted in the Europa League, and he already appears to have improved from the previous year, when he divided opinion following his club-record £85 million transfer from Benfica.
However, the Reds’ German manager may decide to start the explosive Cody Gakpo again after he missed the most recent European game but scored against Wolves.
