13 Comments

Bilic’s likely starting line up for Liverpool

Carroll is expected to be on the bench

Carroll is expected to be on the bench

Declan Rice looks likely to start on the bench along with Andy Carroll for tonight’s clash with Liverpool.

Slaven Bilic is likely to reinforce his publicly proclaimed view that it’s up to the senior professionals to dig the Hammers out o their current plight rather than rely on youngsters.

It would mean Cheik Kouyate slipping into the back three alongside Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna as the Hammers look to cope with the Reds highly skillful and pacy front men.

And despite the manager claiming the Liverpool defence could be hurt by Carroll he is more likely to start with goalscorers at Palace Chicharito and Ayew up front.

Despite injuries to Michail Antonio, Jose Fonte and  Sam Byram along with Pablo Zabaleta’s suspension, the manager has claimed to still have enough strong players to name a powerful side.

We gave our expected X1 earlier in the week but with Rice probably ruled out here’s our revised prediction: Hart, Fernandes, Kouyate, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Obiang, Lanzini, Chicharito and Ayew.

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

13 comments on “Bilic’s likely starting line up for Liverpool

  1. our defence would have trouble coping with anything with Ogbonna in the team. The only way he should get in above Rice, is by one of Rices legs falling off.
    On the other hand it is the more likely team selection of the management, as he tries hard to support yet another one of his dud signings.

  2. Ogbonna ain’t the problem with this team selection its the m/f ! IMO its defensively week cresswell fernandez noble can’t defend noble because of his prosthetic legs and the others just can’t defend lol!! Lanzini the only creative player in the selection ? V the lids ? Our defence will be overrun IMO !! The balance of that side is the nail in the clueless ones coffin ! If he starts with that side ! Only my opinion !!! 😉

  3. Rice shouldn’t be on bemch

  4. I have not often backed a Bilic & am not gonna start now! But. I do think playing kids in a struggling side would be a disaster. I know some 19/20 year olds do break through- Ali, Jesus, Sane- but this is the level you are talking about. Rice maybe, although we saw the possible risks even with a talented kid like him earlier this season.

    I can’t even really bring myself to look at Bilic’s selections any longer. Like somebody else on here this week I find myself looking for excuses not to watch today. It is not that I am a ‘fair weather fan’. I have watched through some dire times over 60 years. But I am really finding the performances & the actions (or lack of) from the top deeply depressing. I won’t & can’t give up on the club my dad, my uncles & my grandad supported, but my loyalty is being stretched. I know it is a corny thing to say but we deserve something better. Up the Hammers!!

    • I agree wholeheartedly with all you say, I have been a supporter for 58 years and my families support goes all the way back to 1923 with my Great Grandad who was at Wembley that year. I have the original programme and ticket in my collection but as you say can’t give up but Bilic needs to go he is out of his depth in the Premier league and the sooner the owners see this the better or they will own a Championship team with the largest stadium in the Championship and the value of the team will plummet and so will their stock.
      we the loyal fans deserve so much more, this statement that we are to be taken to the next level is a joke at the moment, I thought it was to be a level up NOT down for christsake.
      COYI

    • I agree with what you say about Kids in a struggling team, but and Rice has made one bad mistake, but He is the best 18 year old defender I have seen since Bobby Moore, and already reminds me of John Terry with his maturity and authorty on the pitch. He far out-strips Ferdinand or Alvin at that age, and earns his place in the team. Ogbonna does not.

      • Agree for me In back 3 Rice should be there! Passion Pace Composure. He made a mistake against Newcastle in mid how may mistakes has Og made our whole team?

  5. I’m sure I commented on this thread last night – but it’s gone missing?

    It wasn’t offensive or using swear words??

    Maybe I imagined it!

  6. When we lose today, I hope the 2 Davids kick Bilic out and put in caretaker Terry Westley. He’s doing well with the kids. COYI

  7. Rice ahead of Ogbanna any day of the week. He should be one of the first names on the team sheet, and if he makes a mistake, we stick with him and develop him into the top class player he is destined to be. Rest assured, if we don’t, there are plenty of others out there who will.
    Pity about Fonte as I thought he was starting to find his feet. Now he’s lost one!
    I reckon Bilic will start with AC and stick Chic and Ayew wide. Dumb idea I know!

  8. Did he not say before the Brighton match that it would be a case of picking an experienced team rather than youth.Seems to me he is bereft of ideas.A bad defeat today will be the end you feel.Would like to see Westley given a go.The club has done it before with Ron Greenwood and John Lyall who both got the top job after success with youth teams.

    • Agree and Brighton was perfect for Toni to be on bench. They don’t have to start of even play but our squad is thin even enough to have 1 you after in get them use to squad and give 10m if we can. Not saying this game but Pike might should very well be on bench… RB.

      I would like Westley to be given chance and have said for a while my only worry tho if he doesn’t work out then we lose a great U23s manager bc most the time they don’t go back in. That’s my worry with Westley he is doing so well with the youth I’d hate to lose him there.

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