Bilic’s likely starting line up for Liverpool

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.