Hammers can overcome the odds

Hammers can overcome the odds: Billy McKinlay

David Moyes chose to give the Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool and leave No 2 Billie McKinlay to address the match . Confidence is running through the squad after a fine 3-0 win over Wolves and McKinlay reflected the club’s hopes, believing the Hammers can overcome the odds and reach the semi finals of the competition.

Hammers can overcome the odds

Thus far we have won seven and lost just one of our  previous nine matches in all competitions and now sit in a more than respectable eighth place in the Premier League whilst of course finding ourselves in the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League.

The odds against us at Anfield are pretty worrying as we have managed just one win at the place in 60 years and where Liverpool have not lost since Real Madrid beat them in the Europa League round of 16 win there in February.

However, McKinlay believes we can follow Real Madrid despite a seemingly remote chance of success and they certainly won’t be worried by the prospect of attempting to do exactly that.

He told the pre-match presser: ” There is confidence because I think we’ve had a decent run over the last eight or nine games.

In the last two games in particular we’ve put in good performances. We followed up Freiburg with obviously a good performance in the win against Wolves, which was always a tough game, so we’re in a good place in a busy period.

You’ve just got to keep going as the football is relentless. The level of success brings that, the amount of games, the level of games, the quality of the opposition, so we’re enjoying that.

We’re rising to the challenge, hopefully, so we need to keep working hard, keep our feet on the ground and keep going, and that’s what we’ll do.

In the last two games in particular we’ve put in good performances. We followed up Freiburg with obviously a good performance in the win against Wolves, which was always a tough game, so we’re in a good place in a busy period.”

He gave no indication of the team selection but added: ” The likes of Lucas Paquetá, Mohammed Kudus,Edson Álvarez and Jarrod Bowen have received support from the rest of the players.

They are obviously terrific players in their own right and we’re delighted they’re here and they’re supported by another group of players who are also doing the job well and support each other as it goes.

We’re delighted we’ve got them and the supporters are happy they’re playing well, so long may it continue.”