Huge Declan blow

Declan Rice isn’t in the West Ham squad to face Liverpool.

As we reported earlier, there were rumours on social media claiming that the England international was set to miss the encounter with the Reds.

And that has now been confirmed, with Rice not in the team to play Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Instead, Tomas Soucek is joined in midfield by Pablo Fornals, playing in a deeper role than usual.

Elsewhere, Lukasz Fabianski plays in goal, while the defence is made up of Ben Johnson, Craig Dawson, Kurt Zouma, and captain Aaron Cresswell.

Up front, Mikey Antonio is supported by Manuel Lanzini, Nikola Vlasic, and Jarrod Bowen.

Full West Ham XI: Fabianski; Johnson, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell; Soucek, Fornals; Lanzini, Vlasic, Bowen; Antonio. Subs: Areola, Diop, Fredericks, Masuaku, Noble, Kral, Chesters, Okoflex, Benrahma.

Full Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Keita; Mane, Diaz, Salah. Subs: Kelleher, Milner, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Minamino, Jota, Origi, Elliott.

 

About Dave Langton

A journalist with 10 years' experience of working on National newspapers, now chief reporter covering the club that I've loved since I was a boy. Upton Park remains the greatest football stadium ever built.