West Ham United have taken a full squad to Anfield in search of their first win since 2015 and only the second in living memory! If ever there was a time to start creating ‘new history’ at this famous ground, tonight would be it: Julen Lopetegui has been under pressure after creating his own record as the first head coach to oversee a Hammers’ side which lost its first three home Premier League games . So the stakes are high for West Ham tonight and a more organised, strategic performance is certainly called for.
Lopetegui has made several changes from the weekend 0-3 loss against Chelsea. In comes Vlad Coufal at right back, plus – finally -‘by popular demand’- there is a second start in Claret and Blue for Jean-Clair Todibo who many saw as a prospective upgrade on Konstantinos Mavropanos, but one new signing who has been held back as ‘not strong enough – let’s see how he goes tonight.
Also a surprise is the attacking department, with Danny Ings starting alongside Bowen and Summerville. Still no Niclas Fullkrug, whilst Paqueta and Kudus also drop to the bench.
The Full Eleven Starting are:
Fabianski: Coufal; Kilman; Todibo:;Cresswell; Alvarez ; Soucek: Soler; Summerville; Ings; Bowen (c)
I think the manager has accepted defeat with the starting line up.
Hope I’m proved wrong , but cannot see it.
I saw this as a chance to play our strongest 11 and rectify the mistakes we made against Chelsea on Saturday. Lopetegui obviously sees it differently. This competition is our most realistic chance of silverware. With the manager being under pressure, and Liverpool likely to field a weaker team, I just don’t get it. Could be a long night.
Not impressed. Even though it’s unlikely we will win tonight with our record at Anfield we risk sacrificing our only possible realistic chance of qualifying for Europe with that line up. Only redeeming factor seeing Todibo and Soler brought in and Summervillle given another start. Hope I’m proved wrong and we come out with no huge gaps in midfield and playing pressing football from the start.
First impressions, “We are not too interested in staying in this competition.” but again, I hope I am wrong.
FFS – Alvarez gets stupidly sent off when we were still in the game and we end up getting beaten 5-1 for the second year running. Summerville the only bright spot for us and we just fell apart in the last 15 minutes. Ings barely touched the ball and should be nowhere near our starting 11. Wan Bissaka on the bench and Coufal just out of his depth but still no defensive changes made. Kudus only brought on in the last 15 minutes. What the hell is going on?