Video: David Moyes Liverpool pre match presser

David Moyes virtual pre-match press conference from Friday morning ahead of Liverpool v West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

Huge blow with Antonio, what is the extent of his injury and how big a blow is it?

He’s been good for us, has played really well and is an important member of the team. When he played against Spurs he felt something, then against City and he felt it. We don’t think it is too bad but it will keep him out of this game that is for sure.

Are these injuries a by-product of the schedule the players are having to go through?

It’s near enough the first injury we have had in the main, we have had a few others but we have been pretty consistent and kept the boys in good condition, the medical team have been good and because of that, I won’t say we have been lucky because you need your players to be fit.

I take the point that Frank Lampard is making [increasing substitutes] because we are saying a big number of injuries, the number of games players have to play at the moment is far, far too big and the scheduling is really difficult for many clubs.

Looking at Liverpool, boost with their defensive injuries, confidence heading into the game?

They might look at it the same as us being without Michail Antonio but obviously, you’d rather play Liverpool without Virgil Van Dijk. But probably the biggest thing going up to play Liverpool is without supporters, their support makes such a difference, with no crowd behind them hopefully that might make a difference as well.

Marcus Rashford, aware of him at Man Utd and what do you think of what he is trying to achieve?

I remember him as a young boy he was in and around the academy, a young thin boy at the time and we had him in a couple of times to prepare the team but I have to say more importantly, what he is doing now as an individual is an incredible thing. It’s great overall to try and look after underprivileged kids, making sure they get fed.

Lots of footballers are doing great work, Andy Roberston as well, they are doing good things. Marcus is doing a great thing and it has brought attention to it and something all the public is behind. We have to hope the Government thinks it is also the best thing to do.

Not having Antonio as big as Liverpool not having Van Dijk?

I think so but we have really been showing a great team ethic. We have been scoring goals from all different areas, we have been playing well as a team but I am sure Liverpool will be saying the same about that as well,

Of course, we will miss him, since we came back down from lockdown I think Michail has been as important as any striker in the league.

Have you exceeded expectations so far?

I put my team out looking to win and to get results, I was really pleased with taking a point from those two games [Spurs and City], we are going in the right direction and making progress so I have been pleased with the players generally.

The players have done a good job but I am not going to say that every week, there is another game coming up and we have to do it again.

It is the toughest game you can face this weekend away at Anfield?

Well on paper you are playing the Champions so it is always a tough game but the last three games we will have played will have been away at Tottenham, at home to City and away at Liverpool so you have to say, when we saw the fixtures it was always going to be difficult but we have to make the most of it.

We play all the teams twice so that’s the way they fall and we are in a good place, the players have confidence, the results make a big difference and I hope the players can go and show it this weekend.

Last time at Anfield you played well, give you hope for points this time?

Yeah I do. We were unlucky to not get a result there last time, the least we deserved was a draw so I think there are signs of improvement.

We are capable, we want to get to the stage where we have a consistency which I am trying to get and the players so far, with the exception of the first game, have shown a good level of consistency.

Pablo Fornals, struggled initially but you are getting the best out of him?

Pablo has done really well, he is a really likeable buy and he works incredibly hard for the team.

We are always demanding more from him because we want him to contribute with assists and goals and he has been doing that. He’s been more involved and I have to say, his energy and enthusiasm in training is incredible and we really like him.

What we have got here is the slight makings of a young group of players who are all doing well and giving us much bigger energy than in the past.

Press Transcript courtesy of  Sam Inkensolee/Football.London