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West Ham can spring a surprise

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LiverpoolI’m not sure if I’m losing my marbles or not, but I am actually quite hopeful that West Ham can get a positive result against Liverpool on Saturday.

I am quite aware of our abysmal record at Anfield, where we haven’t won since a Geoff Hurst goal helped us to a 2-1 victory in 1963, 50 years ago. I am also perfectly aware of Liverpool’s excellent start to the season and our own disappointing one.

Indeed, while Liverpool have been free scoring, dismantling many teams at Anfield, this season and sitting near the top of the Premier League, in contrast, the Hammers are sitting just above the drop zone, and, in most games, I can’t seem to even buy a goal. But I’m going to try and forget the Crystal Palace defeat and put out a positive case for the Hammers.

So why do I have such seemingly unfounded confidence? Well, firstly Liverpool are currently missing Daniel Sturridge, who is out injured. Sturridge has formed a formidable partnership with Luis Suarez this term, and the pair have scored a large proportion of Liverpool’s goals. With one of the so called ‘SOS’ pair out, it is clearly going to damage Liverpool’s attacking prowess.

I watched a Sturridge-less Liverpool play at Hull City on Sunday, and they pretty much looked toothless in attack. Suarez didn’t look like the same player with Sturridge to play off too, whom he had a seemingly telepathic relationship with. I am aware Suarez is a world class player in his own right which he has highlighted once again against Norwich City this week, but we should still take some confidence from this.

Aside from Suarez then, I do not see particularly brilliant attacking options for Liverpool. Steven Gerrard plays in a much deeper role these days, with his ageing legs unable to make his lung bursting runs forward as he used to do. Philippe Coutinho is Liverpool’s most creative midfield player, and when given time and space is able to supply chances for teammates.

Then there is Victor Moses, who hasn’t really found his feet or played regularly since his move to Chelsea last season. There are others of course such as Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling, but I imagine the first three will be the ones looking to link up and supply Suarez with the ball.

Now to me, it seems this match could well suit Sam Allardyce tactics away from home. If we can harass the Liverpool midfield whilst they are in possession, we can hopefully nullify Gerrard’s range of passing and Coutinho’s creativity.

For this we need players who have lots of energy and running in midfield. Having Mohamed Diame, Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan pressing them high in midfield and defence, where they like to play the ball out from the back, and only on the ground, would be best. The hard working Matt Jarvis and Stewart Downing on the wings would also help with this. Give them time to play and they will comfortably beat us.

Last season, where we achieved an excellent point in a 0-0 at Anfield, James Collins was one of the few defenders in the country who seemed to have Suarez under wraps. He did this by pushing up high, and tackling Suarez as soon as he received the ball, not allowing him to turn and run at our defence, where he can reek havoc. Let us hope a similar performance is provided.

I hope our other defenders also took a note of this. Suarez’s temperament could also play in our favour in this fixture. Again, from viewing their recent match at Hull, Suarez’s attitude became really poor, shouting at teammates for the slightest mistake and throwing his arms in the air etc whenever the ball didn’t make it to him. If we can frustrate Liverpool enough, we may see this stroppy attitude again.

Going the other way, I think playing two wingers could cause Liverpool some real defensive problems, particularly those with pace, who may be effective on the break. Liverpool don’t really play with natural wide wingers, and there should be space in those areas to utilise. In the full back positions, they will probably play Glen Johnson at right back, and lately the inexperienced John Flanagan at left back. These are certainly a pair we should target. Johnson, we all know is not the greatest defensive right back, and is frequently caught out of position, in his favoured attacking area.

I remember Jarvis having a lot of joy against him at home last season, and I would like to see him given a go against Johnson.  Flanagan you would think would struggle against the in form Downing, who would also have a strong point to prove against his former employers.

Then we have to hope that either Modibo Maiga or Carlton Cole can play well in the lone striker role.

I am aware it is not as simple as this, and I could well be looking at this match with my claret and blue tinted glasses on, but I do feel we can frustrate and cause Liverpool some real problems with the way we often set-up way from home.

This is my team for Saturday:

Jaaskelainen

Demel Collins Tomkins Rat

Noble Diame

Downing Nolan Jarvis

Maiga

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6 comments

  • Bill says:

    Have you been smoking Wengers stash Mr Coker?

  • john wines says:

    Your first couple of lines were correct. If you think this lot can pull a surprise on Liverpool on Saturday you most certainly are losing your marbles. For goodness sake, they can’t even beat Crystal Palace. All I will say to you is: Get a grip.

  • danno says:

    Plainly this was written before the game V Norwich.. Toothless in attack without Sturridge, ll. I don’t think so, in fact I think our half decent goal difference is going to be hammered this weekend.

  • Bav says:

    Anything less than Liverpool 5 WHU 0, will be a good result

    If he plays 2 up front we might stand a chance of scoring, but our defence, will be run ragged I think, so our midfield will have to step up

    Here’s my team

    JJ

    Demel. Collins . Tomkins. Rat

    Diame. Noble.

    Downing Jarvis.

    Maiga.
    Cole.

  • mark says:

    As much as many of us would like to believe in Santa still i think a result against LFC is much the same as that, a fantasy. Whatever way BS sets up for Saturday the likes of Brendan Rodgers are more tactical astute and know what sams tactics will be as we just don’t have a b plan with the strikers(and i use the word loosely) we have

  • Spen55 says:

    I cant believe you’ve stuck Nolan in the side…AAAAGGGHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sound of West ham fan leaping off Tower Block….)

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