OPINION
It is safe to say that West Ham United were in a defensive predicament after their woeful showing against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds ran riot at Anfield and subjected the Hammers to a heavy 4-0 defeat in their season opener.
It was West Ham’s shocking defending that made Liverpool start scoring for fun, and there is no excuse for that type of showing in the Premier League.
New first teamer Ryan Fredericks is part of the back line that is to blame, and he must change his ways imminently or boss Manuel Pellegrini will surely be wielding the axe.
The Hammers manager cannot afford to have players in the senior team who put out such shocking performances, especially as the club have splashed out this summer to prove they are genuine competitors.
The back four were defending so high, Liverpool could not have found it easier to cut through them time and time again.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are renound for their intense attacking style, and the former Fulham right-back needs to be tighter on the opponents’ wingers to prevent them getting into any space, which Liverpool were doing repeatedly yesterday.
Fredericks possesses immense pace but he struggled immensely against a far superior Liverpool side, and that must change for him to have any sort of future at the London Stadium.
The club are arguably entering a new era with the signings they have acquired, and the 25-year-old is at risk of not being a part of that based on his recent performance.
It is easy to criticise a player after only one match, but that match can help define the rest of a team’s season.
Hopefully that is not the case with West Ham, and that yesterday was just a blip for Fredericks.
Either way, he must improve on his inadequate display and prove to Pellegrini he is worth the start against Bournemouth this weekend – or face the chop.
