Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has named West Ham United midfielder Felipe Anderson as the player Liverpool should watch out for on Monday.
The Hammers enter the contest at the London Stadium on the back of three straight defeats in all competitions, and Nicholas predicts the Reds will make it four, plumping for a 2-1 away win.
“It also looks like Arnautovic may be struggling to be fit, despite what West Ham say, but they have Hernandez – if they keep him – and Anderson, who can be a real handle and when he does it well, he does it really, really well,” he wrote on the Sky Sports website.
“So, they will be dangerous and a real test for them and if they play it more like a counterattacking game, it will suit them and Liverpool will be a bit agitated. But I just feel this game will suit Liverpool going to the London Stadium and they will nick it, but there could be late drama with Origi coming off the bench to win it.”
OPINION
West Ham are reeling after their mid week defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, which followed an absolute shocker of a performance against AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup. They need a response in front of their home fans but it’s not going to be easy against the Premier League leaders. Jurgen Klopp’s side will realise they missed a golden opportunity against Leicester City on Wednesday and will likely come out all guns blazing on Monday. However, that might play into the Hammers’ hands. As Nicholas says, if Manuel Pellegrini can set his team up to frustrate the Reds and hit them on the counter, as they did against Southampton in December, then they might just pull off the improbable. With players like Anderson West Ham will always be a threat. The problem, of course, will be keeping Liverpool out at the other end. It’s extremely unlikely that Pellegrini’s team will be able to do that, making an away win the much more likely outcome here.
