Liverpool v West Ham Pre Match

[Ben_Itez]

I keep checking this thread for team news etc and all i get is you two bitching about the best way to judge a player

One thinks Benni is better, one Cole and yet both agree that it's hard to define the best way to judge a player. Round and round we go.

[Craig_H]

I keep checking this thread for team news etc and all i get is you two bitching about the best way to judge a player

One thinks Benni is better, one Cole and yet both agree that it's hard to define the best way to judge a player. Round and round we go.

'All' you get?

I've posted about 5 times today...

[Ben_Itez]

Not to be pedantic and to start another pointless debate but i make that 7 posts in this thread alone (i'll discount a couple aimed at my yawn comment, so 5).

Anyway you're not the only guilty party but you reacted to my yawn comment so are the recipient of my subsequent comments.

Anyway dont be so bloody literal

[anfieldanfield]

Meh, who cares...

[dww]

From the Beeb:
Liverpool v West Ham

Saturday, 20 November 2010

Barclays Premier League
Liverpool v West Ham 17:30
Venue: Anfield Date: Saturday, 20 November Kick-off: 1730 GMT

TEAM NEWS
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will be out of action for up to a month after suffering a hamstring strain on England duty.

Jay Spearing could be out for six weeks with an ankle problem, while fellow midfielder Lucas is suspended, but Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio are back.

West Ham manager Avram Grant has reported no new injury doubts following the midweek internationals.

Striker Carlton Cole will be hoping to make his 100th start for the Hammers.

Liverpool

Suspended: Lucas (one match)

Injured: Agger (calf), Cole & Gerrard (hamstring), Spearing (ankle)

West Ham

Injured: Ben Haim (foot), Collison, Hines & Kurucz (all knee), Hitzlsperger (thigh)

MATCH PREVIEW

Both Roy Hodgson and Avram Grant received the dreaded vote of confidence this week in a sure sign that pressure is mounting at both these clubs.

Liverpool's malaise was brought into sharp focus with defeat at Stoke last time out, a result that left the Anfield club hovering just three points above the relegation zone and renewed some fans' calls for the return of legend Kenny Dalglish.

John W Henry, the club's new American owner, was quick to back his manager and warned there is no "quick fix" to Liverpool's travails, but Hodgson will be well aware that patience is a virtue in short supply in the world of football. His cause has not been helped by the loss of talisman Steven Gerrard for up to a month with a hamstring strain.

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady also made it clear this week that Avram Grant has the full support of the club's board, despite the Hammers' worst-ever start to a Premier League season.

Grant's side are five points from safety and without a victory since September. Their last win on the road came at Wolves on the opening day of last season, an abysmal record that is unlikely to change at Anfield on Saturday - the Hammers have gone 47 years without winning there.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• West Ham haven't won at Anfield since September 1963 and have scored just four goals in 15 Premier League matches there.

• The Hammers have failed to score in 12 of their 15 Premier League visits to Anfield.

• Fernando Torres has scored five goals in four Premier League appearances against the London club.

Liverpool

• Torres has hit 44 goals in 47 Premier League appearances at Anfield.

• Twelve of Liverpool's 13 league goals this season have been scored or set-up by either Torres or Steven Gerrard. The exception was David Ngog's goal on the opening day against Arsenal.

• The Reds have lost all five league games this season in which they have conceded the first goal.

• Liverpool have lost 49 Premier League matches at Anfield.

West Ham

• West Ham are without a win in their last seven Premier League matches.

• Their sole victory in the league this season was a 1-0 win at home to Tottenham on 25 September.

• They have scored just five goals from open play, fewer than any other side in the top flight.

• The Hammers are without a Premier League win on the road in 24 outings.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Liverpool

Gerrard: 7 goals (3 league); Ngog: 7 goals (1 league);

Torres: 5 goals (5 league)

West Ham

Piquionne: 5 goals (4 league); Parker: 5 goals (3 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Lee Probert

Assistant referees: Stephen Child & Ceri Richards

Fourth official: Anthony Taylor

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Liverpool (L0-2 v Stoke, a): Reina; Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky, Meireles (Ngog 66), Lucas, Gerrard, Maxi (Babel 73), Torres, Kuyt. Subs not used: Jones, Jovanovic, Poulsen, Shelvey, Kelly.

West Ham (D0-0 v Blackpool, h): Green; Jacobsen, Upson, Gabbidon, Ilunga, Boa Morte (Cole 71), Noble, Parker, Dyer (Barrera 18), Obinna, Piquionne (McCarthy 82). Subs not used: Stech, Tomkins, Kovac, Spector.

[DannyMan2006]

Seem to have started quite a debate with my comments, even if people did entirely miss the point.........

My comparisons are based entirely on each players effectiveness for LFC, not what they did for past clubs. Poulsen was a great player, so was Cole. But that doesn't matter to me, what does is what they do for Liverpool.

It should also be said that opinions are subject to change. Players take time to settle so maybe my opinions will differ by the time it comes to them leaving LFC.

------

On another note, though I mock Poulsen and have little faith in him, I do hope he is not booed. He is not a lazy player and I have no doubt he tries his best. If he's not good enough that is the fault of the manager, not Poulsen. So let's get behind him, because despite my best wishes, even if we lost 5-0 to West Ham Roy will still be here.

[danperkins]

FFS sake dan, what are you trying to do to me?

its like the ultimate seal of approval

[dww]

Agree with Dannyman about booing Poulsen.

Not sure how we can put together a useful midfield given our injury list though. Doesn't seem like our expensive medical team are helping us a great deal at the minute.

[Craig_H]

Play 442 with a midfield of:

Kuyt Meireles Shelvey Maxi

If Kuyt's injured, shift Maxi to the right and play Babel left.

Or better still, give Pacheco a chance on either wing.

[RichC]

[QUOTE=Craig_H;1788093]Play 442 with a midfield of:

Kuyt Meireles Shelvey Maxi

If Kuyt's injured, shift Maxi to the right and play Babel left.

Or better still, give Pacheco a chance on either wing.[/QUOTE]

Nice idea that one, won't happen with Royston about though!

I expect Kuyt Meireles Poulson Maxi

[Craig_H]

Nah, you're right. Hodgson would never have the balls to play Dani Pacheco.

Thing is, considering he ****ed up the Carling Cup, when else are these kids going to get games? West Ham at home, is one game you must surely have the balls to try? Plus, Scott Parker's out and he's probably the only West Ham player who's shown up and done anything this season. He's their Gerrard, if you like and he's not available.

They *shouldnt* have too much to hurt us.

[Ben_Itez]

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady also made it clear this week that Avram Grant has the full support of the club's board, despite the Hammers' worst-ever start to a Premier League season.

Grant's side are five points from safety and without a victory since September. Their last win on the road came at Wolves on the opening day of last season, an abysmal record that is unlikely to change at Anfield on Saturday - the Hammers have gone 47 years without winning there.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• West Ham haven't won at Anfield since September 1963 and have scored just four goals in 15 Premier League matches there.

• The Hammers have failed to score in 12 of their 15 Premier League visits to Anfield.

• Fernando Torres has scored five goals in four Premier League appearances against the London club.

Liverpool

• Torres has hit 44 goals in 47 Premier League appearances at Anfield.

• Twelve of Liverpool's 13 league goals this season have been scored or set-up by either Torres or Steven Gerrard. The exception was David Ngog's goal on the opening day against Arsenal.

• The Reds have lost all five league games this season in which they have conceded the first goal.

• Liverpool have lost 49 Premier League matches at Anfield.

West Ham

• West Ham are without a win in their last seven Premier League matches.

• Their sole victory in the league this season was a 1-0 win at home to Tottenham on 25 September.

• They have scored just five goals from open play, fewer than any other side in the top flight.

• The Hammers are without a Premier League win on the road in 24 outings.

Despite a few injuries Roy really needs to go if we lose to West Ham - no excuses. I'm pretty obviously of the opinion that he has to go regardless but a loss tomorrow really would be inexcusable.

Some shocking stats highlighted above. They even manage to make Roy's away record look good

[Craig_H]

Even a draw wouldnt be good enough mate.

[Ben_Itez]

Nah, you're right. Hodgson would never have the balls to play Dani Pacheco.

Thing is, considering he ****ed up the Carling Cup, when else are these kids going to get games? West Ham at home, is one game you must surely have the balls to try? Plus, Scott Parker's out and he's probably the only West Ham player who's shown up and done anything this season. He's their Gerrard, if you like and he's not available.

They *shouldnt* have too much to hurt us.

What's up with Parker?

[RichC]

Nah, you're right. Hodgson would never have the balls to play Dani Pacheco.

Thing is, considering he ****ed up the Carling Cup, when else are these kids going to get games? West Ham at home, is one game you must surely have the balls to try? Plus, Scott Parker's out and he's probably the only West Ham player who's shown up and done anything this season. He's their Gerrard, if you like and he's not available.

They *shouldnt* have too much to hurt us.

I agree, in a game such as this at home with them missing their most important player I'd love to see us a) go for the throat and b) give some of our young talent a chance.

We have Kelly, Pachecho, Shelvey, Wilson and N'gog all sniffing around the first team and with the current injury situation playing 3 of them wouldn't be a problem for me (Kelly, N'gog and Shelvey) with the others getting a run out 2nd half as long as it's going well.

It won't happen though, Hodgson isn't about taking us forwards or building something at the club he is all about self preservation hence I expect to see what has become the norm