West Ham United vs. Liverpool: How Reds Will Line Up in Premier League Game
After a rough 0-1 loss against Aston Villa at Anfield last week, Liverpool will be hoping to get their Premier League campaign back on track as they visit Upton Park to take on West Ham United this Saturday.
Their loss to Villa means that pressure has started to intensify on the Reds after just four games in the season, as their two defeats already have them six points behind league leaders Chelsea, and four behind last week’s conquerors Villa.
West Ham, on the other hand, are two points behind Liverpool and would leapfrog their visitors if they secure a win on Saturday.
With Daniel Sturridge and Joe Allen still injured, here’s how Liverpool could line up on Saturday, in a 4-4-2 diamond formation that is arguably their most effective now.
Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet
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It’s not been a very good start to the season by Simon Mignolet by any measure, but until Brendan Rodgers signs another goalkeeper to compete for the No. 1 spot at Anfield, the Belgian will keep his place in the starting XI.
Right-Back: Javi Manquillo
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Liverpool had Javi Manquillo to thank on Tuesday as he won a last-gasp penalty against unfancied Ludogorets in their first Champions League game in five years.
Manquillo has now firmly established his place in the first team, but West Ham will provide a new test for the young right-back.
Left-Back: Alberto Moreno
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With Manquillo and Alberto Moreno, Liverpool finally have two complete full-backs manning their flanks, who will only get better with time.
Yet as much as Moreno has impressed with his forward forays, Upton Park, with Sam Allardyce’s penchant for strong, physical football, may yet be a baptism of fire for the left-back.
Center Back: Dejan Lovren
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Following what seemed like a commanding performance on his unofficial Reds debut in their final preseason friendly against Borussia Dortmund, Dejan Lovren has regressed and shown form that has largely belied his considerable price tag.
While Lovren and Mamadou Sakho were on paper the best central defensive pairing for Rodgers this season, with Martin Skrtel on his way back from injury, perhaps Rodgers will install Skrtel back into his starting lineup. If that’s the case, Lovren may yet be worried about his place in the team.
Center Back: Mamadou Sakho
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So often so impressive for France at international level, Mamadou Sakho seems to go amiss sometimes at club level. As a pair, Sakho and Lovren contributed to a rare clean sheet away at Tottenham Hotspur, yet they also contrived to concede a soft goal against Aston Villa at home.
Sakho is still comfortably the most technically accomplished defender at Anfield, but his partnership with Lovren needs fine-tuning quickly. Otherwise one of the pair may be relegated to the bench when Skrtel returns to the team.
Holding Midfielder: Steven Gerrard
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Much has been made of Steven Gerrard’s last-minute penalty to seal all three points for Liverpool on their much-vaunted return to the Champions League—cue headlines about a late rescue act once more.
But for long periods during the previous game against Aston Villa, Gerrard was rendered almost anonymous by the constant pressing and tracking of Gabby Agbonlahor. He’ll need to work on his positioning to evade any man-markers, as Paul Lambert might have shown the rest of the league just how to contain Gerrard’s passing and vision.
Central Midfielder: Jordan Henderson
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Newly appointed vice-captain Jordan Henderson has been an increasing presence in the Liverpool squad and on the field for some time now, but his latest achievement is a vindication of his importance in Brendan Rodgers’ team.
He now has to become a consistent dominant force in the midfield for Liverpool, especially as Gerrard’s powers continue to fade and his creative qualities require a top-class shield to fully manifest themselves on the pitch.
Central Midfielder: Lucas
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From the Reds’ point of view, it’s extremely disappointing to have lost a few key players so early on in the season, especially with a tough start to the campaign.
Joe Allen, one of Liverpool’s most impressive performers prior to the international break, is sorely missed in the heart of the midfield due to his injury. With Emre Can also out injured, Lucas will step in and offer a stronger and more stable platform than a withdrawn Philippe Coutinho would.
Attacking Midfielder: Raheem Sterling
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With Daniel Sturridge injured and no striker on Liverpool’s books that offer the same searing pace and threat on goal as he does, Coutinho’s influence on their game has unsurprisingly diminished.
In the current setup, Raheem Sterling, with his direct running and effervescent pressing on the opposition midfield, would be the best option in the No. 10 role. He’s fast becoming Liverpool’s most important player.
Striker: Mario Balotelli
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Three encouraging performances from new striker Mario Balotelli, especially with his newfound work rate, led to an important first goal in a Liverpool shirt, scored against Ludogorets at the Kop End.
With Sturridge injured, he has had to shoulder Liverpool’s attacking burden but still has yet to fully gel into the side. Reverting to a 4-4-2 diamond would bring an extra forward alongside him to occupy defenders and give him space to create his match-winning magic.
Striker: Fabio Borini
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Just a few weeks ago, when the transfer window shut with Fabio Borini rejecting a last-minute move to Queens Park Rangers, his decision to stay put at Anfield both bemused and frustrated Liverpool fans.
Yet his qualities mean that he should now move ahead of Rickie Lambert in the pecking order, and with the 4-4-2 diamond being Liverpool’s optimal shape, he should now be Balotelli’s preferred strike partner from the start.
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