Liverpool vs West Ham United
These two Premier League clubs needs to get used to Sunday afternoon action – this side of Christmas at least – so now seems as good a time to start as any.
For with both Liverpool and West Ham’s respective Europa League campaigns underway, a Thursday-Sunday programme could be a fairly regular occurrence.
Both teams have made good starts to the season and will be looking to continue in that vein when they meet at Anfield.
Talking Points
If recent history counts for anything mind, it will be a home banker.
For West Ham have a lousy recent record at this ground, indeed they rarely have Premier League highlights to savour at most of the established top six clubs.
Equally, manager David Moyes has lost 23 top-flight fixtures against Liverpool, one short of the Premier League record for most managerial defeats versus a particular opponent. That was set by Harry Redknapp versus Manchester United.
Both teams won 3-1 in their European outings on Thursday night.
The Merseysiders came from behind to record a 3-1 success against LASK of Austria. It was a performance which demonstrated the options and depth of quality available to boss Jurgen Klopp as he gained his 50th victory in Europe for the club, the most by a Liverpool manager in its history.
He rang the changes in that match and likely will again as they continue to assess full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been out for two matches with a hamstring issue.
New signing Ryan Gravenberch, withdrawn against LASK because of cramp, should be fit, while Virgil van Dijk returns from a ban, although midfielder Thiago Alcantara remains out.
West Ham have a potential blow as Jarrod Bowen, the first player to score in each of their opening three away fixtures in a top-flight campaign since Vic Watson in 1930, is a doubt after missing their Europa League success against the little known Serbians, Backa Topola.
Aaron Cresswell is nursing a hamstring problem and is also doubtful but Edson Alvarez will return from a European ban.
They will, though, have James Ward-Prowse in their ranks.
The summer midfield signing has scored or assisted in all six of his league and cup appearances for West Ham so far, netting twice and creating seven goals for team-mates.
Indeed, it is form which suggests they have secured one of the signings of the summer. Certainly, I was a bit surprised why the dead-ball specialist didn’t appear on the radar of some other clubs.
Moyes fought to bring Ward-Prowse in from Southampton in the summer, reasoning that his clever passing and set-piece prowess would improve his side, and can take immense satisfaction from how West Ham have recovered from selling Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105 million.
He made nine changes in that match and will no doubt do so again with a staring XI similar to that which won last time out on the road to spoil Luton’s big homecoming.
History
On 81 occasions have Liverpool defeated West Ham, ever since their first meeting in the 1901 FA Cup.
That includes the league meeting at Anfield last season when a solitary goal from Dawrin Nunez was enough and the Hammers missed a penalty.
The return fixture in April also went the way of the Merseysiders as they won 2-1 in east London with Cody Gapko and Joel Matip netted after Lucas Paqueta had opened the scoring for the home side.
Overall, there have been 29 wins for the east Londoners and 37 draws.
As respective league and cup winners, they did clash in the 1964 Charity Shield at Wembley when the teams played out a 2-2 draw at Anfield with the home side managed by Bill Shankly and future England manager Ron Greenwood at the helm of the Hammers.
They also met in the Charity Shield in 1980, a match won 1-0 by Liverpool, and their most famous game was in the 1981 League Cup Final.
In a compelling finish, Alan Kennedy thought he had won it for Liverpool with a 118th minute goal only for Ray Stewart to equalise with a penalty in the final minute of extra-time.
That led to a replay at Villa Park where goals from Scottish duo Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen secured a 2-1 Merseyside win after Paul Goddard had put West Ham in front.
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