Category: Match Previews

Preview: Liverpool v Atletico Madrid

Liverpool host Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night in the second leg of their crucial Champions League Round of 16 knockout tie that could define the rest of the Reds’ season. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg thanks to Saul Niguez’s early strike and with the Premier League close to secure, focus will shift to ensuring that Jurgen Klopp’s men keep their European title defence alive.

The Reds have notoriously been out of form since the winter break having lost 3 of their 6 since games since then in all competitions including the first leg in Madrid. Further, having only limped past Norwich, West Ham and Bournemouth during this period, there is a feeling that the Spanish giants could not have picked a better time to visit Anfield.

However, Atletico have their own problems and currently sit in sixth place in La Liga, outside the Champions League places they have finished in every season since 2012/13. Still only 2 points off third place, Diego Simeone’s men have drawn an incredible 12 of their 27 games this season including 2 of their 3 games since the first leg.

With neither Spain nor England yet to feel the full effect of the Coronavirus, a packed Anfield will play a key role on Wednesday night just like it did last season against Barcelona. While there is uncertainty about how the rest of the season will play out, both sides can only look to the task in front of them with Atleti looking to repair the wounds from this stage last season.

Taking a 2-0 lead from the first leg against Juventus 12 months ago, Simeone’s men could only watch in horror as Cristiano Ronaldo inspired the old lady to a comeback in Turin. A late penalty sealed Atleti’s fate and ultimately saw the Mattress Makers overhaul their ageing squad in last summer.

Of course, last time Atletico arrived at Anfield defending a 1-0 first leg lead it was the Madrid side who advanced to the next round courtesy of a victory on away goals after extra time. However, having taken place almost 10 years ago in the 2009/2010 Europa League semi-final and with both clubs in entirely different situations, that result is unlikely to have too much relevance on Wednesday night.

Atleti were good value for their first leg lead after frustrating the Reds and preventing Klopp’s men from registering a single shot on target at the Wanda Metropolitano. It was a classic Simeone performance, one that has been so sorely lacking so far this season and provides a blueprint for what Atletico will attempt to recreate on Merseyside.

Of course, there were positives for Klopp to – despite his attack largely misfiring on the day it is rare that a side will dominate possession (73%) without creating any chances. Further, Atleti didn’t create too much themselves in Madrid but demonstrated how formidable they can be when given a lead to defend.

Team News

The big news for Klopp is that captain Jordan Henderson may be fit to return to the starting lineup having returned to full training on Sunday. Henderson’s absence coincided with the Reds’ recent poor run and while he may not quite be up to match sharpness, the former Sunderland man’s leadership would be invaluable.

Andrew Robertson should also be fit to return having sat out on Saturday’s win over Bournemouth as a precaution meaning that there will likely be no room for James Milner despite his goalline clearance against the Cherries. The only negative for the Reds will be the absence of Alisson Becker who is unlikely to be fit before after the upcoming international break while Xherdan Shaqiri remains a long-term absence.

With the back 4 and front 3 just about picking themselves, especially after both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane found the back of the next against Bournemouth, the only contention remains in midfield. Fabinho has looked sluggish in recent weeks and may be the most vulnerable should Henderson start which Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain offers drive and goals in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, Simeone has been able to name close to a full-strength side to travel to Merseyside including Joao Felix, Kieran Trippier and Hector Herrera who all missed the first leg. The Argentine will be sweating on the fitness of Alvaro Morata after the Spanish striker who will have to pass a late fitness test to feature.

With a lead to protect, Alteti will more than likely again field a narrow 4-4-2 in order to compress the space in which the Reds’ front 3 can operate while offering a threat on the break. Stefan Savic and Felipe seem to have cemented their positions at the heart of the Atleti defence ahead of Jan Oblak while Renan Lodi and Trippier should start on the flanks.

Ahead of them, surprise first leg starter Thomas Lemar is also a doubt due to a knock but may have been sacrificed anyway in pursuit of a more functional midfield. With Saul, Koke and Thomas Partey pretty much the first names on the teamsheet, there is one spot remain with Yannick Carrasco and Marco Llorente the main contenders.

Prediction

If the Reds’ cannot overturn the 1-0 deficit on Wednesday night, there is a chance that this incredible season could drift with the Premier League title all but secured. Klopp’s men have no distraction and no excuses with a chance to defend their crown as champions of Europe surely a huge motivation for a team that has never lacked desire.

However, this will be no easy task – Atleti know what they need to do and how to do it while also possessing more than enough ability to score a few themselves to make the Reds task even harder. I don’t see Simeone’s men being kept scoreless, particularly with Alisson out, but I have to be optimistic and go for a 3-1 win for the Reds.

Match Preview: Liverpool v Bournemouth

For the fourth weekend in a row, Liverpool play a team from the Premier League’s relegation zone when Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth visit Anfield on Saturday. While the Reds’ fixtures since the winter break have been kind on paper, Jurgen Klopp’s men have only managed to edge past Norwich City and West Ham before the shock loss to Watford last weekend.

Another loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup on Tuesday has put the Reds’ record-breaking season in threat of falling into freefall with Klopp’s men having now lost 3 in 4. While the Premier League title still looks likely to end up on Merseyside, Liverpool’s run could see them out of the Champions League as well with Atletico Madrid set to visit on Wednesday.

It is tempting to overplay the nature of the Reds’ poor form, with most rival fans and many in the media quick to seize upon Liverpool’s wobble as a sign things are falling apart. However, the truth is that even the best teams endure peaks and troughs – the real mark of this Liverpool side will be how they bounce back from the last month or so.

If Klopp was looking for the perfect side to play right now, Bournemouth may well have been near the top of his list with the Cherries in the middle of a poor run themselves. Having won just twice in the league this year, Howe’s men have slipped into the relegation zone for the first time this season and could find themselves in real trouble.

The Cherries did manage to secure an impressive point at home last weekend against Chelsea after 2 goals in 3 minutes after halftime gave Howe’s men an unlikely lead. While the Blues dominated possession, Bournemouth created more than enough chances on the break and will likely seek to play the same way at Anfield.

The Cherries have scored just 27 goals in 28 games this season, less than a goal per game, and 4.2 goals fewer than their expected goals tally for the season so far (31.2). Howe’s men also have the fourth-lowest goals and assists per game in the league with just 1.57 compared to last season where the finished fourteenth on the back of 2.58 goals and assists per game.

The biggest difference this time out has been the form of Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser who assisted each other for 12 league goals last terms but have struggled so far this campaign. Fraser in particularly has been a shadow of his former self with the Scottish winger’s 1 goal and 4 assists a major drop on his output of 7 goals and 14 assists last season.

Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson has helped to pick up some of that slack with 7 goals in the league so far but the Welshman is yet to register an assist this campaign. The 22-year-old is ineligible to face his parent club anyway with Josh King likely to keep his place in the starting lineup having scored the Cherries’ second against Chelsea.

For the Reds, a long string of clean sheets stretching back to the end of 2019 has now well and truly ended with Klopp’s men conceding 8 goals in their last 4 games. However, the defence are far from the only ones struggling with Liverpool also kept scoreless in 3 of those 4 games en route to their worst spell of form since the early days of the Klopp era.

In fact, while the back 4 have conceded some silly, avoidable goals, the lack of firepower is arguably a bigger concern for a side who largely plays attractive, progressive football. The Reds’ front three have looked out of ideas at times against deeper defences with the likes of Atletico and Watford providing a blueprint on how to frustrate Liverpool.

Having beaten the Reds in Klopp’s first full season at Anfield in December 2016, the Cherries have not scored against Liverpool in their last 5 encounters while conceding an aggregate of 17 goals. Goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah saw the Reds run out 3-0 victors in the reverse fixture with a similar result much needed at Anfield.

Team News

The big news for the Reds in the Alisson Becker is likely ou until after the international break after sustaining a hip injury in training during the week. The Brazilian will also miss the second leg against Atletico meaning that Adrian will again deputise while Caoimhin Kelleher’s injury means that Andy Lonergan will likely make the bench.

It is slightly better news for Naby Keita who is close to returning from his latest setback while Jordan Henderson is a chance to feature against Atletico on Wednesday. Xherdan Shaqiri is the Reds’ only other injury absence while Nathaniel Clyne picks up his recovery from the ligament damage his sustained in pre-season.

Having rested some of his first-team against Chelsea, Klopp will likely revert to his usual eleven with Georginio Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho and James Milner fighting for the midfield spots. Meanwhile, Sadio Mane could be in for a rest having played 90 minutes against Chelsea and with the crucial Champions League tie on the horizon.

For Bournemouth, Howe is without long term absentees David Brooks, Arnaut Danjuma and Chris Mepham but may be able to call upon returning fullback Lloyd Kelly. As mentioned previously, Harry Wilson is also unavailable meaning that Callum Wilson, Fraser and King will likely make up the Cherries front 3.

In goal, 21-year-old ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale has impressed this season for the struggling Cherries behind a backline marshalled by Dutch centre-back Nathan Ake. Finally, in midfield, Howe will likely stick with Philip Billing and Jefferson Lerma while the likes of Lewis Cook, Dan Gosling and Andrew Surman are in contention for the final spot.

While on paper this Bournemouth side still look like they did in previous seasons, a lack of progression appears to have hurt the Premier Leagues’ smallest club by stadium capacity. Regardless of whether the Cherries manage to beat the drop this season, a fresh start may be in order for both the club and their highly-rated manager.

Prediction

It is hard to know what to expect from this Liverpool team in the last few weeks and while it is hard to imagine a Bournemouth victory, it is impossible to rule out completely. While the Cherries arguably lack a disciplined and physical defence like the Reds have struggled to break down in recent weeks, you wouldn’t bet against them scoring either.

This could be the perfect opportunity for the Reds to kick back into gear, though it feels like I have been saying that for the last couple of weeks now to no avail. I’m going to go for a 3-2 draw that will hopefully prove a turning point for Klopp’s men just before Atletico arrive in England next week.

Match Preview: Chelsea v Liverpool

Liverpool have a chance to bounce back immediately from their disappointment on Saturday when the Reds visit Chelsea in the FA Cup on Tuesday night. After seeing their unbeaten Premier League run come to an end at the hands of Watford, Jurgen Klopp’s men will hope to get straight back on the horse against Frank Lampard’s Blues.

Chelsea find themselves in 4th place in the Premier League this season – a promising performance from a young side who have been hindered by a transfer ban in the summer. While Lampard’s men have been rather inconsistent at times, the former Blues’ midfielder has given chances to a number of young players who could thrive over the next few years.

Having been unable to make signings during the off-season, Lampard has blooded the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Reece James. Also in his first season managing in the Premier League, Lampard has retained the faith of the Stamford Bridge faithful in part due to his past performances for the club as a player and will be judged more harshly from next season.

When the 2 sides met earlier in the season, Liverpool ran out 2-1 winners at the Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino. The Reds also triumphed after a penalty shootout between the sides back in August to lift the UEFA Super Cup following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

The Reds have enjoyed a decent record at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons and have lost just once in their last 5 trips to South London with 2 wins and 2 draws. However, the last time the sides met in the FA Cup, it was the Blues who came out on top in the 2012 final at Wembley when Ramires and Didier Drogba scored the goals for Roberto di Matteo’s side.

If the Reds do manage to win on Tuesday night, Jurgen Klopp’s men will make it to the sixth round for the first time during the German’s tenure at Anfield. Liverpool last made it this far in 2015 when Brendan Rodgers guided the Reds to a semi-final appearance in Steven Gerrard’s last season with the club before losing to Aston Villa at Wembley.

Of course, the big question is how seriously the two managers take this opportunity for FA Cup silverware with the potential that both will field weakened sides. Klopp’s feelings on the cup are widely known, though Lampard utilised a fairly strong eleven in the previous round as the Blues squeezed past Hull City in the last round.

While it is unlikely that Klopp fields the kids like he did for the fourth round replay against Shrewsbury Town last month, a composite eleven is likely with a crucial clash with Atletico Madrid on the horizon. The Reds face Diego Simeone’s men in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie next week in a game Klopp will surely prioritise over the ‘lowly’ FA Cup.

Of course, Klopp may be more tempted to field a strong eleven in the knowledge that the fifth round ties are no longer subject to a replay in the event of a draw on the night. In order to incorporate the winter break, the fifth round onwards will be settled on the night no matter what with drawn games going into extra time and potentially penalties.

Team News

Lampard has a number of injury concerns to deal with on Tuesday with N’Golo Kante, Abraham, Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Marko van Ginkel all absent through injury. Meanwhile, Andreas Christensen is in doubt after sustaining a knock against Bournemouth at the weekend leaving Lampard with a small squad to chose from.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is likely to be given a chance having been dropped after the Blues’ 2-2 draw with Arsenal in January in favour of Willy Caballero. Lampard has fluctuated between a 3-5-2 and a 4-3-3 in recent weeks but will probably opt for the former against the Premier League leaders in order to keep things tight at the back.

If Lampard does make changes, the likes of Ross Barkley, Michy Batshuayi and Willian could be in line for a return to the starting eleven alongside the likes of Olivier Giroud and Jorginho. Meanwhile, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is an outside chance for selection having recently returned from a long-term Achille’s injury, though the Englishman featured for the Blues’ U23 side last night.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are still without captain Jordan Henderson and Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri on Tuesday night while Naby Keita is targeting a return against Bournemouth on the weekend. However, Klopp is boosted by the return to fitness of James Milner with Joe Gomez also available after shrugging off a mild concern that saw him sit out at the weekend.

The Reds will also be without young winger Harvey Elliott who featured in the earlier rounds of the cup but is unavailable as he is set to feature for the U19s in Benfica on Tuesday afternoon. Klopp did confirm that Neco Williams and Ki-Jana Hoever have been training with the first-team and could feature against the Blues.

With changes likely, the likes of Adrian, Joel Matip, Adam Lallana, Curtis Jones, Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino will fancy their chances of being given further minutes. The big question is whether Klopp rings wholesale changes and brings in the likes of Pedro Chirivella as well or whether a strong core is fielded to give the Reds a good chance of getting to the next round.

Prediction

The joy of the FA Cup is that it is hard to know what will happen in any given tie, especially when the strength of the starting elevens on show is questionable. While the Reds are undoubtedly in a stronger position right now than Lampard’s Chelsea, I think this tie is more significant for the Blues who might cause the Liverpool’s third loss in 2 weeks. I’ll go for a 2-1 win for Chelsea.

Match Preview: Watford v Liverpool

With just 4 more wins required to mathematically secure the Premier League trophy, Liverpool travel to struggling Watford on Saturday night looking to take another big step towards a drought-breaking league title. With 11 games to go, the Reds have the finish line in sight but will need to be careful they don’t take Nigel Pearson’s relegation candidates for granted.

Pearson is the Hornets’ third manager of the season with the Pozzo family sacking both Javi Gracia and his replacement Quique Sanchez Flores before the turn of the year. The former Leicester manager oversaw a short term upturn in form with Watford winning 4 of Pearson’s first 7 games in charge, though that optimism has rather abated in recent weeks.

That run was enough to take the Hornets from rock bottom and 6 points from safety in December to second bottom and just 1 point from safety come the end of February but Pearson’s men are far from out of the woods. Having failed to win any of their last 5 games in the league and knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League One Tranmere, Watford still have a mountain to climb to maintain their Premier League status.

The Hornets’ struggles this seasons have come as somewhat of a surprise on the back of 4 consecutive Premier League seasons without ever finishing with less than 40 points or seriously in trouble. Last season was the best of the bunch with Watford finishing in 11th with 50 points and looking to push even higher up the table this season.

It wasn’t like Gracia lost a number of big-names in the transfer market that would explain the Hornets’ difficult season, though a lack of many big name additions may have seen their rivals make up ground. However, Watford have had some injury troubles losing club captain Troy Deeney for 9 games earlier in the season while right-back Daryl Janmaat has been absent since November with a knee injury.

To make matters worse for Pearson, Watford have a largely terrible record against the Reds in recent seasons which continued back in December at Anfield in the Englishman’s second game in charge. In fact, over the last 4 Premier League meetings between these sides, Liverpool have beaten the Hornets, on aggregate, 15-0 including to 5-0 drubbings at Anfield.

However, prior to that, the Hornets won a creditable point at Vicarage Road after a 3-3 draw on the opening day of the 2017/18 season and upset the Reds 3-0 in December 2015 at the same venue. While those are the Hornets’ only positive results against Liverpool since returning to the Premier League, those results show the Reds will need to be on their toes away from home.

One of Watford’s problems this season has been scoring enough goals to beat the drop with 24 in 27 games the equal worst record in the division and Deeney the club’s top scorer with just 5 strikes. Meanwhile, Gerald Deulofeu’s 4 goals and 5 assists marks him as the Hornet’s most creative player, though the Spaniard has once against experienced an inconsistent season.

With an easier run around the corner including 4 teams from the bottom half in their next 6 games, Watford’s relegation is far from a foregone conclusion. While a result against the Premier League leaders may be a steep task, the Hornets’ will take heart from the Reds’ slight dip since the winter break.

In between struggling to 1 goal victories against sides near the bottom of the table, Jurgen Klopp’s men succumbed to a 1-0 loss in Madrid that leaves work to do in the Champions League Round of 16 tie. In many ways, the fixture list could not have been kinder for Liverpool who host Bournemouth next week to complete 4 games in a row against sides in the bottom 5.

It won’t take Klopp’s phenomenal side long to kick back into top gear and with a record 19th-straight Premier League victory on the line, Watford may have to prepare for a tough night. With changes likely for the midweek FA Cup fifth round tie with Chelsea, the Reds will be able to focus on the task at hand and could give Pearson another tough night.

Team News

Pearson is back at close to a full squad to chose from with Janmaat returning to full training this week after more than 3 months out of the side through injury. In fact, the only player who Watford are definitely without fellow full-back Kiko Femenia who is also back in training but not yet match fit.

In their absence, Pearson has rotated centre-backs Craig Dawson and Adrian Mariappa on the right side of the defence with the rest of the back 4 relatively settled. Meanwhile, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue have been close to ever-present in midfield all season with Will Hughes or Nathaniel Chalobah likely to complete the side.

Out wide, Deulofeu is one of the first names on the team sheet from the left-hand side while Roberto Pereyra position on the right also seems relatively safe with Ismaila Sarr likely his closest competition. Finally, up front Deeney is Watford’s talisman and is the man who looks to make the rest of the side work, though Pearson may need to give him a strike partner in the coming weeks if goals remain an issue.

For the Reds, both captain Jordan Henderson and vice-captain James Milner remain sidelined along with Xherdan Shaqiri, though those are the Reds’ only current injury concerns. In the absence of his designated leaders on the field, Klopp will more than likely again hand the captain’s armband to Virgil van Dijk meaning that there will be no leadership void at Vicarage Road.

With the visit to Stamford Bridge on the horizon and the likelihood that Klopp will heavily rotate for the FA Cup, expect the German to field a full-strength side as his side chase these last 4 wins. The likes of Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Divock Origi and Adrian will have to content themselves with minutes alongside the kids on Tuesday night with midfield the only really contentious selection.

It seems likely that Fabinho, still working his way back to full fitness, will anchor the midfield away from home with Georginio Wijnaldum also close to a certainty the 5th most minutes of any Liverpool player this season. Having made an impact from the bench against West Ham, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to complete the midfield though don’t be surprised if Klopp shows faith in Naby Keita after an indifferent performance against the Hammers.

Prediction

As with seemingly every week at the moment, it is hard to see how Watford can get anything out of this record-breaking Liverpool side, especially given the Hornets’ offence is coming up against the best defence in the league. Sooner or later the Reds will get back to their form from earlier this season and while that may not happen at Vicarage Road, I think the Reds will run out comfortable 2-0 winners on the night.

Match Preview: Liverpool v West Ham

For the second time in a month, Liverpool will take on relegation-threatened West Ham on Monday night in a clash that could have ramifications at both ends of the park. At the end of January, the Reds ran out 2-0 victors at the London Stadium with Mohamed Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain finding the back of the net for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

West Ham have still won just once in the Premier League since David Moyes returned to the club at the end of December and have slipped into the relegation positions in recent weeks. With a tough run of fixtures on the horizon, it seems unlikely that the Hammers will find themselves out of trouble any time soon with a trip to Anfield their latest concern.

Since the sides last met, Moyes’ men twice threw away a 2 goal lead against Brighton to draw 3-3 before losing convincingly to Manchester City last Wednesday. The Hammers were incredibly passive at the Etihad Stadium with just 22% possession and 0 shots on target and will need to show at least a little more ambition if they are to get a result against the Reds.

Meanwhile, Klopp’s men will be keen to bounce back from the disappointing defeat in Madrid which leaves them with plenty of work to do in the second leg next month. While Atletico Madrid may have provided a blueprint for how to stifle this Liverpool side, it seems unlikely that too many sides will be able to match the intensity of Diego Simeone’s men.

In fact, it seems more likely that the opposite might happen with the Reds keen to prove a point and make an example of a West Ham side that is low on confidence. Additionally, with just 4 more wins needed to secure the Premier League title, Klopp’s men will be focussed on the task at hand and it could prove to be a long afternoon for the visitors.

Interestingly, the Hammers rank in mid-table for most of the key stats usually used to judge the health of a side – 16th for shots per game (10.2), 16th for possession (46.4%) and 13th for pass accuracy (76.7%). Despite these stats, an inability to take their chances has seen the Hammers slide into relegation trouble with no easy route to safety.

For the Reds, Monday night’s game at Anfield is a chance to go 44 games unbeaten in the Premier League and equal Manchester City’s record of 18 straight victories in the process. That would put the Reds among the elite teams of the Premier League era in terms of statistics and within 3 wins of securing the Premier League title.

Team News

Having hobbled off with 10 minutes to go at the Wanda Metropolitano, Liverpool will be without captain Jordan Henderson on Monday night. The former Sunderland man sustained a hamstring injury in Madrid and will be out for around 3 weeks at a crucial stage of the season for his side – a particular worry given Henderson’s recent form.

Klopp is also still without Xhedan Shaqiri and Nathaniel Clyne but otherwise has close to a full squad to chose from, especially with almost a week until the Reds next play. That gap should see the German field a strong eleven at Anfield with the elusive title getting closer and closer with each passing week.

While the back 4 and front 3 likely pick themselves, the big question is who starts in midfield, especially given Henderson’s absence and the Reds’ difficult night in Madrid. It is possible that both Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will return to the Liverpool eleven in a more attacking lineup with either Georginio Wijnaldum or Fabinho to anchor the midfield.

For West Ham, Andriy Yarmolenko is still unavailable for selection while Ryan Fredericks is also doubtful having injured his shoulder against City. Otherwise, Moyes has close to a full squad to choose from with January signings Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek both in contention to add extra firepower to the Hammers attack.

Moyes has tended to opt for a back 5 since his return to the London Stadium with the combination of Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna and Aaron Cresswell regularly starting at the heart of the defence. Ahead of them, Mark Noble and Declan Rice are certain to start while new boy Soucek offers a physical presence in midfield.

Further forward, things are less clear cut with the likes of Sebastien Haller, Michail Antonio, Robert Snodgrass, Felipe Anderson, Manuel Lanzini and Bowen in contention to start. Having not scored since his side’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth at the beginning of the year, Haller appears to have fallen out of favour though offers the best chance of the Hammers being able to hold up play.

Prediction

With West Ham in terrible form and Liverpool looking to avenge their defeat in Madrid, it is hard to see this one going any other way than another victory for Klopp’s men. While Moyes has indicated he will look to be more positive than at the Etihad last week, in truth that may well play into the Reds’ hands and take them without 3 wins of Premier League glory. I’ll go for a 3-0 win for Liverpool.

Match Preview: Atletico Madrid v Liverpool

After a two month hiatus, Champions League football returns tonight when Liverpool travel to Madrid for the first leg of their Round of 16 tie with Atletico. With the Premier League title only 5 wins away, Jurgen Klopp’s focus will be on trying to secure another Champions League title after the Reds lifted the big-eared trophy in June.

Of course, the first leg of this tie sees the Reds return to the scene of that triumph, the Wanda Metropolitano, where a 2-0 win over Tottenham saw Jordan Henderson lift the club’s 6th European Cup. On that night, Liverpool fans far outnumbered those from Spurs in the 68,456 seat venue which will certainly not be the case on the Reds’ second visit.

Atletico have endured a frustrating start to the current campaign and currently find themselves in 4th in La Liga, 13 points behind neighbours Real Madrid after 24 games. Having also been knocked out of the Cope del Rey in the Round of 16 by third division outfit Cultural Leonesa, the Champions League represents the last chance for Los Colchoneros to win silverware this season.

Diego Simeone’s men have been in particularly bad form of late and have won just 1 on their last 5 games in La Liga, a 1-0 home victory over Granada. During this run, Atleti have lost to Eibar and Real Madrid and drawn with Leganes and Valencia, a series of results that should be of concern ahead of the visit of the World Champions.

Atletico made it through to the Round of 16 courtesy of finishing second in a relatively tough group that included Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Lokomotiv Moscow. Despite losing away from home in Italy and Germany, Simeone’s men were unbeaten at the Metropolitano and progressed with a 2-0 victory over Lokomotiv on the final match day.

The sides have on 4 previous occasions in European competition, with Atletico progressing to the 2010 Europa League final at the expense of the Reds after a classic semi-final tie. Having won the first leg 1-0 at the old Vicente Calderon, Atleti eventually triumphed after extra time in the second leg on away goals and went on to lift the inaugural Europa League after a 2-1 win against Fulham in Hamburg.

Previous to that thrilling tie, the sides met in the 2008/09 Champions League group stage and played out a pair of comparatively boring 1-1 draws which saw both sides through to the knockout rounds. Robbie Keane gave the Reds the lead in the first tie in Madrid only to see Simao equalise late on while Steven Gerrard fired home a late penalty at Anfield to rescue a point for his side.

However, while history might show that the two sides are relatively well matched, common opinion in Spain is that Atleti might struggle to get a result against the Reds in this tie. Not only are Atleti in poor form, they are coming up against a side who has swept all before them with the Reds’ recent pedigree in this competition adding to the pessimistic atmosphere.

Simeone’s work in the transfer market last summer certainly hasn’t helped Atleti this season with Diego Godin, Felipe Luis, Juanfran, Lucas Hernandez, Rodri, Antoine Griezmann and Nikola Kalinic all leaving the club. That amounts to an entire back 4, a holding midfielder and the club’s star striker leaving in one window with Simeone unable to successfully replace such a talent drain.

From an attacking point of view, most hopes were pinned on 20-year-old Portuguese forward Joao Felix who lit up the Primeira Liga with Benfica last season. Felix scored 20 goals in 43 games during his breakout campaign but has struggled in Madrid after his big-money signing and has just 4 goals in 23 games this campaign.

Interestingly, despite having lost most of their experienced and settled defence, Atletico have not been noticeably poorer at the back and have conceded just 17 times in 24 league games this season. That compares favourably to the 29 times they conceded in 38 games last season, though their scoring record of 25 in 24 games in noticeably worse.

Atleti also scored just 8 times in 6 group stage Champions League games and will find it no easier to break down a Liverpool defence that features Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker. Alvaro Morata is currently the Madrid-based outfit’s top scorer this season with 10 goals, while no other player has more than 4.

Simeone has opted to rotate quite a bit this season with 18 players having made more than 11 La Liga appearances so far this campaign, 3 more than the Reds who have played 2 more games. While Simeone is usually renowned as a loyal manager, that degree of rotation shows how in a rut Atleti have been this season.

For Klopp, this season offers a unique opportunity to go deep again in the Champions League with minimal domestic distractions. The German will hope his side can see off an out of form Atletico side with relative ease and hopefully wrap up the Premier League title before the Quarter Finals begin, in which case the Reds would have to be close to favourites to defend their crown.

Team News

Simeone has a number of injury concerns ahead of the visit of Liverpool with Felix among those to have been ruled out of the first leg due to a mixture of illness and injury. Atleti will also be without former Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier, who started the Champions League final against the Reds, and former Porto midfielder Hector Herrera, who featured in the second leg of the Quarter Final tie between the Portuguese club and Liverpool last season.

In better news for Simeone, centre-back Jose Gimenez should be fit to feature having made the bench at the weekend against Valencia, though whether the Uruguayan starts is another matter altogether. Stefan Savic and Felipe have formed a solid partnership at the back in Gimenez’s absence which could see the 25-year-old again limited to the bench.

With Simeone favouring a 4-4-2, Vitolo, Angel Correa and Alvaro Morata are in contention to start up front with Diego Costa having last featured for the club back in November. Meanwhile, Sime Vrsaljko and Santiago Arias are in contention to deputise for Trippier at right-back with the likes of Saul, Koke and Thomas Partey almost certain to start in midfield.

Meanwhile, Klopp named a 21 man squad that travelled to Madrid yesterday which included the majority of his first-team squad plus young ‘keeper Caoimhin Kelleher. The only noticeable senior absences from that squad were Xherdan Shaqiri and Nathaniel Clyne who are both unavailable through injury, though Clyne has finally resumed light training after damaging his ACL during pre-season.

There will be no prizes for guessing the back 4 Klopp goes with in Madrid with the Reds on a streak of 10 clean sheets in 11 Premier League games. Equally, with Sadio Mane back in action and making an impact off the bench at the weekend against Norwich, there are unlikely to be any surprises in that area of the park either.

That just leaves places in the midfield 3 up for grabs and even then Henderson is a must pick on current form while Georginio Wijnaldum has been close to ever-present this season. The final spot will depend on whether Klopp wants a more defensive outlook with the likes of Fabinho or James Milner or a more attacking option in Naby Keita or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

While a strong case could be made for 3 of the 4 – Milner’s recent return to fitness likely rules him out – the choice is probably between Fabinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Brazilian is yet to start since his return from injury but should have enough football under his legs to start here as Klopp likely looks to be slightly pragmatic away from home.

Prediction

With the 2 best defences in Europe’s top 5 leagues set to meet at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday, it would take a sever optimist to predict a hat full of goals. Rather, this will likely be a tight, cagey affair with neither side willing to give up an all-important first leg advantage ahead of the return fixture at Anfield in just under a month.

However, while the Reds are also a potent attacking outfit, you would not back this current Atleti attack to have too much luck against the reigning European Champions. Therefore, I have to go for another Liverpool win in Madrid with a low-on-chances game to finish 1-0 to the visitors in my book.

Match Preview: Norwich v Liverpool

After 2 weeks without Premier League action, the Reds resume their pursuit of a drought-breaking league title with a trip Norfolk on Saturday to take on Norwich City. Daniel Farke’s men currently sit bottom of the Premier League table and are at risk of being cut adrift with the Canaries already 7 points away from safety with 13 games to go.

The sides last met on the opening day of the season when Jurgen Klopp’s men ran out 4-1 victors at Anfield thanks an own goal and strikes from Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi. However, despite the scoreline, the Canaries worried the Reds at times on that night and registered 5 shots on target against the European Champions.

Unfortunately for Farke, that performance at Anfield is representative of Norwich’s season in microcosm – the Canaries have played some nice football without picking up the points they need to survive. The Norfolk-outfit also just haven’t been good enough defensively – 47 goals conceded in just 25 games is the equal worst in the division.

At the other end of the park, things haven’t been too much better with Norwich the equal second-lowest scorers in the Premier League and heavily reliant on Teemu Pukki for their goals this season. The Finnish striker has found the back of the net 11 times in the league with Todd Cantwell (6) the only other Canary to have scored more than once.

To secure an unlikely survival this season, the Canaries will likely need to get at least another 20 points between now and the end of the season, or, in other words, 7 wins from their last 13 games. Having only won 4 of their opening 25 games this campaign, that seems like a steep ask, especially trips to Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City still to come.

Farke has actually used one of the larger squads in the Premier League with 26 players having featured so far this season and only 3 individual players having passed 2000 minutes for the season. Understandably, few have regularly stood out for the Canaries in a disappointing season though Argentine winger Emiliano Buendia has impressed with 7 assists.

History isn’t on the side of a potential upset at Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon, the Canaries have not beaten Liverpool since 1994, a 13 game run in which there have been just 2 draws. Further, the Reds won on their 4 visits to Norfolk in the 2010s, with Luis Suarez the chief tormentor with 7 goals in 3 games at Carrow Road.

Of course, the Reds last visit to Carrow Road ended with one of the defining early moments of the Klopp era on Merseyside with Adam Lallana securing a come-from-behind 5-4 win in the 95th minute. Liverpool had trailed 2-0 and 3-1 on the night but showed signs of the spirit that has come to define this side and an iconic celebration to boot with Klopp breaking his glasses in the celebration.

While the Reds have come a long way since that encounter in January 2016, were relegated at the end of that campaign and spent three seasons in the Championship before storming to the title last season. On current form, it appears their current stay in the top division will be as short as their last, though having already beaten City at home this season, anything is possible.

Team News

Norwich are still without Swiss centre-back Timm Klose who has played just 27 minutes in the Carabao Cup this season due to a knee injury and was a key component of the side that won promotion. In better news, Ben Godfrey is available for selection after serving a 3 game suspension meaning that Farke has 3 centre-backs to chose from for only the second time this season.

That could see the Canaries revert to a back 5 for the visit of the league leaders, a formation Farke has experimented with in the past but not since promotion to the Premier League. However, having favoured a 4-2-3-1 for most of the season, it is more likely that the German stills to what his players are used to despite the poor results.

For the Reds, James Milner and Sadio Mane have been in training since Monday and are in contention to feature meaning that Klopp is now only without Xherdan Shaqiri and Nathaniel Clyne. It will be interesting to see whether the impending Champions League Round of 16 tie with Atletico Madrid plays any impact on the German’s team selection.

While it is tempting to think that the focus should shift to Champions League, Liverpool will not be taking anything for granted with the league title yet to be secured. As such, expect Klopp to field close to a full-strength eleven as the Reds seek to end the 30-year drought as soon as possible before switching attention elsewhere.

Predictions

Quite frankly, even if the Reds are completely focused on their trip to Madrid in midweek it is hard to imagine Norwich giving the runaway Premier League leaders a scare here. Liverpool have a good record at Carrow Road and have been involved in some high-scoring games at the venue so I’ll go for a 3-0 win for the Reds.

Match Preview: Liverpool v Shrewsbury

Liverpool have a chance to progress to the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since the 2014/15 when they host Shrewsbury Town in the fourth round replay at Anfield on Tuesday. After a 2-2 draw between the sides at New Meadow 9 days ago, the Reds will be relying on a young eleven if they are to get past their League One opponents.

With Jurgen Klopp and his first-team squad on their winter break, the task of seeing Liverpool through to the next round falls upon U23 manager Neil Critchley and his boys. Having been beaten 5-0 by Aston Villa in December while the first-team was in Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup, expectations on the young Reds are understandably low.

Critchley’s men currently sit in 6th place in the Premier League 2 Division 1, exactly mid-table in a 12 team league that has been dominated by Chelsea this season. Mixed results have seen the Reds win 6, draw 5 and lose 5 so far this campaign while also crashing out of the Leasing.com Trophy in the group stage.

During their short EFL Trophy run, Critchley’s side lost to League One Accrington Stanley and League Two Oldham Athletic while drawing with Fleetwood Town. While the young Reds ultimately lost the penalty shootout to Fleetwood as well, the Trawlermen currently sit 7 places above Shrewsbury which will give Critchley some hope of getting a result.

Meanwhile, Sam Ricketts’ men have continued their poor run in League One since their stirring comeback against the Reds and are still yet to win in the league in 2020. While the Shrews still find themselves in 16th place, defeats to Gillingham and Rochdale, both sides around them in the league table, should be cause for concern.

Of course, it is worth noting that the Shrews were well worthy of their 2-2 draw in the original tie against Klopp’s men and looked the more likely side to win for much of the second half. Jason Cummings’ brace forced the tie back to Anfield where Shrewsbury will likely be unperturbed by the young Liverpool eleven they will face.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7mLLCZHW7G/

The prize for the winner on Tuesday night is a fifth round tie at Stamford Bridge against Frank Lampard’s Chelsea on Thursday, 5 March. That game would come less than a week before the second leg of the Reds’ Champions League Round of 16 tie with Atletico Madrid, an unwelcome distraction Klopp may rather avoid.

If the Reds do make it through to the next round, the German would likely field another heavily changed side with the FA Cup a distant third priority this season. Meanwhile, for Shrewsbury, consecutive FA Cup ties away at Anfield and Stamford Bridge could set them up financially for the foreseeable future.

Team News

With the entirety of Klopp’s first-team enjoying a well-earned and much-needed break, only Pedro Chirivella, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Neco Williams and Yasser Larouci are likely to retain their places from the first game against the Shrews. Of that group, Larouci is a doubt having sustained a knock last weekend but should start provided the Algerian passes his late fitness test.

That leave 6 places in the eleven to fill, with Carabao Cup regular Caoimhin Kelleher likely to start in goal ahead of a promising Dutch centre-back combination of Sepp van den Berg and Ki-Jana Hoever. Further forward, Elijah Dixon-Bonner and Leighton Clarkson are among those in contention to feature alongside Chirivella and Jones in midfield.

Finally, Joe Hardy, signed earlier this month from Brentford, has already made an impression for the U23s and could make his professional debut alongside Elliott and Liam Millar, who himself recently returned from a loan spell with Kilmarnock. While Chirivella captained the young Reds against Villa in December, 19-year-old Jones is the regular U23 captain and would become the Reds youngest ever leader if given the armband at Anfield.

For the Shrews, Ricketts’ has no fresh injury concerns to deal with and will pick close to a full-strength line-up with the incentive of another lucrative away tie on the horizon. Cummings, the hero 9 days ago, started for Shrewsbury at the weekend in the 1-0 loss to Rochdale and will feel he did enough at New Meadow to earn a start here.

Otherwise, expect Ricketts’ to go with a similar side to the one that frustrated the Reds and were only denied a winner on the night by some outstanding work from Adrian in goal. The Shrews back 5 on the night did a fantastic job of frustrating a strong Liverpool eleven and will fancy their chances of repeating the trick against the kids.

Prediction

While Liverpool’s youngster will be eager to impress on a rare occasion to represent the first-team, there is no sugar-coating the size of the task facing Critchley’s men. Despite playing well for the opening 10 minutes against Villa, the U23s were unable to cope with the size and physicality of the grown men they came up against with a similar scenario likely on Tuesday night.

Add into the equation that the Reds would probably rather not have to deal with the FA Cup while it is a vital income source for the Shrews, it is hard to see any other result than a Shrewsbury victory. I don’t think the kids will be embarrassed to the tune of 5-0 again though – I’ll go for a much more respectable 2-1 victory for Ricketts’ men that will give both sides what they wanted.

Match Preview: Liverpool v Southampton

Liverpool host Southampton at Anfield on Saturday afternoon looking to go momentarily 22 points clear at the top of the Premier League enter the winter break with style. With Manchester City set to face West Ham on Sunday, the Reds have the chance to stretch their lead at the top even further and take one more step towards that elusive title.

Standing in their way on Saturday will be Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints who incredibly find themselves comfortably in 9th place despite a horror start to the campaign. Having been marooned in 19th place after the first 12 weeks of the season, Hasenhuttl’s men have lost just three times since then and are now ahead of both Arsenal and Everton on the table.

Weirdly, the turning point for the Saints was the nadir of that early-season run when they went down to Leicester 9-0 at Saint Mary’s on a day in which the club looked destined for the drop. In the immediate aftermath of the dismantling they received from Brendan Rodger’s men, the road to recovery looked extremelydifficult but Hasenhuttl deserves credit for re-energising his charges.

Credit should also go to the Southampton board who easily could have disposed of their Austrian manager in the wake of that humiliation but instead chose to stick by their man. Too few owners are willing to show patience, instead choosing to make a flashy new appointment for short-term gain but Saints have shown the benefit of believing in the footballing project.

Of course, Saints’ run would not have been possible without the goal-scoring run of ex-Liverpool player Danny Ings who has been in an impressive purple patch of form recently. 14 goals in the Premier League puts the former Burnley man equal 3rd in the race for the Golden Boot with Ings having found the back of the net in 10 of his last 13 appearances.

Having struggled with persistent, long-term injuries during his time at Anfield, it is good to see Ings back up and running at this level, though Jurgen Klopp will have he does not come back to bite his former employers. If the Reds can keep Ings quiet, that will go some way to stifling Hasenhuttl’s men with no other Saints’ player having scored more than 4 goals this season.

Interestingly, Hasenhuttl’s men complete the most tackles on average in the league per game, 19.7, while also completing the most fouls per game at 12.3 on average. These stats suggest the Austrian likes his side to get stuck in but despite all those fouls, they rank just 16th for total cards this season with 36 yellows and 2 reds in 24 games.

For the Reds, the visit of Southampton marks the end of a hectic schedule over December and January with Klopp’s men heading off on their 2-week winter break after this game. As has been well publicised, Klopp and his first-team will not take part in the FA Cup third round replay with Shrewsbury on Tuesday and will instead rest up for the back half of the campaign.

Klopp’s men are on a run of 4 Premier League games unbeaten against the Saints who were previously somewhat of a bogey side for the Reds since the German’s arrival at Anfield. Prior to this recent run, Liverpool had beaten Southampton just once in 7 attempts in all competitions since Klopp’s arrival with 3 draws and 3 Saints’ victories.

Team News

For Liverpool, Klopp has confirmed that James Milner, Xherdan Shaqiri and Sadio Mane all remain unavailable on Saturday but should all be in contention when the Reds return to action in a fortnight. Meanwhile, there is better news for Divock Origi who hobbled off against West Ham on Wednesday but was only suffering cramp and could feature here.

The Belgian could be joined in the starting eleven by Adam Lallana who has recovered from a virus that saw him miss the Reds last three matches and could face his former club. Klopp could also turn to the recently returned Fabinho or Naby Keita in order to freshen up his midfield but also has the luxury of playing his key men with 14 days until their next fixture.

In fact, given the Reds recent form, I wouldn’t be surprised if Klopp keeps the faith with the 11 who started against West Ham and saves the rotation until after the winter break. Takumi Minamino would have been in contention to replace Origi had the Belgian been unavailable but the Japanese international still needs time to adjust to his new club.

For the Saints, Stuart Armstrong is Hasenhuttl’s only major injury concern with the Scottish international out for a few weeks due to a hip injury. Southampton will also be without Cedric Soares, who has joined Arsenal on loan until the end of the season, and his replacement Kyle Walker-Peters who has joined on loan from Tottenham but is unavailable to feature here.

Hassenhuttl’s options have been boosted by the return to fitness of Jannick Vestergaard and Yan Valery, both of whom will likely slot straight into the Saints’ back 4. The Austrian started the season playing 5 at the back but switched not long after the calamity against Leicester to a 4-4-2 that seems to be working for his side.

Prediction

Saints deserve enormous credit for their recovery after looking lifeless over the first few months of the season and have claimed some big scalps in Tottenham and Chelsea since Christmas. Having missed a gilt-edged chance to equalise against the Reds in their first encounter this season back in August, Danny Ings will be desperate to prove a point against his former club and continue his run of form ahead of Euro 2020.

However, this Liverpool side has been grinding out result after result all season now and at Anfield, I don’t think the Saints will be the team to end the Reds unbeaten run. I’m going to go for a 3-1 victory for the Reds with Ings to score a late consolation but Klopp’s men to ultimately be too good for the Saints.

Match Preview: West Ham v Liverpool

After a tough weekend for Liverpool’s second string eleven in the FA Cup, Jurgen Klopp’s first-team returns to action on Wednesday night when the Reds visit West Ham. The Hammers have endured a difficult campaign so far despite high pre-season hopes and currently find themselves only above the relegation zone on goal difference.

The London-based outfit are onto their second manager of the season having sacked former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini at the end of December following an atrocious run of just 2 wins in 14 games. The Spaniard was replaced by David Moyes who returns to the club for a second spell having previously steered the Hammers clear of relegation in 2018.

While the Scot won his first 2 games back in charge at the London Stadium, the Hammers have failed to win again in their last 4 outings and are firmly in danger at the foot of the division. Despite spending big money on Pablo Fornals and Sebastien Haller in the summer, the Hammers look unlikely to repeat last season’s tenth-placed finish.

This is, of course, the first time the sides have met this season with the meeting at the London Stadium originally scheduled to take place in December. However, Liverpool’s involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup meant that the two league matches between the clubs will happen within 4 weeks of each other with Moyes’ men visiting Anfield at the end of next month.

To add insult to injury, the former Everton manager fielded a strong eleven in the FA Cup at the weekend only to see his side crash out to Championship opposition in West Brom. The early exit from the cup may ultimately prove to be a blessing in disguise for Moyes, though the 1-0 loss to former West Ham manager Slaven Bilic’s Baggies was not the confidence boost the Hammers would have been hoping for.

While they may languish near the bottom of the table, the Hammers have not actually been that bad this season when measured against most conventional statistical methods. For example, West Ham rank 12th for possession (48%), 13th for pass percentage (77.1%), 15th for shots per game (10.6) and 11th for shots conceded per game (12.8).

While none of those statistics are particularly outstanding, they do not match up with the reality of the Hammers situation with a drop into the Championship a distinct possibility. While they do rank third for tackles per game (19.4), this is not always a reliable indicator of the quality of a team given that the teams at the top of the league tend not to have to make so many tackles.

Staying with the statistics, it is interesting to note that the Hammers attack disproportionately down the left-hand side (42% of the time), the third-highest single side dependency in the league. They also try to work the ball into the box and have the third-lowest percentage of shots from outside the penalty area in the league, with the Reds having the lowest.

However, if things are to look up for Moyes’ boys they may have to wait until April for an easier run of fixtures with Liverpool, Brighton, City and Liverpool their next four fixtures. After that, the Hammers have Southampton, Arsenal, Wolves, Tottenham and Chelsea in a horror run that could see them in serious trouble.

For the Reds, the trip to the London Stadium is the perfect opportunity for Klopp’s men to bounce back from the shock draw with Shrewsbury, though admittedly with a completely changed eleven. In fact, it is likely that Klopp will revert most of the changes he made against Shrewsbury though will need to be mindful that the Reds host Southampton on Saturday.

The Hammers actually held the Reds to a draw at the same venue this time last season in a result that ultimately contributed to Klopp’s men missing out on the title by a single point. However, Liverpool have won their previous two visits to the London Stadium 4-1 and 4-0 in 2017 and would heap early pressure on Moyes with a similar result on Wednesday.

Team News

Moyes confirmed that first-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski could return in time to feature against the Reds after returning to training this week following a re-occurrence of his hip injury. The Polish stopper has featured just 10 times in the league this season due to injury but kept 4 clean sheets during that time and is the clear number 1 at the London Stadium.

However, Moyes will be without injured trio Jack Wilshere, Andrii Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson for the visit of the European Champions. The Scot has experimented with both variations of a 4-4-2 and a 3-5-2 since his return to East London and may look to frustrate the Reds with a packed defence as has worked at times against Klopp’s men this season.

Meanwhile, Liverpool now know the extent of the injury Sadio Mane sustained against Wolves last Thursday with the Senegalese set to miss the Reds next 2 games at least. However, Klopp described the injury as a minor tear and stated that Mane could return to action after the winter break in welcome news for Liverpool fans.

The German will also be without James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri while Adam Lallana has missed the last 2 games for the Reds through illness. Further, while Joel Matip, Dejan Loven and Fabinho started at Shrewsbury, all three looked rusty meaning that Klopp will likely revert to the eleven that beat Wolves last week.

Klopp’s big decision will be whether it is Divock Origi or Takumi Minamino who replaces Mane in the starting eleven with Minamino the man his manager called upon when Mane hobbled off against Wolves. However, having been starved of chances in the first-team, Origi deserves a run and should be given the opportunity to start from the left against West Ham.

Prediction

On paper there should only be one winner here but, luckily for Moyes, football is not played on a piece of paper. West Ham are struggling at the minute but come across the Reds at a time when Klopp’s incredible side are suffering a mini dip and could be there for the taking.

I’ll still have to go for a Liverpool victory but I think it will be another close, hard-fought encounter with the Reds to come out 2-1 victors. Klopp’s men always seem to find a way to win at the moment and with the Hammers still seemingly adjusting to life at the London Stadium the home aspect will not play such a big role for Moyes’ men.