West Ham starts their season off with a bang, taking on one of the most formidable attacks in European football – Liverpool. The front three of Salah, Mane, and Firmino tore up the Premier League and Champions League last season and are poised to Challenge for both titles again this season. Uphill from the start, West Ham has a prime opportunity to show what they’ve got early this season.
Both West Ham and Liverpool have made impact signings in the summer transfer window, addressing their biggest club need(s). For Liverpool, this need was in their midfield and did they ever beef it up with some gritty, physical recruits.
The injection of physicality that Fabinho and Naby Keita bring to Liverpool balances out their team from a top-heavy squad to a more evenly threatening team. The physicality and athleticism of Keita alone will cause problems for the Hammers’ attempts to break down Liverpool’s midfield. West Ham could miss out on seeing Fabinho however due to injury concern.
Between injury and unfit players from extended World Cup holidays, Liverpool has some holes in their line up. Central midfield (beside Keita), defensive midfield, and center back are three areas West Ham could look to expose come match day.
Outside of Keita Liverpool could be lining up three midfielders with Wijnaldum in defensive midfield and James Milner in a partnership with Keita. While Milner and Wijnaldum are fine players they offer less on both sides of the ball than team captain Jordan Henderson who will likely miss the game for lack of fitness, and Fabinho who is doubtful with injury.
As well, Virgil van Dijk may have youngster Joe Gomez beside him as his center back partner. After putting on a solid performance for World Cup runners-up Croatia, Dejan Lovren is still out of the Liverpool team as he earned extended time off, providing Gomez an opportunity to start. A bullet dodged for West Ham who can focus their offensive efforts through Gomez, rather than having a go at Lovren and van Dijk.
Key Matchup
In this match, there will be two key matchups, one per side. On the defensive end for West Ham, it will be Masuaku/Cresswell vs. Salah. Really it could be any of West Ham’s back four against any member of Liverpool’s front three, but the choice Pellegrini makes between the two fullbacks should dictate the game for West Ham.
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Arthur Masuaku, who fancies himself an aggressive, overlapping, dangling left-back could be exposed trying to cover Mo Salah’s speed down the wing. If selected the hope will likely be that he and Felipe Anderson will defend by holding onto the ball as long as possible. Should Cresswell slide into the starting XI look for more reserved play, as he will likely hold back from overlap play in anticipation of Salah’s speed and Liverpool’s deadly counter-attack.
Offensively for West Ham, the matchup is Arnautovic vs. Gomez. As mentioned above Gomez is the weakest link on Liverpool’s defensive core and Arnautovic’s bruising style of play should create some issues for the young defender. Van Dijk, the elder statesman at centreback is also prone to a few defensive errors, so look for West Ham to hammer up the middle of Liverpool’s defense in an attempt to attack from the inside.
The game itself should be entertaining. West Ham has brought in some new faces to up their defense but also make their offense more potent. Felipe Anderson and Jack Wilshere look locked in to make their Hammer’s debut and will liven up West Ham’s offensive presence. The battle for centreback will also see one of Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena make their debut as well.
With a stacked bench West Ham have options to adjust their game plan. Yarmolenko, Antonio, Chicharito, and Snodgrass are all vying for important minutes and should be battling for the remaining right side forward positions in the predicted 4-2-3-1 formation Pellegrini is believed to be using.
The beginning of the Pellegrini era is upon West Ham and the opposition is fierce. Pellegrini has the players to make an impact and the ability to expose some squad deficiencies against Liverpool, to steal some points and start this season off right.