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Can this predicted West Ham team seal a sneaky win?

By Adam Smith

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: David Moyes, Manager of West Ham looks on during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton FC at London Stadium on January 18, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: David Moyes, Manager of West Ham looks on during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton FC at London Stadium on January 18, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /
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David Moyes needs a reaction from his team. West Ham need points desperately. The players need to show they’re not quitters. The opponent? League-leaders Liverpool. Is there a player assembly that can steal a point or three?

A lot of predictions have West Ham losing out in a massively lopsided match against League leaders and for good reason. Liverpool have only dropped two points all season on their hunt for Premier League supremacy while the Hammers are in a relegation battle.

So, is there some sort of magic formula manager David Moyes can put together to get the best out of his team and inspire a would-be classic West Ham win? Realistically, no, but nothing is for certain and even a 1% chance could open the door enough for a sneaky point or three.

So, if it happens this is the team that could do it:

Randolph

Zabaleta – Diop – Ogbonna – Cresswell

Snodgrass – Noble – Rice – Fornals

Lanzini

Haller

Subs: Fabianski, Balbuena, Masuaku, Cardoso, Sanchez, Ajeti, Antonio

The back four essentially picks itself. Pablo Zabaleta has no competition, Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna are the most trusted centre-back duo, and Arthur Masuaku is coming off injury so Aaron Cresswell it is at left-back.

Darren Randolph was picked, however, even with Lukasz Fabianski back in training this week from his hip strain. The thought process is simple with this one – keep Fabianski ready for the Brighton match and push on with your best XI after that. Randolph has been solid in his time back at West Ham so let him keep on rolling.

Carlos Sanchez cannot be used so that leaves Mark Noble and Declan Rice as the central midfielders, flanked by Robert Snodgrass and Pablo Fornals. Ahead of them is Moyes’ favorite man Manuel Lanzini, who inexplicably escapes managerial criticism and continuously keeps his place in the team. All of this set up behind Sebastien Haller who will be just ahead of Lanzini.

The secret weapon is Michail Antonio off the bench. I doubt Moyes wanted to use him against West Brom and the same goes for this match. He’s traditionally great against Liverpool but in a perfect world, the Hammers wouldn’t use him to preserve his fitness for more winnable games later on.

Next. Can West Ham knock off Liverpool? The GSH Staff give their predictions.. dark

Can this team steal a win from Liverpool? On paper, probably not but if there’s a fighting chance then that’s enough room for the West Ham way to creep into all of our minds. The mentality of the team is weak right now, but a hard pressing, committed group effort could galvanize the squad and surprise a lot of people.