Liverpool host West Ham United tomorrow in a Premier League fixture that sees the Reds highly favored. Liverpool went off to Marbella, Spain for an escape from winter following their resounding win over FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League. The Reds will be refreshed as they take on the Hammers on Saturday.
“As always with a training camp, you want the boys to be together the whole day. We are a lot together but not when we have time off so we had that time as well,” said manager Jurgen Klopp in regards to the Spanish training camp.
“The weather was brilliant and everything was easier – if you have to do hard work, which we did there, it is easier if the weather plays in your cards and that was a change of circumstance after a long winter. ”
Looking at the injury/absentee/fitness concerns for this fixture, we’ll start with Liverpool, who are in great shape on this front. Nathaniel Clyne has now returned to full training after missing the entire season thus far due to a back injury, but he’s still far off from first-team minutes. The Reds have no suspension worries.
For the Hammers, manager David Moyes hopes to have Jose Fonte and Winston Reid (illness) back in action from injury, but Arthur Masuaku remains suspended, as this will be the fourth game of his six match ban. Manuel Lanzini remains a doubt due to his hamstring problem.
Liverpool starting XI prediction: go to this link
Odds: Liverpool FC- 2/9, Draw 6/1, West Ham 12/1
Prediction: Liverpool FC 4, West Ham 3
As always, feel free to post your own Liverpool starting XI in the comments section below. Speak your mind on the formations and line-ups that are already presented here for your discussion.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.