Liverpool could move within eight points of the Premier League title this weekend if it can beat West Ham United at Anfield. Arsenal faces Brentford later today.
Michail Antonio is taking small steps towards a comeback after his horror car crash, but he isn’t back yet. And Hammers boss Graham Potter will be without at least two others in addition to the Jamaica international.
Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville has a thigh injury, while left-back Aaron Cresswell has a muscle injury with no exact timeline placed on his return yet. Neither are expected to be involved at Anfield.
Niclas Fullkrug’s minutes have been managed lately but he came off the bench and scored against Bournemouth last weekend in a 2-2 draw. If the German striker doesn’t start, Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus started up top last time out.
“There aren’t any major issues from the Bournemouth match, and I think it will be a similar squad,” Potter said in his press conference. “Niclas Fullkrug has had a bit of — not fatigue — but we’re just making sure he’s OK after last weekend. He trained with the team today, so hopefully there’s no reaction to that and he’ll be in the squad at the weekend.”
(Image: West Ham United FC/West Ham United FC via Getty Images)
Potter also expressed his admiration for the job that Slot has done so far at Liverpool. The Reds have lost just twice all season, though one of those defeats came last weekend against Fulham.
“They lost their last game, but they won their previous four in the Premier League,” Potter said. “They also got knocked out [of the Champions League] by Paris Saint-Germain, which is no disgrace at all because they’re an absolutely fantastic team.
“Liverpool have had a fantastic season, and big congratulations to Slot. Of course, they still have work to do, but they’ve had a great season and are rightly at the top of the league, so we understand the challenges that await us.
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“We have to go and be the best versions of ourselves to give ourselves any chance. We know recent results at Anfield haven’t been good, but we have to adjust and make sure that fragility isn’t there.
“If we do that, we will be competitive, which is the most important thing. Then it’s about whether we can play well, and ultimately pick up points.”
Liverpool.com says: West Ham will be a tricky team to play against and the Reds could do with performing better (especially defensively) than last week. Slot’s men didn’t play well at Fulham and will want to put that right, though the news about Mohamed Salah’s contract will no doubt boost the mood. Inside Anfield, it should be lively.
