Nine essential things to know ahead of West Ham vs Liverpool 

After beating Nottingham Forest 3-2, Liverpool will be hoping to extend their winning streak in a more direct fashion when West Ham visit.

West Ham United v Liverpool

Liverpool have not won three games in a row since November. Jurgen Klopp’s side have a chance to change that when they visit the London stadium to take on relegation-threatened West Ham.

The Reds are expected to win but this season’s inconsistency has shown that nothing is guaranteed with this Liverpool side.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of West Ham vs Liverpool.

1. Konate “positive”, but no Naby

There is only one new injury issue leading up to West Ham against Liverpool.

Ibrahima Konaté has been a bit uncertain in the last two games but has played both to the max and now the Frenchman is under scrutiny again.

On Konate’s fitness, Klopp said: “We’ll have to see how it goes with him, but at the moment I’m pretty positive [for the West Ham game].

Meanwhile, the manager reiterated that Roberto Firmino won’t be involved in this week’s games but there was better news regarding Naby Keita.

“If everything goes well today [Tuesday], he [Keita] could partially train today. No complete training, its own program. Much closer,” said the German.

2. Yellow Fabinho Risk

Fabinho has just one game left to avoid a yellow card to avoid a two-game ban.

If booked against West Ham, the Brazilian would subsequently miss Liverpool’s home games against Tottenham and Fulham. However, after Wednesday’s game against the Hammers, Fabinho’s cards will be wiped clean.

He managed to avoid a booking against Nottingham Forest but it will be a tough task for the starting midfielder not to be booked again.

He has collected seven yellow cards in his last 10 games.

3. Hammers on the mend

Overall it has been a disappointing season for West Ham, who sit 13th in the Premier League, just six points above the relegation zone but one game less. However, the situation has improved in recent weeks.

David Moyes’ side have lost just one of their last 10 games and are top after beating Gent en route to the Europa Conference League semi-finals.

Last week also saw an impressive 4-0 away win over Bournemouth, with Declan Rice scoring for a second consecutive run after a brilliant solo run.

4. Team news, could any changes be announced? Having named the same team for three consecutive games for the first time since January 2020, Klopp is now likely to turn things around as his side have four games in 11 days.

It’s unclear how much he will change, but Klopp reiterated that training performance will play an important role in his selection process.

“In the few sessions we’ve had, it’s clear that the players have to prove to themselves that they want to start again and the others have to show me that they want to start,” the manager said.

Likely XI: Alisson; Alexandre-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah Gakpo Iota

5. “David must stay!”

The West Ham manager’s professional status has been questioned at times this season, but he has had a supporter even during his nadir. Klopp explained a funny reason why he wanted Moyes to stay: “If West Ham had sacked David Moyes, I would have been the oldest manager in the Premier League.

“I want to avoid that. Someone told me before the season that I was the second oldest and since then I have my fingers crossed for West Ham. David must stay!

Since Roy Hodgson, 75, took over Crystal Palace, Klopp, 55, is no longer the second-oldest manager in the league.

Don’t worry Jurgen, you still have the energy of a younger man!

6. Who is the referee?

Greater Manchester-born Chris Kavanagh will take charge of Liverpool for the first time this season.

The last time he refereed Liverpool was in February 2022, when the Reds beat Leicester 2-0 at Anfield.

His assistants for this are Simon Bennett and James Mainwaring, while Neil Swarbrick is the main VAR.

Meanwhile, Andy Davies will take charge of the fourth official assignment. 7. Jota is back to speed

It took a while, that’s for sure, but finally Diogo Jota seems to be back to his best.

Before scoring twice against Leeds last week, the striker went goalless for more than a year, though that run was hampered by injury concerns.

Since he’s returned to fitness, Klopp has praised the Portuguese. He says that he is now “back to speed” and that he is “an outstanding player”.

The German added: “Diogo is a super smart player and can play in different positions. He’s not the tallest but he’s an extreme threat in the air, he’s good with both feet and has speed. “He had a very bad injury this season and a bad injury before that. It held him back – nothing else. His only problem is injury this season and he would score more than four goals.”

8. More recordings for MB?

Goals are expected at the London Stadium and Salah needs just one more to equal John Toshack’s club record of 10 goals against West Ham in all competitions. The Egyptian’s next goal sees him become fifth on the club’s all-time top goalscorer list, alongside Harry Chambers with 135.

Liverpool have beaten West Ham 33 times in the Premier League: no team has beaten them more and a win on Wednesday will secure only their second double of the season (the first came against Newcastle).

At West Ham, the Reds have won 13 and lost nine of their 26 Premier League meetings, with four drawn.

9. The inventory

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Saturday April 22, 2023: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp waves to the fans after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-2. (Image by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool are currently seventh in the Premier League having played one game more than Man United, who are fourth and nine points better.

The Reds’ chances of qualifying for the Champions League are slim. However, they still have work to do to secure a Europa League position.

Finishing fifth or sixth would be enough, but seventh place would mean a place in the Europa Conference League.

Also.. 

LFC News: Liverpool to battle Real Madrid for  “Nigerian Sadio Mane” in summer transfer 

Report: Liverpool take on Real Madrid for ‘Nigerian Sadio Mane’

Liverpool are reportedly looking to add quality to their squad this summer and a Nigerian star has caught their eye

Former English Premiership champions Liverpool are interested in signing Super Eagles striker Samuel Chukwueze, Soccernet.ng reports.

Nigerian striker Chukwueze has shown signs of brilliance in recent years. For Villarreal, however, he hasn’t been able to consistently showcase his skills. But this season, Chukwueze has flourished under the tutelage of former Barcelona manager Quique Setien.

The 23-year-old striker has registered 13 goals and 11 assists in 42 appearances this season across all competitions. However, he raised eyebrows after his master class three weeks ago when he scored a brace against Real Madrid to help Villarreal beat them 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Chukwueze’s performance attracted attention, with strong speeches linking it to his move to the Spanish capital.

However, Real Madrid are not the only ones interested in his services. According to four four two, Liverpool are also eyeing him and could try to price him away from the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Former Reds defender Alberto Moreno is a big fan of Chukwueze. And he thinks Chukwueze plays like former Liverpool star Sadio Mane.

“He is super lively, fast; you never know where he’s going to go,” Moreno told Marca by four four two.

“He is also strong, young and defined. He looks a lot like Sadio Mane. I’ve seen both in training and they look a lot alike. “He still has a lot to learn because he’s very young, but he’s going to be an even better player than he is [now].”

Liverpool have lost some momentum in the final third since Mane left the club for Bayern Munich last summer. Chukwueze could be an excellent signing for Jürgen Klopp, but Villarreal may not want to let him go for a moment.