Liverpool v West Ham preview

admin

Sturridge, who has not played for the Reds since August due to thigh problems, is in “top-class condition” according to manager Brendan Rodgers, who will decide on Friday whether to start the England forward or put him on the bench.

Liverpool will also assess defender Mamadou Sakho, who suffered a back injury in the Capital One Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday.

Sam Allardyce is hoping a number of his West Ham players can recover from minor knocks in time to face Liverpool.

The Hammers are looking for a Premier League double over Brendan Rodgers’ side but could be without a host of first-team regulars, with Carl Jenkinson, James Tomkins and Alex Song all suffering with unspecified problems.

Joey O’Brien (hamstring) and James Collins (groin) could add to Allardyce’s defensive woes but Senegal’s exit from the African Nations Cup may see Cheikhou Kouyate return in midfield.

Liverpool v West Ham preview

admin

Sturridge, who has not played for the Reds since August due to thigh problems, is in “top-class condition” according to manager Brendan Rodgers, who will decide on Friday whether to start the England forward or put him on the bench.

Liverpool will also assess defender Mamadou Sakho, who suffered a back injury in the Capital One Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday.

Sam Allardyce is hoping a number of his West Ham players can recover from minor knocks in time to face Liverpool.

The Hammers are looking for a Premier League double over Brendan Rodgers’ side but could be without a host of first-team regulars, with Carl Jenkinson, James Tomkins and Alex Song all suffering with unspecified problems.

Joey O’Brien (hamstring) and James Collins (groin) could add to Allardyce’s defensive woes but Senegal’s exit from the African Nations Cup may see Cheikhou Kouyate return in midfield.

Liverpool v West Ham preview

admin

Liverpool will be without captain Steven Gerrard as the midfielder has been sidelined for a month by a hamstring injury.

The 30-year-old sustained a grade two tear in England’s friendly defeat to France in midweek and will be out for at least three to four weeks.

With Lucas Leiva serving a one-match suspension for his sending off in last weekend’s defeat at Stoke and Jay Spearing injuring his ankle in training on Friday morning, options in central midfield look limited.

The likely option seems to be to pair Christian Poulsen and Raul Meireles together, although another strategy would be to select teenager Jonjo Shelvey.

Defenders Glen Johnson, back after three games out, and Fabio Aurelio, who has made one substitute appearance since the end of August, are both in the squad. Joe Cole (hamstring) is still a week away from fitness.

Scott Parker is a major doubt for the Hammers.

The in-form midfielder is suffering with a chest infection and will need a late fitness check as the Hammers look for their first win at Anfield in 47 years.

Julien Faubert returns to the squad after suspension but Valon Behrami (hip) is still a doubt and Manuel Da Costa (ankle), Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) and Jack Collison (knee) are ruled out. Young forwards Zavon Hines (knee) and Junior Stanislas (groin) are back in training but will not be risked this weekend.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky, Poulsen, Meireles, Rodriguez, Kuyt, Torres, Jones, Johnson, Kelly, Shelvey, Jovanovic, Babel, Ngog, Aurelio.

West Ham (from): Green, Jacobsen, Upson, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Ben Haim, Reid, Faubert, Spector, Behrami, Barrera, Parker, Kovac, Obinna, Cole, Piquionne, McCarthy, Boa Morte, Stech.