The Soccer Blog: Match Preview: Liverpool v. West Ham, 11.20.10

Saturday, 20 November 2010

Match Preview: Liverpool v. West Ham, 11.20.10

By: Ed | November 19th, 2010

It’s West Ham’s turn to get transformed into an attacking juggernaut.

Because taking the match to them at Anfield would just be foolish.

I’d try to argue that this is the chance for Liverpool to really break out, for Roy Hodgson to unshackle himself and his personnel, and for Liverpool to start to make some forward progress. It seems like the perfect opportunity, doesn’t it?

West Ham are bottom of the table, winless since September, and struggling to assert themselves as anything beyond relegation fodder for the duration of the season. Their lone win came against Tottenham back on September 25th, when Frederic Piquionne’s header was enough for the Hammers to get past Spurs 1-0. They’ve been able to earn a point at a time along the way, but after losing four straight to open the campaign, they will surely need more.

And after the way Liverpool played against Stoke and Wigan, there’s no reason for them to come in with their tails between their legs. They’ve got a decent assemblage of talent, led by midfielder Scotty Parker, who’s more or less been the star of the show for the London side over the past few seasons. Once-rumored Liverpool target Carlton Cole will likely feature up front, but the aforementioned Piquionne will be the one to watch. It’ll probably be Luis Boa Morte and Mark Noble along with Parker in the midfield, and Matthew Upson will lead the defense in front of Robert Green.

Like I said, a fairly solid squad that, for one reason or another, hasn’t been able to get a win in the past month and a half. At times they’ve scored enough to win (2-2 draws with West Brom and Birmingham) or not at all (1-0 loss to Arsenal, 0-0 draw with Blackpool), and in between they’ve sprinkled three 1-1 draws. Whatever the case, the days of coming to Anfield and sitting back are gone, and I’d expect Avram Grant to have his squad ready.

For Liverpool:

1. Who will start for Liverpool?
2. What’s the most important factor for the Reds?
3. Who’s going to win and what’s going to be the scoreline?

1. Who will start for Liverpool?

Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Konchesky
Maxi Meireles Poulsen Jovanovic
Kuyt
Torres

—They’ve gone and made it impossible to omit Christian Poulsen. Suspension for Lucas, injury midweek for Steven Gerrard, and now news that Jay Spearing has a hairline fracture and will miss up to six weeks.

—The squad is boosted by the fitness of Glen Johnson, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, and Martin Skrtel, and I’d guess that all will feature. That backline is one that we haven’t seen in awhile, mostly due to the prolonged absence of Johnson. It’ll be interesting to see how Johnson figures into the plans once he’s back; assuming that it’s tomorrow, let’s hope that Hodgson is an avid reader of Noel’s posts. But yeah, Jamie Carragher and Paul Konchesky and stuff, too. Pace yourself.

—The day has arrived. Like I mentioned, there’s no other choice but to start Poulsen. And maybe I’m making a meal out of it. After all, we’re quick to defend Johnson and Torres and Raul Meireles when they look awful in Hodgson’s shit-for-brains tactical approach, so maybe we give Poulsen a little leeway upon his return. Plus, there’s all that beautiful Scandinavian hair to admire. We know he’s in, and I’m hoping that we see him partner Meireles in the middle part of the pitch. Maxi and maybe Jovanovic wide? I’m hopeful the latter gets in especially, but given Roy’s prolonged wrist-slapping of Dani Pacheco, maybe there’s more to it.

—I think Torres and Kuyt are Hodgson’s go-to pairing for the time being, unless Torres’ fitness is fleeting and he pulls out prior to kickoff. But like with anything else, not really contingent on their performances as individuals. Wait for the hoof, chase it down, lose out, go defend. Ah, the glamorous life of a Hodgson-supervised attacking player.

2. What’s the most important factor for the Reds?

Until something changes, it’s always the same. Here’s what I wrote when Liverpool hosted Blackpool over a month ago:

“For me, it’s essential that Liverpool respond to the previous weeks’ failings in a big way—we’ve all been waiting for it, and now’s as good a time as any. I hope for it, but I’m not sure I expect it, and that’s largely down to Hodgson. There’s not much more here for me. Liverpool need to show intent, character, and drive, or else they continue their slide into irrelevance.”

I’m on repeat, except now I’m a little less hopeful, sorry to say.

3. Who’s going to win and what’s going to be the scoreline?

But that doesn’t mean I can’t predict a win! 2-0 Liverpool. Boom. Fire to rain from the heavens, Roy Hodgson to laud himself in the post-match. “We were short of fitness, but I managed to get the boys motivated and playing while they were up against it. Wa wa, wah wah, wah wah wah wah.”

Same as last week for the televised coverage—ESPN in the UK, and Fox Soccer Channel in the US. Matchday post will run a few hours before kickoff, and that will have links for those that need to follow via computer.

Have a nice Friday everyone.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:Match Preview: Liverpool v. Bolton, 10.31.10Match Preview: Liverpool v. West Bromwich Albion, 08.29.10Match Preview: Liverpool v. Stoke City, 11.13.10Match Preview: Liverpool v. Everton, 10.17.10Match Preview: Liverpool v. Sunderland, 09.25.10

Category: Match Previews, Miscellaneous, Premier League, Team News

Tags: Christian Poulsen, Dani Pacheco, Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher, Martin Škrtel, Match Previews, Maxi Rodriguez, Milan Jovanovic, Miscellaneous, Paul Konchesky, Pepe Reina, Premier League, Raúl Meireles, Roy Hodgson, Steven Gerrard, Team News
« Friday Whatsit and Poll Wrap-Up | Home | LFC4LIFEHey!!! Where's AURELIO? Konchesky can shove his head up his ass,if it were big enough!panter92Don't joke.. Roy's already got his excuses for losing the match well-publicised before the match itself. Apparently, he feels that Gerrard being absent means that they start the match with one person less, regardless of who is his replacement.panter92Roy will probably play Shelvey on the right, Merieles in the centre with Poulsen and Maxi on the left. Carra will be right back. Johnson on the bench. So the team will most likely be: Reina, Carra, Soto, Skrtel, Konchesky, Merieles, Shelvey, Torres, Maxi and Kuyt. Then, when the game looks set to be a draw, he'll take out torres and Merieles and bring in Kelly and Johnson. WHU will then pummel the Liverpool goal and sneak in a goal.

At the post match press conference, RH will talk about how well we defended against the might WHU. He'll then say how unlucky we were to concede a last minute goal. He'll also said we dominated the match and create a fair number of chances. Though of course, to him, a fair number of chances would be a solitary shot at goal from outside the penalty area while WHU pettered the Liverpool post with 20+ shots.

Seriously speaking, if Liverpool plays well, then by all means, go ahead and win the game. But if they just manage to sneak in a winner after being atrocious for 80 minutes, it would be testament of what's to come in the next few matches.

So yea. :)ChrisLFCReina
Johnson Carragher Soto Konchesky
Maxi Meireles Poulsen Shelvey
Kuyt
Torres

Dictace the pace, dictate the tempo, dominate possession. We're at home, against the team at the bottom of the table. No excuse not to take the game to the opposition. I think that's what most everyone else said too...but I need to take hints from those smarter than myself.

Liverpool wins 1-0. Probably an own goal at 90' + 3...GalahadThreepwoodMy 2 cents:

1. Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Konchesky
Meireles Poulsen
Maxi Kuyt Jova
Torres

That's an interesting take on Poulsen, by the way. If Roy's system can make everyone else look like crap--and it can--why not the Dane with the flowing locks? Maybe we've all been giving him too much grief. Did I really just type that? I think I'm suffering from Roy Derangement Syndrome.

2. Anfield is the most important thing about this match. I just don't think the Reds will lose this game at home. On the road, maybe. But not in front of the Kop.

3. That's not to say they'll win the match. I'm leery of many things, particularly an early Liverpool goal. If we do score in the first 20 minutes, I expect Roy to batten down the hatches and pray for the final whistle. With that, I have two possible scorelines, one hopeful and one realistic.

2-0 Liverpool, if they come out attacking like they did against Chelsea.

1-1 West Ham, if they play it Roy's way.

NatalyaThey'll play Roy's way and they'll get Roy's favorite result....a 1-1 draw with Liverpool getting the opener, then sitting back and conceding late.NatalyaA few points, some speculative :-)

Parker is a doubt for the match due to illness. He's by far West Ham's best player so his absence could yet salvage a result for "Woy"....

Liverpool will score early, perhaps after 15-20 minutes, then predictably sit back, play passively, and concede an equalizer to west ham in the 2nd half.

Why not play Pacheco with Torres instead of having Fernando play alone or with Ngog?ChrisLFCWith Cole, Gerrard, Lucas, and Spearing all out in midfield....you would think Pacheco would at least get a nod to make the squad tomorrow. Right? There's just not a lot of options left. If he doesn't tomorrow, what chance is there of him getting any time with the first team the rest of the season?EdI thought I saw that about Parker, and then couldn't find it when I went back. Thanks for the heads-up.

And Red pretty much nailed it with Pacheco...like I said before Stoke (I think), it's tough for me to pick who I want to see vs. who I think Roy will pick. At this point it's pretty much a certainty for me that we won't see who we want, Pacheco included.NatalyaTry this, write out your best starting 11 in one column. Then write out your worst starting 11 in another column. Replace the best starting 11 with half of the worst starting 11, and voila...that's Roy's team.Red2deathCos Pacheco is too creative. Too good on the ground. Like Aquilani. Too much quality for Roy's liking.

Also, he can't defend. What's the point of a player who can't defend? All you really need to finish in the top half of the league is 9 defenders and Bobby Zamora.

But honestly, I totally agree with you that it's ludicrous to freeze one of the top young prospects in Europe out of the team. Not like we're bubbling over with youth talent, especially after exchanging half our academy for Konchesky.
ChrisLFCAt ths rate, Suso should just pack his bags now.NatalyaThanks Red, I'd let me optimism get the best of me! Also forgot that Pacheco is far too young. So surely we can't see him on the pitch or Kelly for that matter.

Out of all this nonsense I keep wondering:

What does Woy have to do to get sacked? (that he has not already done!)Red2deathNatalya, I have absolutely no idea either. In this economy when everyone's looking for a stable job, I think Roy's hit the jackpot!NatalyaSo true and worse for us supporters, the £3million get-out clause in "Woy's" Contract. Even if (please let it be when, not if) he gets sacked, he may walk alone but he'll have 3 million quid in his pocket....ugh, dreadfulEddieis joe cole not fully fit to start yet??NoelLiverpool to win it, mostly because it's at home and against West Ham, but it'll be less convincing than it really should be. Roy to talk about improving and overcoming and all sorts of other bullshit as though the win signals much of anything at all other than it was a match at home against West Ham and even the "b team" should be able to get three points if they play a little uptempo.NatalyaDon't forget Woy's trademark saying, especially over relegation fodder sides.......

"famous victory"NicDefinitely a win for us but mainly because like Noel said it's anfield and it's West Ham.

I've decided that any game at anfield we've got a good chance of winning as the crowd forces the team forward and affectively causes them to disregard Roy's tactics!

I also expect Roy to take the plaudits for his tactical genius and raise the standard of the opposition with the usual 'every team is difficult to play against'

Yeah...only with your tactics Roy!

I've also decided that Poulsen reminds me of Margaret Thatcher from 'spitting image'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1jY5fYjV-UNicOn my first look i only concentrated on hair.

but after thinking about it, that hair, that nose, that familiar lisp, that suit and the appropriateness of the song...

It's Woy!!!VolandLet's hope we win tomorrow, in any case I doubt that Hodgson will be shown the door before XmasRed2deathI think the most important factor is that it's at Anfield. Just means that Hodgson won't necessarily sit back and wait for death (unless we score, then he will).

Liverpool to play a mediocre game and eke out a win. Roy to take full credit for just about beating the bottom side with a squad of only 11 internationals now that Gerrard and Cole are out. And, Roy to survive for yet another week.

How I wish it wasn't so.blog comments powered by Disqus