Sir Geoff Hurst says he can clearly remember the last time the
Hammers won at Anfield - even if it was 38 years ago!
"It was the 1963/64 season, the year we won the cup and Liverpool won the league," he recalls fondly.
"I do remember that game very well; Martin Peters sidefooted from the left hand corner of the box past Tommy Lawrence's left hand.
"It was a fantastic goal from midfield and it would be interesting to see again if it is still on tape.
"I was always proud of the times we beat Liverpool - which wasn't very often."
Sir Geoff got the other goal in a 2-1 win, and he adds:
"You do remember the goals you score against the great sides, and Liverpool was the great side of the era."
He is hoping the record books can be rewritten at the weekend, and he says:
"It is a tough start but you have to play them some time; if you get something out of it, it is a huge bonus, and if you don't at least it is a tough one out of the way.
"Not that anything is easy in the Premiership but there are comparatively easier games to come later on."
Sir Geoff points to the loss of Stuart Pearce as being a key factor this campaign, explaining:
"I have great admiration for him as a player and he was a great influence at the club, but I think he felt it was time to move to another level.
"He was a tremendous professional and I think he will be sorely missed, particularly as we have one or two young lads in the team who need good professionals to show them the way.
"We've got one or two injuries which doesn't help at the start of the season, and Frank Lampard has left, which I think was inevitable with his father going.
"I was at the training ground last week, and poor old John Green looked a bit tired!"
Injuries, of course, are a big talking point at West Ham, and he adds:
"I know the game is quicker now but there do seem to be more injuries now than when I played, and we've got some before the season kicks off.
"I find that quite strange but I know it is the same at other clubs."
And, talking of the injury to David James and whether England should have played the friendly against Holland, he adds:
"That is a real blow, for morale as much as anything; I thought he was a very good buy for the money.
"You need to be lucky and in that respect Glenn has not been lucky.
"But it is a long season to have luck so maybe he will have some of that later in the season.
"From the club point of view it is very difficult to have an international match the week of the new season - the timing wasn't very good.
"I'm all for wanting England to do well and I've always said it has an effect on the game in general here.
"But I must be sympathetic with the clubs who were faced with an international match in the middle of their preseason."
And, looking at the campaign ahead, he adds:
"I think it is going to be a tough season and I don't say that because Glenn has taken over.
"Whoever was to be in charge in the current period was going to have a tough time.
"I wish Glenn all the best; my heart is at the club, and I have supported them ever since I joined in 1957.
"I want them to do well, and I think if we finish in the top half we can all be very very pleased.
"A change of manager has an impact, and Glenn will want to do things his own way different from Harry.
"Apart from the cup run we didn't finish last season particularly well, and I think we've got a small squad.
"You need a big squad if you are to be comfortable in the Premiership.
"It was the 1963/64 season, the year we won the cup and Liverpool won the league," he recalls fondly.
"I do remember that game very well; Martin Peters sidefooted from the left hand corner of the box past Tommy Lawrence's left hand.
"It was a fantastic goal from midfield and it would be interesting to see again if it is still on tape.
"I was always proud of the times we beat Liverpool - which wasn't very often."
Sir Geoff got the other goal in a 2-1 win, and he adds:
"You do remember the goals you score against the great sides, and Liverpool was the great side of the era."
He is hoping the record books can be rewritten at the weekend, and he says:
"It is a tough start but you have to play them some time; if you get something out of it, it is a huge bonus, and if you don't at least it is a tough one out of the way.
"Not that anything is easy in the Premiership but there are comparatively easier games to come later on."
Sir Geoff points to the loss of Stuart Pearce as being a key factor this campaign, explaining:
"I have great admiration for him as a player and he was a great influence at the club, but I think he felt it was time to move to another level.
"He was a tremendous professional and I think he will be sorely missed, particularly as we have one or two young lads in the team who need good professionals to show them the way.
"We've got one or two injuries which doesn't help at the start of the season, and Frank Lampard has left, which I think was inevitable with his father going.
"I was at the training ground last week, and poor old John Green looked a bit tired!"
Injuries, of course, are a big talking point at West Ham, and he adds:
"I know the game is quicker now but there do seem to be more injuries now than when I played, and we've got some before the season kicks off.
"I find that quite strange but I know it is the same at other clubs."
And, talking of the injury to David James and whether England should have played the friendly against Holland, he adds:
"That is a real blow, for morale as much as anything; I thought he was a very good buy for the money.
"You need to be lucky and in that respect Glenn has not been lucky.
"But it is a long season to have luck so maybe he will have some of that later in the season.
"From the club point of view it is very difficult to have an international match the week of the new season - the timing wasn't very good.
"I'm all for wanting England to do well and I've always said it has an effect on the game in general here.
"But I must be sympathetic with the clubs who were faced with an international match in the middle of their preseason."
And, looking at the campaign ahead, he adds:
"I think it is going to be a tough season and I don't say that because Glenn has taken over.
"Whoever was to be in charge in the current period was going to have a tough time.
"I wish Glenn all the best; my heart is at the club, and I have supported them ever since I joined in 1957.
"I want them to do well, and I think if we finish in the top half we can all be very very pleased.
"A change of manager has an impact, and Glenn will want to do things his own way different from Harry.
"Apart from the cup run we didn't finish last season particularly well, and I think we've got a small squad.
"You need a big squad if you are to be comfortable in the Premiership.
* 1966 And All That, by Geoff Hurst and Michael Hart, is
published on Monday.
The book will be available in the club shop and a signing session
is planned.