Background
West Ham United end the first month of the Barclays Premier League season with a trip to Anfield on Saturday.
The Hammers’ record at the home of Liverpool does not need repeating for West Ham supporters, who will be well aware that it is 52 years since the east Londoners triumphed there.
Slaven Bilic’s men will need a change of form if they are to end that barren run this weekend, having lost their last two fixtures, both at home against Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth.
That has left West Ham eleventh in the early Barclays Premier League table, with that fantastic victory at Arsenal on the opening day giving them their three points to date.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are undefeated and are yet to concede a goal in their first three games of the campaign.
They have defeated Stoke City and AFC Bournemouth – both by 1-0 scorelines – and drew 0-0 with Arsenal last time out.
The history
52 years, 42 league games, no victories. The Beatles were at number one the last time the Hammers triumphed at Anfield. That’s the size of the task facing the Hammers this weekend.
Anfield is the least happy of hunting grounds for the Hammers so it will require a shift in history for them to end August with six points to their name.
Given that, it should not come as a surprise that the Reds lead the overall head-to-head 70 to 25, with 34 of the 129 previous meetings ending all square.
Liverpool are, of course, one of the country’s most successful clubs, with 18 league titles to their name. They have also won five European Cups, three UEFA Cups, seven FA Cups and eight League Cups.
Match info
Team news
West Ham United
The Hammers’ injury problems are concentrated in one area of the pitch at present, with Mauro Zarate (hamstring), Enner Valencia (leg) and Andy Carroll (lacking match fitness) all out.
Slaven Bilic must surely have worried when Diafra Sakho reported stiffness in his adductor muscles last weekend, but the Senegal frontman is set to be fit enough to play at Anfield.
Carl Jenkinson and Adrian are both serving suspensions following their recent red cards, and Joey O’Brien is missing with a calf problem.
Liverpool
Reds skipper Jordan Henderson is an injury doubt with a foot problem.
Meanwhile, Adam Lallana has a thigh injury and he joins Jon Flanagan and Joe Allen on the injured list.
Match facts
- Saturday’s referee is Kevin Friend. He will be assisted by Stephen Child and Constantine Hatzidakis. The fourth official is Paul Tierney.
- Liverpool only have a longer top-flight unbeaten home streak against Stoke City (52 matches) than the Hammers.
- The Hammers have scored with a league-high 31.6 per cent of their shots so far this season – six goals from 19 shots.
- Slaven Bilic was Besiktas manager when the Turkish side knocked Liverpool out of the UEFA Europa League last season.
- Liverpool’s possession figure of 34 per cent against Arsenal was the lowest they’ve recorded in the Barclays Premier League under Brendan Rodgers.
Ticketing, coverage, travel and other info
- As of Friday afternoon, tickets remained on sale to Hammers supporters. Tickets purchased at whufcboxoffice.com can be collected at Anfield.
- Head to whufc.com on matchday for full coverage of proceedings from Anfield. We’ll have live audio commentary, text updates, photos and more. Remember you can also get involved with the conversation on social media using #LIVWHU
- Click here for directions to Anfield and here for information on trains.
- A dry, yet cloudy day is expected on Merseyside on Saturday, with temperatures reaching 18C (64F) at kick-off.