Preview - Liverpool

Background 

West Ham United take on Liverpool for the fourth time this season when the Reds travel to the Boleyn Ground for an Emirates FA Cup fourth round replay on Tuesday night.
 
Following a 0-0 draw at Anfield two Saturdays ago, the teams do battle again for the right to face Blackburn Rovers in the last 16, with West Ham protecting an excellent record against Liverpool this term.
 
Following 3-0 and 2-0 victories in the league, the initial cup meeting gave the Hammers a third clean sheet in a row against the Merseysiders.
 
Since then, both teams have played two league games, West Ham defeating Aston Villa 2-0 and losing to Southampton 1-0 – results which have kept them sixth in the Barclays Premier League with 39 points from 24 games.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are four points back in ninth, having lost 2-0 at Leicester and drawn 2-2 with Sunderland in the past week.

The history

West Ham’s wait for success at Anfield was legendary in its length. 52 long years had passed since Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst secured a 2-1 West Ham win before Manuel Lanzini, Mark Noble and Diafra Sakho repeated the feat – but by 3-0 this time.
 
West Ham completed a league double over Liverpool that term, and have achieved that for the first time since this. Another good omen was that double success over the Reds coincided with West Ham’s first glorious FA Cup campaign.
 
This will be the 133rd meeting between the Clubs, with Liverpool having won 70 of them, West Ham 27 and 35 ending in draws.
 
No Hammer will need reminding of the last FA Cup tie between the two, when east London hearts were broken by the Reds in the 2006 final.
 
The teams have been drawn together five times in this competition before, Liverpool progressing each time.

The match

Team news 

West Ham United 

The Hammers will be without James Tomkins for the visit of Liverpool after he suffered a calf injury in Saturday’s defeat at Southampton.
 
With Sam Byram cup tied, that could give an opportunity for Joey O’Brien to start for the first time since the Club’s UEFA Europa League campaign in the summer.
 
Elsewhere Emmanuel Emenike is ineligible having signed after the first running of the tie, but Andy Carroll returned to the fold at the weekend.

Liverpool 

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will take charge after missing Saturday's 2-2 draw with Sunderland with appendicitis.
 
Philippe Coutinho, Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge are all in contention after returning from injuries.

Match info

• Tuesday’s match referee is Roger East. He will be assisted by Harry Lennard and David Bryan. The fourth official is Charles Breakspear
• West Ham are yet to beat Liverpool in seven FA Cup meetings (D3 L4), with the most recent encounter prior to the 0-0 draw at Anfield coming in the 2006 final, when the Reds won on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
• However, the Hammers have won three of their last five meetings with Liverpool, including two league victories this season - a 3-0 win at Anfield back in August and a 2-0 victory at home in January.
• Liverpool are yet to score in three matches in all competitions against West Ham this season (270 minutes), while the Hammers are looking to keep a fourth clean sheet against the Reds for the first time in a single campaign.
• West Ham have lost just one of their last 10 FA Cup games at home (W5 D4) - a 2-1 defeat by Arsenal in January 2010.

Ticketing, travel, coverage and other info

• Tickets for Tuesday’s game have SOLD OUT.
• The District and Hammersmith & City lines are set to serve Upton Park station as normal on Tuesday night.
• There is a chance of light rain in east London on Tuesday evening, with temperatures falling to a chilly 4C (39F).
• If you’re not heading to the game, make sure you follow all the action on our digital channels. The whufc.com Match Centre has live audio commentary and text updates, in-running stats, pictures and more. You can get involved with the conversation on social using #WHULIV