Preview - Liverpool

The background

West Ham United’s Emirates FA Cup campaign resumes on Saturday when Slaven Bilic’s men travel to Liverpool for their fourth round tie.
 
The Hammers are looking to book a place in the competition’s last 16 after seeing off Championship outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round.
 
Liverpool needed a replay to defeat League Two side Exeter City, but have already enjoyed plenty of cup success this term, having reached the Capital One Cup final with a penalty shootout victory against Stoke City this week.
 
West Ham ended a 52-year wait for victory at Anfield by triumphing 3-0 on Merseyside earlier this season, and completed a league double earlier this month thanks to goals from Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll.
 
The Hammers are currently sixth in the Barclays Premier League, a place and two points above the Reds, who have 34 points from their 23 games to date.

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 Hurts 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 132nd meeting between the Clubs, with Liverpool having won 70 of them, West Ham 27 and 34 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.

Match info

Team news 

West Ham United

The Hammers welcome James Tomkins back into the fold after he sat out last weekend’s draw with Manchester City due to a minor injury.
 
However, right backs Carl Jenkinson and Sam Byram both sit out, the former with a knee injury and the latter as he played in the FA Cup for Leeds United this term prior to his transfer to the Hammers.
 
Diafra Sakho, Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini remain sidelined by various injuries, although the trio are all close to a return.

Liverpool

For Liverpool, Jon Flanagan made his first start in 20 months in the midweek Capital One Cup victory against Stoke, but Nathaniel Clyne is in line to return to the starting XI on Saturday following a minor problem.
 
This FA Cup tie will come too soon for Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge, although the attacking duo are both thought to be close to a return.

Match details

• Saturday’s match referee is Martin Atkinson. The Yorkshire official has dished out 108 yellow cards but no reds in 30 appointments this term. His last West Ham game was the 3-1 victory over Bournemouth earlier this month – one of three Hammers matches in 2015/16. The assistant referees will be Stuart Burt and Edward Smart. The fourth official is Geoff Eltringham.
• West Ham have won three of their last four 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.
• The Reds’ last seven all Premier League FA Cup ties have ended in a 2-1 scoreline, with four wins and three defeats.
• Enner Valencia has scored four goals in his last three competitive appearances for West Ham, this after going seven in a row without a goal prior to this run. 

Tickets, travel, coverage and other info

• Tickets for West Ham supporters for this match have SOLD OUT.
• Click here for latest travel news by train, and here for news on the roads. Please note that the final train back from Liverpool to London leaves at 1948 on Saturday.
• A dry but cloudy day is expected on Merseyside, with temperature at kick-off of 5C (41F).
• If you are not heading to the game remember you can stay in touch with proceedings on our digital channels. The whufc.com live match centre will carry live audio commentary, text updates, in-running stats, photos and more. You can also get involved in the conversation on social using #LIVWHU