Graham Potter has urged his West Ham United squad to demonstrate the best versions of themselves when they go up against Premier League title favourites Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
Arguably the toughest game of the campaign on paper, the Hammers travel to the home of Arne Slot’s Reds looking to become only the second team to beat them on their own patch, and third anywhere, in the league all season.
Indeed, two clashes against Liverpool earlier this term - once away in the Carabao Cup third round, and once at London Stadium in the Premier League - have seen the Merseysiders score ten goals, to West Ham’s one.
The Irons are winless in four, though they can take heart from having conceded just five goals in their last six games amidst an improved defensive run, as well as a decent point at home to AFC Bournemouth last time out, when they had come from behind to lead.
Liverpool have lost three of their last four games in all competitions, including last time out in the top flight away to Fulham, but with them going into the weekend eleven points clear of second-placed Arsenal, Head Coach Potter is clear about the task at hand.
The hosts are likely to be further buoyed by the recent news of Mohamed Salah’s new two-year contract at the club, and the Egyptian forward was the basis of one of the questions put to the West Ham boss in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
Also in his session with the media, Potter discussed the increasing influence of Niclas Füllkrug, who scored his third goal of the season against Bournemouth last weekend, and his ambitions for the remainder of 2024/25.
No new injury concerns
There aren’t any major issues from the Bournemouth match, and I think it will be a similar squad.
Niclas Füllkrug has had a bit of - not fatigue - but we’re just making sure he’s OK after last weekend. He trained with the team today, so hopefully there’s no reaction to that and he’ll be in the squad at the weekend.
Füllkrug starting to fire
He’s a top player, and I think you could see the impact he had against Wolves and then Bournemouth. He really helped the team, and gave us different outlets and possibilities in our attacking play.
He’s got a great personality, and we like him a lot. But, he’s had a complicated season in terms of injuries, so we’re managing that process and trying to make sure he gets enough time on the pitch safely, to get the most out of him.
Always looking to improve
Our performance levels can improve, but at the same time the margins in this league are so fine.
From our point of view, we know where we’ve made progress. In the 25 matches before we came in, there were over 50 goals conceded. So, if that’s the starting point, we’ve made some progress.
At the same time, it’s about balance between defence and attack. We need to attack better, and we want to play better. But that’s where the work is.
If you look at the games, I think there are two halves of football that really weren’t good, at home to Brentford and away at Wolves. Apart from that, we’ve been competitive in every game, and it’s come down to small details. Points can turn quickly, but also we know what we need to do.
Scarles continuing to shine
He’s a young player who has come through the Academy, which is important for us. He’s got a great attitude, and he’s going to get better and better with more game time.
At the same time, we have to perform well as a whole team to get the points we need. We’re not a development Club - we’re a team in the Premier League, that demands to win.
Ollie has contributed to some good results, and as I said, he’s going to keep improving as time goes on.
Relishing Reds test
They lost their last game, but they won their previous four in the Premier League. They also got knocked out [of the UEFA Champions League] by Paris Saint-Germain, which is no disgrace at all because they’re an absolutely fantastic team.
Liverpool have had a fantastic season, and big congratulations to Arne Slot. Of course, they still have work to do, but they’ve had a great season and are rightly at the top of the league, so we understand the challenges that await us.
We have to go and be the best versions of ourselves to give ourselves any chance. We know recent results at Anfield haven’t been good, but we have to adjust and make sure that fragility isn’t there.
If we do that, we will be competitive, which is the most important thing. Then it’s about whether we can play well, and ultimately pick up points.
Sublime Salah
He’s a fantastic player, who’s always a threat in the game. You always have to be on your guard against him, and it’s (his new contract) good news for him and Liverpool, so congratulations to them.
It’s great for the Premier League, in terms of it’s another fantastic player who’s going to stay here entertaining people.
Slot-ted in seamlessly
Everyone’s different, but Arne’s seemed to have found it quite straightforward. He’s done a fantastic job, so congratulations to him.
You have to adapt, but I think if you’re competent and the club gives you support - which is what I think they’ve had there - then you’ve got a chance.
It’s so competitive, but they’ve been great.
