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Liverpool logo
FA Cup | Fourth Round
Jan 30, 2016 at 5.30pm UK
 
West Ham logo

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Preview: Liverpool vs. West Ham United

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's FA Cup fourth round clash between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield.

Liverpool turn their attention to the FA Cup this weekend as they host West Ham United in an all-Premier League fourth-round clash at Anfield.

The tie is a repeat of the classic 2006 final, in which Steven Gerrard inspired Liverpool to a penalty shootout victory - both the last time that the Reds won the trophy and that West Ham reached the final.


Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp is a little teapot during the game between West Ham and Liverpool on January 2, 2016© Getty Images

This year will mark the 10-year anniversary of Liverpool's last FA Cup triumph, when perhaps their greatest ever player had his greatest game for the club against the very same opponents that they will face on Saturday.

Gerrard's final season at the club could have ended with the FA Cup final on his 35th birthday, but defeat to Aston Villa in the semis ended the dream of a fairytale finish.

The post-Gerrard era has not exactly been smooth sailing so far, with a change of management and inconsistent results making for a frustrating season for Liverpool.

However, Jurgen Klopp could find himself winning silverware within four months of his arrival at the club following their victory in the semi-finals of the League Cup earlier this week, which would see him surpass Brendan Rodgers's trophy cabinet already.

The performance was not great in the second leg at Anfield as they lost to Stoke City at home for the first time in 57 years, but the aggregate score took them all the way to penalties, which Liverpool won to book a Wembley showdown with Manchester City on February 28.

The FA Cup provides another chance for the club to return to Anfield South, as it was known during their heyday, but things were not as straightforward as they might have liked in the first hurdle of this year's competition.

League Two Exeter City forced the Reds to a replay in the third round with a 2-2 draw at St James' Park, before Liverpool eased to a 3-0 victory at Anfield to set up this weekend's all-Premier League clash.

Those extra games added to an already-packed fixture schedule, with this weekend's match being their ninth in January alone, and victory would guarantee at least seven games next month too.

Klopp will, therefore, likely make a number of changes to his starting lineup, although perhaps not to the extent in which he did against Exeter, when he fielded a number of youngsters against lower league opposition.

Liverpool have only won one of their last four FA Cup games against fellow top-flight opposition, and are yet to beat a Premier League team at Anfield in 2016.

However, they have not lost any of their last eight FA Cup games in front of their own fans, are unbeaten inside 90 minutes here in this competition since 2008 and have not even conceded an FA Cup goal at Anfield since 2012 - the last time they reached the final.

Recent form: DW
Recent form (all competitions): DDLWWL


West Ham

Slaven Bilic manager of West Ham United gestures during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Stoke City at the Boleyn Ground on December 12, 2015© Getty Images

The memories of that 2006 final will still haunt West Ham, who were so close to lifting the famous trophy for the first time since 1980 before Gerrard rescued the Reds.

They have not come near silverware since, but this year may well be as good a chance as any if their league performance is anything to go by.

The Hammers are just one point off the top five with only 15 matches left of the season, and sit above Saturday's opponents in the standings.

Slaven Bilic will also draw on his side's two victories over Liverpool already this season, both of which were fairly comfortable as West Ham recorded their first league double over the Reds for 52 years.

The most recent of those is part of an ongoing run which has seen West Ham lose just once in their last 11 matches in all competitions, although that record does include six draws and dropped points against the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Swansea City and Aston Villa.

Their latest draw was more impressive, however, as they led twice against Manchester City at Upton Park, only to be pegged back on each occasion by Sergio Aguero after Enner Valencia had hit a brace of his own.

It is their away form that will be troubling Bilic the most, though. The stats may show that only three teams in the league have picked up more points on the road this season, but the Hammers have won just one of their last seven away outings in all competitions and two in 10 since starting the season with consecutive victories at the Emirates, Anfield and the Etihad.

A 1-0 victory at Bristol City at this stage of last year's competition is their only FA Cup away win in seven years - an eight-game streak that has seen them score just three goals.

A late Nikica Jelavic goal saw them past Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of this season's competition, but they haven't beaten top-flight opposition in the FA Cup since their run all the way to the final in 2006.

Recent form: W
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWLD


Team News

Nathaniel Clyne of Liverpool controls the ball during the international friendly match between Adelaide United and Liverpool FC at Adelaide Oval on July 20, 2015© Getty Images

Changes are expected to be in the offing for both sides, although Klopp is unlikely to stray too far from the team that squeezed past Stoke on Tuesday.

Nathaniel Clyne missed that match with a knee injury but could return in place of Jon Flanagan, who was forced to play 105 minutes on his first club start since May 2014.

Dejan Lovren was back on the bench against Stoke and could return in place of Kolo Toure at the heart of the defence, while further forward Christian Benteke could lead the line.

The likes of Daniel Sturridge, Martin Skrtel, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi are nearing returns but not yet ready for this one, while Joe Gomez and Danny Ings are out for the season.

Andy Carroll, who scored against his former club in the Premier League meeting earlier this month, is expected to be out for another 10 days with his hamstring injury, while fellow attackers Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini will be sidelined for a little longer.

Carl Jenkinson's knee injury could see him return to Arsenal early, but James Tomkins, Mark Noble and Michail Antonio are all in contention despite doubts over their fitness.

Sam Byram, who made his debut off the bench in place of Jenkinson at the weekend, could be in line for his first West Ham start.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Henderson, Allen, Can; Milner, Benteke, Ibe

West Ham possible starting lineup:
Adrian; Byram, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Kouyate, Song, Noble; Moses, Valencia, Payet


Head To Head

As previously mentioned, these two sides have met twice already this season, with West Ham running out winners to nil on both occasions.

Goals from Lanzini, Noble and Sakho handed Liverpool their first defeat of the season back in August, and at the start of this month it was Antonio and Carroll on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win.

Before this season, though, West Ham had not won at Anfield since 1963, and they have never beaten the Reds in six previous FA Cup meetings, the most recent of which was the 2006 final.


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We say: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham

West Ham's away record has not been great recently and, while they do appear to have Liverpool's number this season, Klopp usually manages to get the job done in these cup ties. It is a match that could go either way, but we're plumping for a narrow home victory.



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Barney Corkhill
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