Liverpool can’t take the drilled, disciplined West Ham for granted

Liverpool’s wounded warriors return to Anfield on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will host West Ham and are faced with a selection headache at centre-back. After losing Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip (likely), Klopp will have to turn to the kids to play with Joe Gomez.

Jordan Henderson could also fill in there, and has done so before, but it appears unlikely due to his importance in midfield.

It had been hoped that Matip would be fit for this tie, however that appears increasingly unlikely. A limping Mohamed Salah in the tunnel after their 2-0 victory over Midtjylland had fans and media talking. Is it a serious knock? There has been no confirmation either way as to any injury to Mo.

But the fact remains, injuries to first squad members are piling up and must be cause for concern at Liverpool.

You can begin to see the depth in the lineup which lies at the heart of this crisis. There were many who called for a center-back signing over summer in a strange and somewhat skimpy transfer market, Klopp chose to gamble on the players they had.

Afterall, who could foresee the Van Dijk horror, or the other injuries that have forced the Reds to play unaccustomed players in unaccustomed positions and situations?

Henderson is not 100% match fit. Andrew Robertson has played nearly every minute of every match thus far. Thiago has not returned, but he is expected to have some match presence against Hammers here. Naby Keita has not returned to the lineup? These are all options Liverpool will need and in a hurry.

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The competition is fully aware of the Reds injury situation and all smell blood in the water, and as such, are coming to these ties with added confidence that a wounded Liverpool is ripe for the taking.

Thus far that hasn’t been the case with Fabinho stepping up and then Rhys Williams after Fabs was injured in the early minutes of the Midtjylland tie.

The Reds have shown a strength of character and overall team cohesiveness and mental focus that has astounded some; frustrated and angered others.

Jurgen Klopp and these wounded Reds have kept three clean sheets in a row since the Everton draw when VVD went down.

How long can they cobble together defenses and defensive structure and form with players who are not used to playing in high profile exposure situations and under relentless pressure?

The Reds hit their 10,000th goal across their history midweek, and are putting their home streak without a loss on the line here against David Moyes, a steady pragmatic hand at tactics and game management; who drills his sides in basics.

The Hammers have had a fair start to the campaign and Liverpool will have their hands full with the speedy and clever forwards at Moyes disposal.

Look for Liverpool to find a way through once again, by a 2-1 scoreline.