West Ham welcome Liverpool to Upton Park tomorrow looking to cause an upset and put further pressure on under-fire Spanish manager Rafa Benitez.
The Reds are currently lying in sixth place in the league amongst disruption off the field with American owners Hicks and Gillett causing the team to stutter in form.
Former Hammer Yossi Benayoun returns to Upton Park for the first time since leaving for Anfield and is due a mixed reception having been a fans’ favourite when he was here, to promise a five year contract extension and instead switch clubs.
Fellow ex-West Ham man Javier Mascherano will not figure as the Argentina international is suspended.
Hammers Team News:
Former Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy will not figure as the match comes too soon for the Welshman despite a recent reserves run out.
Also sidelined is Bellamy’s two countrymen Danny Gabbidon and James Collins, the former close to returning but Collins is out for a while.
Bobby Zamora and Nobby Solano are too out injured but should both be back fit again soon.
West Ham: Green, Wright, Neill, Spector, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Bowyer, Faubert, Ljungberg, Noble, Mullins, Etherington, Boa Morte, Reid, Ashton, Cole, Tomkins, Collison.
Player to watch: Freddie Ljungberg
Ljungberg has been on decent form recently having disappointed initially since joining from Arsenal in the summer.
Liverpool Team News:
Andriy Voronin is out for six weeks, Alvaro Arbeolo and Daniel Agger are all out injured for the visitors. Beanyoun will hope to feature against his former club.
Player to watch: Fernando Torres
Has done fantastically well since joining Liverpool for an arguably fair fee to pay for the Spaniard’s services.
Match Prediction:
Liverpool to win 2-0, Gerrard and Torres with the goals.
