Liverpool v West Ham: Preview and possible lineups

Liverpool:

The 'Reds' had an excellent season last year and managed to finish in the top four. However, expectation on Jurgen Klopp's side is a lot bigger this season after the qulaity of players that they managed to attract to the club over the summer, and so their fans will expect a win in this one.

Star signing Fabinho is a doubt for the game as he faces a late fitness test on a muscle issue, but sigings Alisson and Naby Keita are expected to make their Premier League debuts. The team has several injuries at the back including Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan, as well as Dejan Lovren not being avaliable having only just re-joined the team following a break after the World Cup.

West Ham:

Manuel Pellegrini has also spent big this summer, although not to the same extent as their rivals in this match. Nevertheless, 9 summer signings will mean that West Ham fans will expect a lot more from a team that disappointed more often than not last season.

New faces such as Jack Wilshere, Andriy Yarmolenko and club-record signing Felipe Naderson are likely to start in the game, while Winston Reid, Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini will be out for an extended period and therefore will be missing.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on West Ham's threat in the game:

“They are ambitious, clearly. People expect that we win, and we expect the same, but we know that between now and then there are 95 brutal minutes, and we have to be ready for that.

“It’s easy not to underestimate West Ham. Analysis is pretty non-existent at this stage, but no problem. I’m still looking forward to it.”

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini on the quality Liverpool possess:

"At some moment in the season you have to play Liverpool away, so better to start with them. I know that they have very good moment with a lot of trust in what they are doing, getting to the Champions League final last season.

"In football the results can be depending just on two or three balls that change, we have a lot of trust to go there and see what we can do."

Did you know?

Manuel Pellegrini has lost more Premier League games against Liverpool than he has vs any other opponent in the competition (P6 W2 D0 L4).

Liverpool beat West Ham on both occasions in the league last season, both by 4 goals to 1.

The 'Irons' have only won once at Anfield in the Premier League.

Prediction: 3-1

Possible lineups:

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Keita, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane

West Ham: Fabianski, Fredericks, Ogbonna, Balbuena, Cresswell, Rice, Antonio, Noble, Wilshere, Anderson, Arnautovic