Key events
Jurgen Klopp: “It's definitely a challenge, but it's part of the job,” said the Liverpool coach, when asked how he would boost the morale of his players after their unexpected defeat against Everton. “I don't remember ever being as disappointed or frustrated after a game as I was after Everton.
“Unfortunately I have lost many games in my life, but it was special. We weren't there. You see the other two (Arsenal and Manchester City) playing very positive football, with good results, but we are where we are because in this particular area we do not play positive football.
“I blame myself for that, 100%. I don't know why or how it happened, but I'm responsible for the mood the team is in, and this team isn't. In general, as I said, we don't play positive football. It always seems like we're always catching up on something in the end.
“I think even Arsenal and City see it as a race between two horses. Maybe we have to say something more publicly, but they don't expect to lose two games from now on, I don't think. I don't expect them to do that. If they do, we would be completely foolish not to be present.”
David Moyes: “The most important thing is that things must go well between me and the club,” said David Moyes yesterday, when questioned about his contractual situation. “If we do well, we will see what happens, but it will be at the end of the season. You can keep asking me questions, I'll be happy to answer them, but it's not like I've changed course. We have always said that we will achieve it at the end of the season. “As far as I’m concerned, that will remain the decision.”
Today's match officials
Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Assistants: Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn.
Fourth referee: Josh Smith.
VAR: Tim Robinson.
VAR Assistant: Wade Smith.
Liverpool's succession plan: Jurgen Klopp was asked yesterday about his successor, current Feyenoord coach Arne Slot, and had the following to say about the Dutchman.
“I like the way your team plays football. All the things I hear about him being a guy, a good guy. Some people I know know him. I don't know him, but some people who know him say he's a good guy. I like this a lot. Very good coach, good boy. Looking forward to the club, if he is the solution, if he is the man, I am more than happy.”
Liverpool have since reached an agreement in principle with Feyenoord for Slot to become their next manager and will pay the Dutch club €9m (£7.7m) plus €2m in add-ons in compensation for the 45-year-old player, who has two years left on his contract.
Salah and Núñez fell to the Liverpool bench
Those teams: Jarrod Bowen returns to West Ham, but Konstantinos Mavrapanos and Nayef Aguerd remain out through injury. Alphonse Areola returns to goal and Lucas Fabianski makes way.
The great news for Liverpool is that Jurgen Klopp left Mo Salah and Darwin Núñez on the bench, and Cody Gakpo returned to the team after his brief period of midweek paternity leave. Ibrahima Konate, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones were also left out, with Jarell Quansah, Waturo Endo, Ryan Gravenberch and Harvey Elliott entering the starting lineup.
West Ham-Liverpool lineups
West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Ogbonna, Emerson Palmieri, Soucek, Álvarez, Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Kudus, Antonio.
Substitutes: Fabianski, Johnson, Cresswell, Ward-Prowse, Phillips, Cornet, Ings, Casey, Mubama.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, van Dijk, Robertson, Mac Allister, Endo, Gravenberch, Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz.
Substitutes: Gómez, Konate, Szoboszlai, Núñez, Salah, Jones, Tsimikas, Bajcetic, Kelleher.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
First news from the team: West Ham midfielder George Earthy has been taken off in accordance with concussion protocols after being stretchered off with a head injury during his first division He made his debut against Fulham last weekend.
Defender Nayef Aguerd is out with a sprained ankle, but Konstantinos Mavrapanos could return after a brief spell on the sidelines with a minor injury. Jarrod Bowen is back fit after missing a couple of games with a back injury, but his coach says his best player needs to be “monitored”.
For Liverpool, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcanatara remain out with long-term injuries, while Conor Bradley and Diogo Jota are also sidelined. Cody Gakpo is available for selection after missing the Merseyside derby to be with his partner, who was giving birth to his child.
Premier Leaguevue: West Ham-Liverpool
Following the miserable on your side Midweek defeat in Merseyside derby At Everton's hands, Jurgen Klopp could be forgiven for thinking the broadcast gods are trolling him by ensuring his team's first chance to bounce back comes in the Saturday lunchtime he loathes.
The good news for the German is that it is the last time he will take charge of Liverpool in this time slot and it could well also be David Moyes' last game on Saturday afternoon as West Ham manager. Following the Humiliation visited his team. Per Crystal Palace on Sunday, the writing appears to be on the wall for the Scot, whose contract expires in June and whose employers are reportedly looking for potential replacements.
With both teams in a bad mood and licking their wounds after the scars of defeats, this is a match that could go either way. Liverpool They simply must win to keep their dwindling title hopes alive, while anything less than three points could ruin West Ham's faint hopes of playing European football next season.
Kick-off at the London Stadium is at 12:30 pm BST but in the meantime we will have news from the team and progress.
