with our awful record at Anfield, (no win since 1963 and only a few draws since) you have to ask your self why we even bother to turn up why don't we just give Liverpool, their annual 3pts to save our fans making another long journy for another depressing defeat.

Thats the spirit Larry!!

with Carlton Cole up front how can you not be optimistic?

Why bother turning up?

So I can watch Liverpool gain 3 points, a decent goal difference total (hopefully) and the chance to watch Sears and Neill as well as Liverpool

I say 3-0 Liverpool if we can stop putting in these "1-0 will do" type performances.

We can't have a repeat of Stoke/Fulham.

Gerrard to score a header, Kuyt x2.

Dump him for Sears.

Sears up front alone.

But Sears better not score, just play well.

Sears wont play

I guess this is one of those games where the first goal could be crucial. If Liverpool get it, it could get embarassing. But if West Ham get it, then their tails could be up and who knows what could happen?

Having said all that, I'll go for a goalless draw!

Without a hint of bias I think until Ashton returns he is possibly your best attacking threat.

Is he injured or considered not good enough/not experienced enough?

no way.

Bellamy is ten times the players Sears is right now.

Sears is not good enough at the moment, especially against Liverpool. having said that id sooner play him than Cole. but then again id sooner play Marco Boogers than Cole.

What price on another 4-0 being as we have chelsea and spurs coming up in succession again!?

I actually forgot about Bellamy. Fair point

But Sears still better play ahead of Cole. Cole is useless. Shocks me to believe he actually played games for Chelsea

And that Ranieri once said this about Cole:



Thats quite a pipe dream right there

and people wonder why he got sacked

Didn't Cole just sign a long-term deal with your club, Steely? Early Christmas present for you?

yep 5 year deal - not quite sure why we wanted to make it so long Cole, works hard but he's never going to score more than 7 or 8 goals a season.

I do agree Larry that it has been most depressing not having had the
pleasure of even 1 victory to celebrate for us Hammers fans at Anfield since 1963...

I cant see us winning again this time either but I think we have enough quality
to at least give them a decent game on the pitch and who knows maybe even come home with a point.

Liverpool may be feeling so confident of victory that may just be their downfall.......

Losing Dean Ashton has been a massive blow and one that just can't be dealt with at present......

Bellamy and Cole will partner each other up front...............

This game will be more interesting once we know Sunday's results. Whatever happens though pressures on us - either to keep up with United and/or Chelsea having good results, or to capitalise on their downfall should Arsenal and/or Man City have some joy.

Team:

--------------------------- Reina ---------------------------

---- Arbeloa --- Carragher ---- Agger ---- Dossena ---

------------------- Alonso ----- Gerrard ------------------

--- Benayoun ----------- Kuyt --------------- Riera -----

--------------------------- Keane --------------------------


Aurelio's injured so Dossena will slot in (although not as swimmingly as the word "slot" would lull you to believe, i suspect). I'm not sure how good Keane is up front with Gerrard supporting, i think it could work but reckon their's more potential in a Kuyt/Keane combination so would swing Dirk into the centre in Torres's absence. On form, that would leave Alonso and Gerrard in midfield at Mascherano's expense. I'm not quite sure on the balance though which makes me slightly nervous. Myself i think if Benayoun gets more games he can have a bigger impact on the team than he is currently. When he plays you can at least be confident he'll do something half-useful with the ball anyway which i never have the same confidence in Babel or Pennant - i just think he needs to get more starts under him and he'll show us the sort of form he dangled in front of us during pre-season.

Should win this one. But we should have beaten Stoke City and Fulham (and Spurs). And that's why i don't predict scores for our games.

No Torres? injured? How long?

2-3 weeks. Hamstring again.

I actually rate Bellamy. He can be really good on his day and I hope it isn't one of his good days come game time.

Yeah the 'Nutter With a Putter' isn't too bad.

I think the Riise incident and the fact he didn't score 20 goals for us worked against him otherwise he'd still be at the club.

well we desperatly need him to start banging in a few goals..

Complacency may be a vital part of this game if Liverpool get the first goal...its typical and its a huge problem for us. Its almost like the strikers switch off after the first goal(in some games...not all)...anyways...I'd like to see some of Gerrard's krackers from their last FA Cup final in the dying minutes...that would be terrific.

No Torres...hmm...seems like he's becoming a liability more and more as the days go on. Wonder if Benetiz could put a stop to him playing for Spain(at least temporarily).

I think the hammer's are a tough team to play against.

Liverpool 1-0 for the win...goal in the 60-ish minute.