Liverpool vs West Ham | League | 13.4.25 | Predictions & Match Thread

[stubbo-admin]

Hard to see this as anything but a mauling. Maybe Potter will pragmatically stifle them, but hard to see him going toe-to-to.

Prediction:

2-0 defeat.

------------------
Match Centre:

Odds:
West Ham: 8/13
Draw: 7/1
Southampton: 5/1

Pre-Match Press Conference:
Official Press Conference

Tactical Preview: 
Analytics United

Watch-along:
Hammers Chat

Streams:

SportHD 

(With all live streams be mindful they can carry viruses etc.  Don't click on any ads and use a VPN).
  

[,]

Potter has us conceding fewer goals but at the cost of scoring fewer too. Right now teams are finding it harder to rack up a score but conversely they need to score fewer to beat us.

In short we accumulate points at or about how we did with Jalopy or the latter day Moyes. We are absolutely a lower mid table team at best and I cannot see this changing for the better next season.

That being said I hope the owners don’t flail about for another manager because we need managerial stability in order to progress. I hope that Potter is given the time to make us more consistent and competitive.

[Swiss.]

The thing that bothers me is the game management. Are we better defensively or is it that we don’t commit to attacking anyone until the second half of games?

in the last few games he’s put on fulkrug and switched to something more offensive and we’ve looked like a different team. 
To the point where you say “why didn’t you do it in the 1st half?”

are we saying we can’t go toe to toe with sides and can only have a go when they are tired or decide to sit back a bit? 

That’s worrying me. Because if I’m honest, going into next season I can’t see any clear patterns of play that get us goals. That’s what he should be working on. If we do have anything it’s when fullkrug is on the pitch. And the fact he can’t play a full 90 is kind of killing us. 

Defence is important, but in my opinion, especially in this league, knowing how to score is far more important than knowing how to defend. If you always have a goal threat, teams cannot play high lines against you. So attack is the best form of defence. 

potter seems like he wants to be a 1-0 team. Which is very Moyes like in a weird way. 
not sure that’s a good idea. 

 

Totally agree. 360 making the most sense as usual

[threesixty]

The thing that bothers me is the game management. Are we better defensively or is it that we don’t commit to attacking anyone until the second half of games?

in the last few games he’s put on fulkrug and switched to something more offensive and we’ve looked like a different team. 
To the point where you say “why didn’t you do it in the 1st half?”

are we saying we can’t go toe to toe with sides and can only have a go when they are tired or decide to sit back a bit? 

That’s worrying me. Because if I’m honest, going into next season I can’t see any clear patterns of play that get us goals. That’s what he should be working on. If we do have anything it’s when fullkrug is on the pitch. And the fact he can’t play a full 90 is kind of killing us. 

Defence is important, but in my opinion, especially in this league, knowing how to score is far more important than knowing how to defend. If you always have a goal threat, teams cannot play high lines against you. So attack is the best form of defence. 

potter seems like he wants to be a 1-0 team. Which is very Moyes like in a weird way. 
not sure that’s a good idea. 
 

[Cerveza Para Mi]

No fisherman here mate.  Or maybe you're one of those people who thin k anyone who has a difcferent opinion to yours is fishing.  Do you disagree that we've looked a better side at Wolves and at home to Bournemouth after Fullkrug came on and we had a proper striker up front ?

[Maverick180180]

Agree 100%. That's 3 games now where we've looked a much better side when Fullkrug has come on. Couldn't believe he only got a few minutes on Sunday.  And I don't see why Soler was taken off. Imo JWP was his usual ineffective self.

 
Another new poster looking to fish.

SHUT UP YOU BORING FUCKING cսnt

[Gank]

How much do you reckon we'll get for Soler,then?

[Sir Alf]

"keep a few but, Soucek, Soler, Irvine I would not mind going"

Should read "keep a few but, Alvarez, Soucek, Soler, Irvine I would not mind going

[Sir Alf]

Another observation or perhaps its just speculation, is that we improve 2nd half when we make changes teams cannot keep up their level of pressing and running for 90 mins as well as then introducing a centre forward who gives us an out ball.  Yesterday we started getting a bit more time and room 2nd half and actually to me the Liverpool subs also disrupted some of their intensity and helped us.   Gravenburch and co were a yard quicker to every 2nd ball, were brushing our midfielders off like flies first half and we couldnt live with them in the middle of the park.  Switching AWB to the right side, nullified Salah completely but with a bit more time and room Soler and Paqueta especially were able to have far more influence.  Alvarez may have been a better starting midfielder as he could cope with their physicality but is yet another that struggles with pace.   And in any defeat its all hindsight.

So irritating with Paqueta that he feigns injury and play acts all the time.  Spoilt what was an excellent performance from him and led to the corner that got their goal. There was some contact but he flipped himself up in the air and was basically caught in possession.  Such a shame as he was the best player on the pitch 2nd half imo.   He's the only central midfielder I would keep based on yesterday. In reality we have to keep a few but, Soucek, Soler, Irvine I would not mind going especially as the first two should get us a decent fee?   

 

[twoleftfeet]

Agree 100%. That's 3 games now where we've looked a much better side when Fullkrug has come on. Couldn't believe he only got a few minutes on Sunday.  And I don't see why Soler was taken off. Imo JWP was his usual ineffective self.

 
Another new poster looking to fish.

[Pub Bigot]

Very enjoyable end to the first half and we deserved more than we got from that second half performance. 

I left Anfield for the first time since 2015 with real pride in the performance. 

The obvious negatives comes from the first half performance, line up and shape and GP will have his reasons, but it was beyond frustrating. 

[Cerveza Para Mi]

Agree 100%. That's 3 games now where we've looked a much better side when Fullkrug has come on. Couldn't believe he only got a few minutes on Sunday.  And I don't see why Soler was taken off. Imo JWP was his usual ineffective self.

[THUNDERCLINT]

Really needs to sort the starting line-up out. Or is it the attitude? 

Not being too negative too early but there are definitely some Moyes'isms creeping in to his selection.  

Just 10 minutes for Fullkrug to make an impact even though he's played 2 x 45mins recently and looked eager and effective.  He should have started IMO.



 

The problem is Potter's attitude, he thinks it's ok to tread water until the summer. It's lazy and arrogant and an insult to the paying fan.

[scott_d]

Really needs to sort the starting line-up out. Or is it the attitude? 

Not being too negative too early but there are definitely some Moyes'isms creeping in to his selection.  

Just 10 minutes for Fullkrug to make an impact even though he's played 2 x 45mins recently and looked eager and effective.  He should have started IMO.


 

[Texas Iron]

Once again a game of two halves…

Under performed first half…

Much the better team in the second half…

Well done Potter for reorganizing the side …but Pool we’re well below par in the second…

Changes needed for next season…Quicker…younger players especially MF…

And a quality proven striker…obviously…

So close…but luck was not with us in the final minutes…



 

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

Credit to all WHU up there today for showing respect for the Hillsborough victims.
Rare thing now to have an actual MInute SILENCE.
CLASS

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

In the words of the BBC cսnt commentary.

"That's the way it goes for champions".
Yea. Yea ..yea.
  a clear foul on Paqueta and then a clear push by the Dutch oven bun headed FLID .

I fuckin hate Liverpool .
Since a kid they've been the bain of my life as a west ham bod.
The League cup final..that fuckin albino midget Sammy lee.
Our non qualification for Europe in 86 courtesy of crumbling concrete.
2006 
UNTOLD last minute  defeats


 

[Sydney_Iron]

Seems to be thing, fans say we played well against the "bigger clubs" but we still lose, or they say we play shit and we lose (or draw) against clubs around or below us?

We tried i suppose, but been a shit season, that's all i can see right now.  

 

[wils]

I don’t disagree that he doesn’t help himself, but would just ask what you think would be given if that was Salah?

Agreed, Was more making a comment on how costly Paq is. Great player at his best but seems to cancel out his contributions with stuff like this.

[Sir Alf]

Some encouraging signs especially 2nd half. Usual issues as we struggled with Liverpool’s pace and physicality in central midfield and out wide but as the game progressed we began to cause them issues.

Paqueta was our best player but shame he looked too hard for a foul that led to their 2nd goal. Would want to see it again. But it looked like contact and the ref had been ignoring a lot of their over physical closing down as they do at Anfield and Paqueta should have been stronger imo. 

But we created a few chances that we should have taken. And you have to take them to get anything there.

Cant wait until the summer and hopefully we get the needed rebuilded right this time. Id only keep Paqueta in that central midfield and replace the other 3 or 4 with younger, stronger, more athletic profile players. 

Classic day at Anfield in the end.  Even when we play well we lose up there.

Mavro actually played well again imo but Scarles limitations were exposed. Not sure he’s quick enough to be a full back in the Premiership based on the last few appearances? He was a midfielder originally and you need to be super quick to play that role in the Premiership. You can compensate a bit for it with physical strength but he doesnt have that yet either.  His head seemed to go though after a rough opening 15 mins being pulled apart by Salah and his passing and decision making fell apart.  But Potter did the right thing and kept him on the pitch.  Not totally given up on Scarles. Far too early for that as he’s so young and new to this level. He certainly missed the words and advice of someone like Cresswell that was for sure. 

We need a central striker to be playing every week. Another squad squad issue desperately needing to be fixed this summer. 

Just want this season over.

[Ron Eff]

I agree with many of the comments about this being a good performance. Scarles had his work cut out and I hope he learns from it rather than dwells on it. And I agree with the comment about Potter frequently setting up poorly but adjusting well and that he is quick to do so and effective when he does. 

But I am surprised about so many being with Paq on him going down from the push. He was great today and got great balls through to Bowen. But it looked to me that he dived (doesn’t he always). Well intentioned maybe, but in my view it was stupid place to risk that and directly led to the corner from which they scored. 

I don’t disagree that he doesn’t help himself, but would just ask what you think would be given if that was Salah?

[wils]

I agree with many of the comments about this being a good performance. Scarles had his work cut out and I hope he learns from it rather than dwells on it. And I agree with the comment about Potter frequently setting up poorly but adjusting well and that he is quick to do so and effective when he does. 

But I am surprised about so many being with Paq on him going down from the push. He was great today and got great balls through to Bowen. But it looked to me that he dived (doesn’t he always). Well intentioned maybe, but in my view it was stupid place to risk that and directly led to the corner from which they scored. 

[Ron Eff]

As well as we played in the second half possession wise we never really looked like scoring.

 

What are you talking about. Fullkrug hit the bar and Bowen was clean through on goal and should have put it away. They were clear-cut scoring chances. 

Not that I necessarily read into stats and the xG rubbish but the sky sports match stats state 4 clear cut chances for us vs 2 for them. That’s consistent with how I saw it today. It was a good performance against the best in the league. Not many negatives today. 

[RootsRadical]

I really enjoyed the game today, was a good watch and on another day we could have scored 4. 

I struggle to give Potter credit though, I feel like his mistakes cost us the win rather than his decisions making us competitive. 

- His subs were poor both in timing and application. 
- Starting Scarles against Salah was criminal, more so with Kilman behind him. Could have destroyed a promising players career before its begun. 
- The late deployment of Fullkrug made no sense given the times the ball made the 6 yard box with no one there. 
- taking off Soler was harsh as he was very lively and despite not being worth the money it takes to sign him, he’s a lovely little player. 
- why on earth can’t they get Todibo fit? He looks like he spends half the week eating McDonald’s for dinner, 

- From a positive sense, after screaming for Scarles to be changed in the first half hour, I accept it was the right thing to do to keep him on an hour. He did better and Salah tired. But he still should not have started. 

- Bowen and Kudus were busy, Kudus quite obviously trying to showcase useless skills at inappropriate times to push for a move this summer, he can go with my blessings if we get £60m or more. 

- Paq played well, frustrating but he was good. He can also go if we get £50m or more.

- JWP slows us down with his sideways passing and makes Noble look like a world beater, but he is tidy. He can go if we get a bid of £10m or more.

- Guilherme looks raw but very lively. He must be kept and prioritised to start in his natural position. 

- Fullkrug ideal to stay on next season, he’ll become a fan favourite and doesn’t need pace so we’ll get a good 2-3 seasons from him of 10+ goals a year if he stays fit. 

We all know the weaknesses of Areola, Mavros & Kilman. 

AWB decent as always. 

wasn’t meaning for this to go so long so will
sign off here.

In conclusion though, sell everyone apart from Todibo (get him off the Big Macs), AWB & Bowen (and the young lads Guilherme, Scarles, Potts, Earthy etc), and replace with 10-12 great players and we’ll be back in top 6 next season easy!  









 

Was gonna say almost the same as that.
I'd happily ship most of them out except Kilman, Todibo, AWB,, Soucek, Bowen, Fulkrug, Guilherme. Summerville and the promising youth players Inc Scarles. Plus as back up Areola & Coufal.

[RootsRadical]

'Improved second half and was unlucky'

I reckon you'll be able to copy and paste the above on every match thread of Potter's entire reign.

Yep getting boring & predictable now. Same ahit every game.
start poorly with the wrong lineup, improve 2nd half with the right players on the pitch, get ourselves back into the game then concede agsin within minutes as soon as we come under a bit of pressure.

[Eerie Decent]

'Improved second half and was unlucky'

I reckon you'll be able to copy and paste the above on every match thread of Potter's entire reign.