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West Ham United take on Premier League leaders Liverpool at the London Stadium on Monday night. 

Both sides will be heading into the clash hoping to bounce back from disappointing results last time out. The Hammers fell to a 3-0 defeat to Wolves, whilst Jurgen Klopp’s men failed to take three points from Leicester City and extend their lead at the top to seven points.

The Reds will be the favourites heading in Monday night’s encounter, but the Irons have already produced some impressive performances at home against ‘big six’ opponents this season – including wins over Arsenal and Manchester United and a hard-fought draw against Chelsea – so we should be in for an exciting game.

So, will West Ham add another scalp to their list, or will Liverpool get back to winning ways and maintain their advantage in the race for the title?

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 8pm kick-off…

What History Tells Us

Liverpool have certainly had the most joy out of this contest in the Premier League era. Their tally of 27 wins over West Ham dwarfs their opponent’s count of nine victories. 

The Reds’ aggressive and attacking style of play has generally reaped rewards against the east London club too, as they have racked up an impressive 85 goals in this fixture. West Ham, meanwhile, have only mustered 40. However, the likes of Felipe Anderson and Marko Arnautovic have the capacity to add to that number on Monday should the visitors show any signs of complacency. 

All in all though, there aren’t many positives for Manuel Pellegrini to take from his side’s head-to-head record, but West Ham have repeatedly upset the odds this season and he will believe in their ability to do so again in front of their own fans on Monday.

Key Battle – Felipe Anderson vs Sadio Mane

Both attackers primarily play on the left flank, and both are absolutely instrumental to their respective team’s forward approach, whilst they are also relied upon to produce end product. Both have also been in fine form so far this season.

Anderson has been integral to the Hammers’ attacking play this season. Since his summer arrival from Lazio, the Brazilian has quickly settled into the pace of the Premier League and has shown his class and skill on a number of occasions. 

His average output of 1.7 shots, 1.9 dribbles and 1.8 key passes per game demonstrates how vital he is to the Irons’ attack and how many methods he has of hurting his opponents in the final third. His return of eight goals and two assists makes him one of West Ham’s most prolific men so far this season and he will be key to their chances of success against Liverpool.

Mane forms part of Liverpool’s astonishingly effective attacking contingent alongside Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. This trio are able to combine effectively with one another, and their cohesion is central to Liverpool’s current success.

All three are capable of scoring and assisting goals, and the stats suggest that Mane is chipping in with his fair share. His average of 2.4 shots, 1.7 dribbles and 1.2 key passes per Premier League game this season is evidence of just what a potent attacking threat the Senegal international is. With ten goals and one assist already under his belt so far this season, the 26-year-old will be keen to add to his tally on Monday.

Both Anderson and Mane can win games for their teams, but Mane’s teammates may be better equipped to playing him into goalscoring positions on a regular basis, which could make all the difference. 

Ref in Focus – Kevin Friend 

Kevin Friend’s influence on this match could go a long way towards determining its result. Out of the 18 officials to have taken charge of a Premier League game this season before the weekend, none had average more penalty awards per game that Friend’s figure of 0.5. Should either side on Monday give him any reason to point to the spot, then Friend is unlikely to hesitate.

What’s more, out of the 18, the 47-year-old ranked in the top five in terms of fouls per game, fouls per tackle and yellow cards per game, averaging 22.25, 0.66 and 3.63, respectively. 

This could lead to a rather disjointed game, with plenty of set-pieces, which is likely to suit the home side more than Klopp’s free-flowing outfit.

Team News

The Hammers have a huge injury list, with talented stars such as Jack Wilshere, Manuel Lanzini and Andriy Yarmolenko certain not to be available for Monday’s game. What’s more, plenty of Pellegrini’s alternative options may not be fully fit either, such as Samir Nasri and Lucas Perez.

Arnautovic may be fit to lead the line for the home side, whilst club captain Mark Noble and talented teenager Declan Rice will almost certainly be tasked with anchoring the midfield. 

The Reds ought to look to test Noble’s mobility and the likely presence of Angelo Ogbonna and Pablo Zabaleta’s ageing legs in the Hammers’ defence ought to encourage Liverpool’s pacy, dynamic attackers.

Liverpool aren’t without defensive losses of their own though. The absences of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez ought to mean that James Milner, returning from suspension, slots in at right-back. What’s more, without Dejan Lovren available for selection, Joel Matip will likely deputise, which immediately makes the Reds’ rearguard a less solid unit.

Having sat out the disappointing draw against Leicester, Klopp will likely reintroduce Fabinho into the middle of the park, to ensure that the Reds don’t lose the physical battle to Noble and Rice. Overall then, that’s two changes from the side that drew with the Foxes last time out. 

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Loads of Rangers fans have been reacting to a fitness update form Steven Gerrard, who confirmed Connor Goldson will not play against St Mirren.

After the emphatic win over Celtic, Rangers’ recent defeat to Kilmarnock was a real punch in the gut, and their arch-rivals have now opened up six-point gap at the summit of the table.

While the Gers did get things back on track with a 3-0 win over Livingston before a relatively easy cup victory over Cowdenbeath, fans are fearing the worst with Goldson still out.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

It’s no coincidence that the defeat at Kilmarnock came in the defender’s absence, as he is the one individual in Gerrard’s young core of defenders that really leads and organises the group.

The boss confirmed he will miss out against St Mirren, though he did not give an indication about his status for the Aberdeen match next week.

Fans are fearing the worst about a Goldson-less future after Joe Worrall’s catastrophic mistake at Kilmarnock, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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All that follows is with the benefit of hindsight but it could be argued that the severe limitations placed upon Tottenham Hotspur this season through choice and circumstance have actually helped rather than hindered.

Here’s the theory and it’s a theory that necessitates simplifying the reasons why Mauricio Pochettino finds himself threadbare of options as his squad approaches the ‘business end’ of a so far impressive campaign. Let’s simplify it solely to the protracted, costly, and substantially distracting stadium build.

Of course there are other factors that have resulted in the Argentine coach employing eleven of his most trusted troops in three-quarters or more Premier League games this term, with rotation a luxury beyond him.

Daniel Levy’s infamous parsimony – or, if we’re being kind, cautious conservatism – in the transfer market is right up there as a root cause, suggesting as it does that even without the new White Hart Lane draining the club’s capital Spurs would hardly have been spendthrift last summer and this despite possessing a group of players just one or two shy of achieving potentially great things.

A prohibitive wage ceiling should also be considered; a self-imposed handicap that makes it extremely difficult to lure elite talent when there is serious competition for their signature.

Even so, how can we look past the imposing, state-of-the-art abode when explaining why the north London giants were the only club across Europe’s top five leagues not to recruit a single player last summer, an abstinence repeated in January.

It is hard to gloss over that point, just as it would be a fool’s errand to try convincing anybody that it was in Tottenham’s best interests not to sign some of their rumoured summer targets. With no stadium demanding their every resource some top talent could conceivably have joined Project Pochettino and this would have given an already highly accomplished squad some much needed strength in depth.

With that greater number of options would Spurs have endured such a horrendous injury record? Probably not, and furthermore we can all-but-dismiss the debilitating situation of players growing stale through over-use, something that we’ve seen this year on occasion even when results have gone their way.

There is no getting around that. There is no denying that the building of a stadium to further their cause in the future has genuinely hampered them in the present.

And yet a counter-argument arises all the same, suggesting that it is precisely Tottenham’s tethered restraints that has indirectly propelled them this far, to the over-achieving zenith of still being viewed as title contenders with spring mere weeks away.

Because what it has forced Pochettino to do is essentially revert to the old-school mindset of yesteryear; before football became a ‘squad game’, when a select nucleus of players competed all season long. From this consistency is forged, that shows itself in an individual sense as players build up a momentum of form and confidence and as a collective too. More so, it fosters an esprit de corps mentality, a togetherness that explains better than anything else why Spurs currently boast the best away record in the top division.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

Throw in an against-the-odds mind-set that Pochettino will have surely taken advantage of and what you have is a lean, mean gang of players highly attuned to each other’s movements and desperate to prevail.

Could the same be said had Tottenham brought in more competition for places? Probably, possibly, maybe not.

It would be quite outstandingly stupid to claim that having two great players fit and available for each position is a negative, and that is absolutely not being posited here. Yet while the evolution of modern football into a squad game has ushered in benefits galore for clubs and coaches it should not be forgotten that the exclusivity of times past – where leagues and European Cups were won from a roster of fourteen players from August to May – had its plus points too.

Through necessity it may be but the wily and pragmatic Pochettino has tapped into this clearly. And Spurs are reaping the rewards.

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Crystal Palace’s chronic weakness is scoring goals. Roy Hodgson actually has a very talented squad at his disposal at Selhurst Park. The likes of Wilfried Zaha, Andros Townsend and Max Meyer bring a lot of technical quality and flair to the team, whilst Aaron Wan-Bissaka, James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho represent some very reliable defensive option.

However, it is due to the fact that the central midfielder – and the club’s nominated penalty taker – Luka Milivojevic is the Eagles’ top scorer so far this season with just seven goals, that the south London club are currently in 13th place and just three points clear of the relegation zone.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

January arrival Michy Batshuayi ought to offer Palace more firepower up front but Hodgson should be bold in the search for goals. By pairing the striker with struggling fellow striker Christian Benteke up front, the manager could stumble upon a prolific partnership.

The Belgian pair have complimentary attributes, with Batshuayi’s pace providing a foil for Benteke’s power and physicality. Together they certainly have the potential to make Palace an altogether more potent outfit.

West Ham will surely move to sign a quality striker when the transfer window reopens in the summer.

The Hammers were handed a significant boost during in January when Marko Arnautovic committed his future to the club amid interest from Chinese clubs. Despite the Austrian staying at the club, Manuel Pellegrini was surely desperate to add to his forward line.

Pellegrini must be keen to return to the transfer market for a new forward in the summer. Andy Carroll’s contract is set to expire in the summer with Lucas Perez also failing to convince since his move to the London Stadium. Javier Hernandez may also choose to depart after being linked away over the course of the January window, leaving the Hammers short of quality options at the top of the field.

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One man Pellegrini could turn to is CSKA Moscow wonderkid – Fedor Chalov. Valued at £9m by Transfermarkt, the 20-year-old has made his breakthrough into the Moscow first-team and has firmly established himself as a crucial player. Chalov has made 24 appearances in all competitions this season and has been tipped to move to a big club in Europe in the near future.

The Russia U21 international has been in excellent form, netting 11 goals so far. Chalov possesses blistering pace which makes him a nightmare for defenders to deal with. An intelligent forward, the Russian loves to linger on the last defender and break at speed. His lethal finishing ability will give Pellegrini the quality option he has been crying out for.

Still improving and developing – Chalov could prove to be a mainstay at the London Stadium for years to come.

West Ham fans, thoughts?

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Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa stated in his press conference, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post, that he would be selecting the “the same team and same bench” for Friday’s clash with West Brom as he fielded for Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to QPR.

However, in doing so, the Argentine coach could be making an error that further damages the Whites’ promotion bid.

On the chalkboard

Leeds have not been at their best in recent weeks and their poor result at Loftus Road had been coming. They must now get back on track quickly if they’re to keep themselves in the thick of the promotion hunt.

Tensions boiled over between Leeds and Bolton at the weekend and our man Thogden was on the scene. Check out the video below…

Bielsa’s side needs a boost and an injection of fresh ideas. But in failing to take this chance to rotate his starting XI he has missed an opportunity to reinvigorate his team at a crucial stage of the campaign.

The changes to make

Bielsa must recognise that his first choice full-backs are struggling. Both Ezgjan Alioski and Luke Ayling have been short of their best recently. Bringing in Barry Douglas and Jamie Shackleton to replace them at left and right-back, respectively, would have been a wise move. Both would provide some freshness and extra attacking intent.

Izzy Brown could also have been given his first start in place of the toiling Tyler Roberts, who also failed to make an impact against Steve McClaren’s side. With Leeds failing to take their chances in front of goal, the inclusion of the forward could help them rediscover their cutting edge.

Choosing to not make these changes could haunt the Yorkshire outfit for the rest of the campaign if they are unable to secure a win against West Brom.

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Leeds United maintained the pace of the Championship title race with a 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Bolton Wanderers at Elland Road on Saturday. A Patrick Bamford penalty and a deflected Ezgjan Alioski strike earned the Whites victory in the hard-fought encounter.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side spurned a number of presentable goalscoring opportunities and should have won by a more comfortable margin, but will be glad just to have secured the vital three points. 

There were a number of impressive performances on display, with Pablo Hernandez and Alioski both shining. There was a big slice of fortune about Alioski’s goal, but the 27-year-old earned his good fortune with his hard-working, committed and relentless performance.

Bielsa will be delighted with the spirit and stamina that the 25-cap international showed. It was the kind of performance that his squad will all have to replicate if Leeds are to dig deep and successfully achieve automatic promotion.

After the game, plenty of Leeds fans took to Twitter to praise Alioski’s display…

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Crystal Palace are eyeing a £15m move to sign Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland, amid doubts over the future of Spanish keeper Vicente Guaita as reported by The Sun.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Guaita only arrived at the club in the summer after initially signing a pre-contract agreement back in January of last year, but the Eagles have some doubts over his long-term commitment to the club which could see him heading back to Spain.

Butland stayed loyal to the Potters despite their relegation to the Championship, but may not want to spend a second consecutive season outside of the top-flight with Stoke extremely unlikely to win promotion this season.

As a result, Palace, who have been keeping tabs on the situation, could swoop in to sign the England international who would be required to take a pay cut if he were to spend another season in the second tier.

A waste of money for Palace?

It has been reported as recently as January that the south London-based club have limited funds, and could only afford to bring Michy Batshuayi in on a loan deal whilst also signing little-known Brazilian keeper Lucas Perri on a temporary deal with an option to buy.

Along with Perri, who is yet to make an appearance but can be signed for what one would assume will be a minimal fee, Palace have Wales international Wayne Hennessey on their books, along with veteran glovesman Julian Speroni.

Hennessey started against Burnley last time out, and had been Roy Hodgson’s number one last season until Guaita’s arrival, so he is clearly trusted.

The fact that Palace have Hennessey, and will potentially have Perri makes any deal for 25-year-old Butland seem like a strange one, especially at such a huge cost. When you consider the problem up top, which is currently being covered up temporarily by Batshuayi’s brilliance, any decision to spend such a sum on a goalkeeper would be a baffling one.

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As reported by Goal, Liverpool are unlikely to loan Harry Wilson to Leicester in the summer amid doubts over Brendan Rodgers’ level of trust towards young players.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Reds’ sporting director Michael Edwards was reported to have already held discussions with Foxes’ head of recruitment Eduardo Macia over a potential loan deal for Wilson, before Rodgers’ arrival at the King Power Stadium.

Since the Northern Irishman replaced Claude Puel, however, talk of Wilson moving to Leicester has cooled. Liverpool aren’t convinced by their former boss’ management of young talent, citing his decision to hand Charly Musonda just four appearances during his loan spell at Celtic from Chelsea last season.

Are fan nerves to blame for Liverpool’s recent form? Pl>ymaker FC’s Tom Skinner discusses in the video below…

Macia’s future in his current role with the Foxes is also in doubt, so there are many question marks surrounding Leicester being the most suitable place for Wilson to continue his development.

Unfair on Rodgers

It can easily be argued that Musonda’s situation at Celtic was an isolated incident in terms of the 46-year-old’s work with young players.

Admittedly, the young Belgian didn’t get anywhere near the amount of minutes that his talent deserved, but that shouldn’t detract from the former Swansea boss’ excellent work with youngsters in the past.

Rodgers can be credited with helping develop the likes of Moussa Dembele and Kieran Tierney at Celtic Park, and also vastly improved players such as Jon Flanagan and Philippe Coutinho during his time at Anfield.

It is imperative that Liverpool find the right place for Wilson, who seems to have outgrown the Championship after scoring 17 goals for both Hull and Derby in just 39 appearances.

The aforementioned article from Goal states that Liverpool feel they could fetch in excess of £20m for the Welsh international should they decide to cash in on him, so the next step in his career is vital if he is to maintain his value and for the Reds to ensure that their asset continues his upward trajectory.

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Millwall gave as good as they got in their gutting loss to Brighton at the weekend and can feel unfortunate not to have gone through to the semi-finals, with the Seagulls mounting a late comeback and taking the game to extra-time before progressing via penalties.

The Lions might be down in the depths of the Championship but, if they can muster performances of that latest calibre on a frequent basis, then relegation to League One looks near impossible.

Neil Harris’ side were excellent from back to front and, on another day, could have easily emerged victorious. It was extremely hard to pick a man of the match at The Den, with each and every man in blue impressing, although one player rose above a poor performance last time out to put in a solid shift at right-back.

Watch the best fails from the world of indoor football in the video below…

Mahlon Romeo was poor in the loss to Bolton – his defending for Gary O’Neil’s winner was diabolical – although he made up for it and some in the weekend’s FA Cup clash.

Here’s what the Millwall faithful had to say about the 23-year-old’s impressive turnaround…