West Ham is on the cusp of securing their Premier League safety, but a daunting trip to Anfield awaits them! Manager Nuno Espirito Santo is reportedly gearing up for two significant tactical shifts as the Hammers prepare to face Liverpool this Saturday afternoon.
Anfield has historically been a fortress, a place where even the strongest teams falter. For West Ham, it's a particularly challenging venue, with their record there being one of the least impressive in the league. In fact, it's been a long, long time – ever since The Beatles dominated the music charts – since West Ham last tasted victory on Liverpool's home turf. Only two wins have been recorded at Anfield since that era.
However, this current Premier League run-in presents an unusually high-stakes scenario for the Hammers. The pressure is immense, and Nuno's strategic adjustments reflect this.
But here's where it gets controversial... A surprise victory against Liverpool would propel West Ham out of the relegation zone for the first time since November, and only the third time all season. This would be a monumental achievement, even if it's only for 24 hours, with Nottingham Forest playing their game on Sunday.
And this is the part most people miss... West Ham is reportedly planning to exploit a key vulnerability in Arne Slot's Liverpool side, focusing on Crysencio Summerville. Liverpool is currently facing a persistent crisis at right-back, which is likely to see midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai continue to play out of position. This is a situation that an in-form Summerville should be eager to capitalize on.
Nuno Espirito Santo's anticipated two major changes are designed to shore up the team and provide a more robust defensive structure. The first of these is a fundamental alteration to the team's formation. Despite Liverpool's own struggles in defending their title this season, Nuno is acutely aware of the significant threats they possess, especially within the intimidating atmosphere of Anfield. Therefore, the Portuguese manager is expected to deploy a back five against the Reds.
West Ham's history with a back five has been a mixed bag under different managers. The formation has only truly yielded consistent success once, under Harry Redknapp, where players like Trevor Sinclair and Sebastien Schemmel shone brightly. Nuno's switch to a back five directly influences the second significant change to the West Ham starting XI, a departure from the team that unfortunately drew 0-0 at home against Bournemouth in their last outing.
There have been strong calls for Callum Wilson to be reinstated in the starting lineup. This would seem logical given that scoring opportunities are likely to be scarce for the Hammers at Anfield, and Wilson is undoubtedly the club's most accomplished and experienced finisher. However, Wilson will likely have to settle for a place on the bench once more, as Taty Castellanos is expected to lead the line. His strike partner, Pablo, remains sidelined with injury, and midfielder Freddie Potts is serving the second of a three-game suspension following a red card in the FA Cup.
The second major alteration to the lineup sees Jean-Clair Todibo returning to the squad for the first time since his red card against Chelsea. During Todibo's suspension, his compatriot Axel Disasi has stepped in on loan and provided the stable, consistent presence at the back that West Ham has desperately needed. The entire defense has shown improvement under Nuno, with both Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos benefiting. Now, for the first time, Todibo, Disasi, and Mavropanos are expected to form a central defensive trio, aiming to neutralize Liverpool's potent attack.
The overarching strategy is to embrace Nuno's signature counter-attacking style, prioritizing defensive solidity and then launching quick attacks through the dynamism of Mateus Fernandes, Summerville, and Jarrod Bowen. Soungoutou Magassa is expected to make way for Todibo in this tactical reshuffling.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Liverpool at Anfield: Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Todibo, Diouf, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville, Bowen, Castellanos.
What do you think of these predicted changes? Do you believe a back five is the right approach for West Ham at Anfield, or should they aim for a more attacking setup? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
