After a last gasp win in their first Champions League game in over five years, Liverpool head to Upton Park to face a West Ham side that is coming off a short turnaround after drawing 2-2 with Hull City on Monday Night. Join The Roar from 2:30am (AEST) for live scores and commentary.
After an indifferent run of form since the arrival of the football enigma that is Mario Balotelli, Liverpool will be looking to fire on all cylinders for the first time since the Italian arrived at Anfield.
Despite opening his account for Liverpool during their midweek matchup with Ludogorets, The Reds attack looks vastly different with the inclusion of the powerful Italian than it did when Daniel Sturridge was leading the front for the Merseysiders.
Now while it’s unfair to compare the two as Sturridge obviously has developed a great chemistry with those around him in his time at Liverpool, Balotelli will need to adapt into the Liverpool style of football or Liverpool will need to adapt to him.
Make no mistake, Mario Balotelli is world class and has all the skills that a top tier striker possesses. He is quick, strong, agile, can shoot off both feet and is great in the air.
But for all of these attributes he poses a different threat to Sturridge, a threat that at times during his brief three game stint Liverpool have failed to take advantage of. Balotelli is a target man and needs to be the focal point of the attack similar to how Diego Costa is being used for Chelsea.
He needs the ball quickly and often and more importantly needs the ball in the right areas. Sounds a bit overly simplistic and a football cliche but it really does apply in this particular situation.
With Sturridge, Liverpool had a player that typified the style of football they played. He can finish, has devastating speed and great interplay with those around him.
The three headed monster of Sterling, Sturridge and Coutinho is a counter attacking nightmare for opposition defences and it works on Sturridge’s ability to come short and pass and move.
While Balotelli is quick, he is not necessarily that type of player and fulfill’s the more traditional role of a marksman and as a result Liverpool will need to find ways to make best use of his talents.
I don’t intend for this preview to be a Mario Balotelli blab-a-thon but quite frankly, Liverpool are fairly settled and solid across most other positions. Their back four has significantly improved with the additions of Lovren and Moreno in particular.
The ever present Steven Gerrard has continued to be the heartbeat of the football club and Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling are seeming to improve with each week that passes and will be vital to Liverpool when they take on West Ham this weekend.
As for the Hammers, it’s been a mixed bag of results with flashes of real promise and improvement only to be hindered by “same old West Ham” football.
The blue and claret have also added to their frontline with the additions of Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho to their side, both of whom opened their scoring accounts for the club debut against Hull.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will be looking to the duo to click again if they are to have any chance of getting a win over the Merseysiders.
“We might not get as much possession as we usually do so we’ll have to make the most of it, and take the chances we create. I’m not daft enough to say we’re going to press Liverpool and pin them back in their own half but we’re going to try when we can and make sure at the same time we’re resilient at the back,” claimed Allardyce.
The Hammers have only beaten Liverpool once in their last ten meetings but were unlucky not to get a result in last season’s repeat fixture at this ground where they went down two goals to one thanks to two Steven Gerrard penalties.
While the two sides have yet to be named, two former Reds may feature at some stage during the match as Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing have both been name din the squad and will both look to claim retribution against their former side.
Join The Roar from 2:30am (AEST) for all the action from the Boleyn Ground including live scores and commentary.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
Full Time - After three successive defeats at the Boleyn Ground and only one win from their last ten against Liverpool, The Hammers walk away 3-1 winners. West Ham played an enterprising brand of football and took the game to Liverpool from the get go as they got got off to a brilliant start scoring twice in six minutes. The first goal could be put down to some lackadaisical marking and a sublime cross from Stewart Downing but the second goal was down to pure brilliance and brilliance alone. Liverpool managed to pull one back through some skill from Balotelli and some opportunism from Raheem Sterling who took his lone chance of the first half very well putting Liverpool back in the game with a rocket volley but it was largely one way traffic throughout the first half. West Ham bossed the game from the midfield, winning balls in the middle of the park, finding Valencia and Sakho in good positions and Noble, Song and Downing in particular played very well and outperformed there much more fancied and revered counterparts on the Liverpool side. Liverpool looked shaky at the back but even more alarming for the Reds is that they weren't able to establish there passing game at all in the first half, seeming to be constantly playing out from their own half. The reason why they were playing from there own half is down to West Ham’s pressure and unwillingness to allow Liverpool to settle or get into a rhythm. New signings Valencia, Sakho and Amalfatino were all lively and major contributors to the Hammers success with Amalfatino and Sakho both getting on the scoresheet. Former Liverpool product Aaron Cresswell was very solid at the back and got forward and contributed in attack with some great passes as well as putting in a great performance shutting down Liverpool's right sided attacks. The Hammers were the better side and walked away deserved winners. Sterling’s goal gave Liverpool some life but Liverpool were unable to break down the West Ham defence in the second half despite having an abundance of possession and chances. The introduction of Adam Lallana at half time breathed some much needed life into the Liverpool midfield as his creativity provided Liverpool with a spark but unfortunately for the Reds they were unable to capitalise on his exuberant play. Balotelli up front, was in and out of the game but wasn't really at fault for his inconsistent involvement as for large parts of the game Liverpool were simply unable to get the ball to him. When they did get the ball to him he showed signs of being a menace but he never seriously worried Adrian outside of a near post shot and a header from a corner. Liverpool were better in the second half and played like the Liverpool were accustomed to seeing but it took the Reds way too long to get going and when they did start to click they found themselves playing catchup and from behind. For Liverpool it's back to back defeats and their third of the season. By contrast, Liverpool didn't suffer their third defeat of last season until December. September is not even over and the Reds already have 3 ticks in the loss column. The Hammers head to Old Trafford and will look to build on an excellent performance while Liverpool will have a lot to work on (particularly at the set piece) before they host Everton in the first Merseyside Derby of the year.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
90 - West Ham look to play possession football and close this one out, although the third goal may have been against the run of play the better side will win this game as West Ham have been the better side throughout the course of the game.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
87 - GOAL - AMALFANTINO - Against the run of play substitute and new signing Amalfitano scores on his home debut and surely seals the game for West Ham. The Hammers broke on the counter attack and Downing found Amalfatino surging at the edge of the box and the Frenchman smoothly guides it past a hapless Mignolet intot he bottom right hand corner.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
87 - AMALFANTINO - Against the run of play substitutue and new signing Amalfitano scores on his home debut and surely seals the game for West Ham. The Hammers broke on the counter attack and Downing found Amalfatino surging at the edge of the box and the Frenchman smoothly guides it past a hapless Mignolet intot he bottom right hand corner
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
85 - West Ham have set up their defensive wall and Liverpool have had all the possession yet can't seem to find a way to break down this West Ham defence as has been the story for the entire second half. Liverpool have two big targets up front in Balotelli and Lambert but arent getting the ball in wide areas to feed their strike duo. The clock is ticking and if Liverpool don't do something quick they'll suffer a loss for the second week running
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
83 - West Ham going into complete park the bus mode including players starting to drop like flies and spring up again after wasting 30 or 40 seconds. Executing hanging onto a lead for dear life 101 to perfection
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
79 - Kouyate goes down and appears to have re-aggravated his groin as he comes over to the sideline for further treatment. Allardyce is out of substitutions but Kouyate appears to be fine once again.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
76 - Collins comes on and West Ham have three central defenders roaming the field as it's a clear sign of intent from Sam allardyce that he wants his side to shut up shop. West Ham have switched to a 5 3 2 and the bus has firmly been parked.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
75 - ON Rickie Lambert OFF Fabio Borini (LIV) ON James Collins OFF Cheikhou Kouyaté (WHU)
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
73 - Balotelli and Adam Lallana are starting build a bit of chemistry and after some nice interlinking play between the two Lallana pushes it wide to Alberto Moreno who fires it across the face of goal looking for Lallana to be on the end of it but the substitute is unable to get onto the end of it.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
69 - Balotelli gets another shot off after receiving the ball from the wing he stares down his defenders, does a stepover, cuts inside and fires one to the near post which forces a reflex save from Adrian to push it wide
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
68 - After a horrendous touch from Skrtel, Sakho finds the ball from just outside the box, he tries to chip Mignolet again but this time is unable to get it on target
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
67 ON Morgan Amalfitano OFF ALex Song
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
66 - Substitute Carl Jenkinson comes flying in with a rash challenge that hurts Moreno winning no part of the ball. He receives a yellow.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
60 - Liverpool have more success going forward and Lallana seems to be making progress through the middle of West Ham's defence. He goes down just outside the box but the referee says play on and the ball finds its way to Borini who hits it near the corner of the box but the shot goes over the bar, failing to test Adrian in goal.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
58 - Balotelli gets off a shot and Liverpool should look to him more often as he has had a feature in almost everything they have done going forward. Balotelli tries to curl it form outside the box looking for the far post but its all to predictable for Adrian who see's what the Italian is trying to do.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
53 - Liverpool create another opportunity on the counter attack after Balotelli plays a delightful through ball to Borini who hits it first time straight at Jaaskelinen. Wasn't a bad effort but if he crossed it instead he would have been able to pick out a rampaging Alberto Moreno who was wide open from six yards. In fairness to Borini he didn't look up to check he had it in his mind to shoot.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
50 - A different Liverpool side has come out this second half and they are playing with more intensity and an increased willingness to take the game to West Ham. They are getting the ball in dangerous positions but West Ham have plenty of numbers back and Liverpool are failing to create any clear cut chances.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
47 - Liverpool get their first real chance of the second half and its through Raheem Sterling via Mario Balotelli, some great hold up play from Balotelli finds Sterling who get s a shot off that has no real power on it from his less favoured left foot.
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
45 - ON 20 Adam Lallana OFF 21 Lucas Leiva