West Ham United FC _Liverpool

TEAM NEWS

Thomas Hitzlsperger will make his first league appearance for West Ham, having scored on his debut in Monday's FA Cup win over Burnley.

Matthew Upson (Achilles) is unlikely to feature, and Victor Obinna might miss out with a foot problem.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has played down suggestions that Andy Carroll will be fit to make his debut.

Steven Gerrard could return from a groin injury, but Daniel Agger, Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly are doubts.

West Ham

Doubtful: Obinna (foot)
Injured: Collison & Kurucz (both knee), Dyer (thigh), Keane (calf), Stanislas (hernia), Upson (Achilles)

Liverpool

Doubtful: Agger (unknown), Carroll (thigh), Gerrard (groin), Johnson (Achilles), Kelly (groin/thigh)
Injured: Aurelio (thigh), Shelvey (knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

Sweat and tears provided the catalyst for West Ham's unprecedented comeback at West Brom, and the Hammers must sustain that Olympian effort in their quest for survival.

"The pressure is huge and when you're down there near the bottom, it's hard to escape" (Thomas Hitzlsperger)

The pressure to remain in the top flight is intensified by their proposed move to Stratford after the 2012 London Games.

It looked as if West Ham would fold under the strain when they trailed 3-0 at fellow strugglers West Brom, but a heartfelt half-time rallying cry by captain Scott Parker inspired the team to claw back the deficit and move off the foot of the table.

While Parker could yet prove to be West Ham's miracle worker, Liverpool have most certainly found their own. They are unbeaten in their last eight matches under Kenny Dalglish, and European qualification is now an achievable prospect.

Nonetheless, Liverpool still have to play four of the sides above them. It's a tough-looking run of games for West Ham too - five of their next eight league fixtures are against teams currently in the top six.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
• Liverpool have won their last four matches against West Ham, scoring three goals on each occasion.
• Their only defeat in the last 17 meetings was 1-0 at Upton Park in January 2008. West Ham have lost five of the last six clashes in east London.

West Ham
• The Hammers have only won one of their last six league matches, picking up five points out of a possible 18.
• The 3-3 draw at West Brom represented the first time in the Premier League that they have come back from a 3-0 deficit to gain a point; they had lost on the previous 56 occasions.
• They have the worst home record in the top flight, averaging a point a game from their 13 matches.
• Avram Grant's side have also picked up fewer points (4) against top-half opposition than any other Premier League team.
• Thomas Hitzlsperger is poised for his 100th Premier League appearance, having made 99 for Aston Villa.

Liverpool
• They are unbeaten in their last eight league and cup matches (W5, D3). They have only conceded three goals in that time.
• The Reds have dropped 19 points from winning positions this season - only Sunderland (20) have fared worse.
• This is Kenny Dalglish's 450th league match as a manager (W248, D113, L88).
• Raul Meireles has scored five goals in his last six league matches after failing to find the net in his first 17.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

West Ham
Cole: 10 goals (4 league); Piquionne: 8 goals (6 league);
Obinna: 8 goals (3 league)

Liverpool
Gerrard: 8 goals (4 league); Ngog: 8 goals (2 league)
NB. Carroll has scored 11 goals (11 league) for Newcastle; Torres scored 9 goals (9 league) for Liverpool before joining Chelsea.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mark Halsey
Assistant referees: Simon Long & Martin Yerby
Fourth official: Phil Crossley

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

West Ham (D3-3 v West Brom, a): Green; Jacobsen, Reid, da Costa, Bridge, O'Neil (Spector 78), Parker, Noble, Boa Morte (Piquionne 57), Cole, Ba. Subs not used: Boffin, Hitzlsperger, Kovac, Faubert, Hines.

Liverpool (D1-1 v Wigan, h): Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Maxi, Lucas, Meireles (Ngog 54), Aurelio, Suarez, Kuyt (Jovanovic 73). Subs not used: Gulacsi, Pacheco, Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Poulsen.


COYI

What a loverly goal From Ba

looking good in the first half, Tomkins and Upson doing a good job on thier forwards. the midfield looks the business snuffing out Stevieeeeee G, and Ba scores an awesome goal . I'd swop Piquionne for the tree in the second half and keep the tempo as high as possible go for a third and rub thier snotty noses in it

Just don't let Aram do the half time talk other wise we are F****d!

What a stunning 1st half. Awesome first goal from Parker and then the header from Ba, well it is just amazing to watch them play as a team on heat again.

If they keep up this could be their finest game ever.

Great 1st half eh Motty , love the midfield we have now , some really good play from WH , hope Scotty does the half time chat and greenback goes for a cuppa . Come on WH we really need these 3 pints

What a great game and a great finish from Cole to seal it

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! God i'm still shaking. Was pacing around my front room for the last 30 mins of the game but what a superb performance from the lads. Bit of a cluster f**k for their goal but we did great (for once). Let's hope we can continue that sort of energy and performance against all the other teams

COYI!

Onwards and upwards dude , Onwards and upwards

Second half was not as good as the first, but the dug in there and kept at it, could of had a couple more goals as well. The down side is not keeping a clean sheet, that was a typical West Ham fcuk up for the goal with Tomkins (who I thought was outstanding) and Jacobsem staring at each other before the poo came in to steal a goal. Fantastic strike by Cole, if he would only do that sort of thing for 90 mins he would be a starter for any team in the permiership.

As the Geezer says 'onwards and upwards' keep the same side for next week, wrap Scottie in cottonwool and pray over him daily to keep him fit!

COYI

Saw this game with a massive hangover and after only 3 hours sleep....So I did my bit and the boys certainly did theirs!

Have since watched on tele.....fabulous all round team performance, and bearing in mind that the scouse had only conceded one goal in their last half a dozen games it was an extra achievement to put 3 past the fuckers :cheers:

It should go on record too, that their supporters joined in with the standing ovation for little Jonjo. He completed his walk with a lap of the pitch and they stopped him on his way past to shake his hand and give him money....well done Jonjo and well done to the away support

Nice bit of editing there JDLK

That's naughty JDLK.....but funny