Klopp Wants Players Prepared for West Ham Challenge

Boy that gap at the top of the Premier League table between Liverpool and Manchester City sure does look nice, doesn’t it? It’ll be nicer still if the Reds can take advantage of their game in hand against West Ham on Wednesday and widen that 16 point gap to a scrumptious 19.

Talking before the game at his press conference, manager Jürgen Klopp seemed prepared for a fight against the Hammers, who are battling near the relegation zone.

“West Ham fights for staying in the league and that’s what it looks like. It will be a big fight, they will fight with all they have,” Klopp said.

”It will be a rather defensive line-up. If it’s four in the back or five in the back, I don’t know but both is obviously possible. They did something mixed already when it was four plus Masuaku man-marking Pereira, I think, against Leicester.

”So different possibilities but we have to be ready for a big fight. They want to strike back, they have a tough programme coming up, everybody knows that. They have no points to waste, no time to waste.”

The whole footballing world is waiting with bated breath for Liverpool to stumble. Their disappointing FA Cup draw with League One opponents Shrewbury Town at the weekend and the resulting replay controversy may be enough of a morale deflater to see the Reds drop points to David Moyes’ desperate men. Sadio Mane, arguably the Reds’ best attacker, will miss this match with injury, so perhaps that will play a part.

Or maybe, knock on wood, Liverpool will use this setback as another catalyst to push forward and continue their impressive run.