The Liverpool Offside - Premier League Coverage: Liverpool vs West HamZeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2018-08-12T17:30:01+01:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/174391432018-08-12T17:30:01+01:002018-08-12T17:30:01+01:00Liverpool 4 West Ham 0: Rising Up, Back On The Street
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<img alt="Liverpool FC v West Ham United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FPcjlVqiJ-TuHTflc7_4KHwpa9E=/40x0:2901x1907/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60810795/1015516006.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Jürgen Klopp’s side went the distance, now they’re back on their feet.</p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="cDRDeM">
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<a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> 4 - 0 <a href="https://bracethehammer.sbnation.com/">West Ham United</a>
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<h5 id="aeUzrx">Liverpool: Salah 19’, Mane 45+2’ & 53’, Sturridge 88’</h5>
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<p id="hcrYar">The last competitive match that Liverpool played did not go well for the Reds. Playing in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> final, main man <span>Mohamed Salah</span> was manhandled into an early injury, and then <span>Loris Karius</span> had the worst evening of his career. Bruised, battered, and shaken, but unbowed. Now, after months of adjustments, additions, and preparation, Liverpool would go again.</p>
<p id="HSlysN">Would they be able to recapture the frantic goalscoring energy of last season, while minimizing the lapses in concentration that sometimes tripped them up against opposition they were expected to pummel? The manager cautioned against unrealistic expectations, emphasizing that Liverpool were still just challengers, comparing his side more to a Rocky Balboa than an Ivan Drago. </p>
<p id="4TgTV0">Based solely on today’s admittedly early returns, the signs suggest that Ivan Drago might have a fight on his hands this year. </p>
<p id="xkj6q4">To open the season, Jürgen Klopp’s side would host Manuel Pellegrini’s new look West Ham United. The Hammers have invested ambitiously, bringing onboard Felipe Anderson from Serie A as well as Andriy Yarmolenko from the Bundesliga, not to mention <span>Jack Wilshere</span> from wherever it is they found him. There was no doubt that West Ham had plucked Pellegrini back from the Chinese Super League to oversee something of a reconstruction of this side. </p>
<p id="zvoZEd">It would always be a big task to test that reconstruction effort against Klopp’s Liverpool. The sides started brightly, as they say. As they tend to do at home, the Reds buzzed and swarmed in the early phases, looking to discombobulate their visitors. West Ham, for their part, looked decently organized - Pellegrini had them well-balanced, neither overextending nor frozen in caution. </p>
<p id="xGQJRD">In earlier incarnations, Liverpool might have had issues facing a well-drilled side. There was a different feel to the opening phases of today’s match, and much of that might have been attributable to new signing Naby Keïta. As advertised, his blend of guile, directness, and vision was difficult for West Ham to deal with right from the whistle. Within minutes, he had launched a move from deep to find Salah, whose layoff for Firmino in the middle was just about dealt with by <span>Michail Antonio</span>’s desperate touch. </p>
<p id="RTWa9F">West Ham, when opportunities arose, looked to Wilshere to spring Anderson and Marko Arnautovic, the latter always with the potential to be a tricky customer against Liverpool. Against this side and at Anfield, Pellegrini had no doubt underscored the importance of tracking back to his forward players, and to their credit, they did so diligently in the first half. </p>
<p id="nJujDZ">The threat, however, was growing. Just after a quarter of an hour, <span>James Milner</span> - as industrious and as ubiquitous as ever - found himself in position on the right to deliver a tantalizing cross towards all three of Liverpool’s forwards. Amazingly, none of them got a telling touch, and West Ham would breathe again. </p>
<p id="ooxypR">The reprieve was short. Keïta, once again carrying the ball forward, found Robertson to his left this time, and the fullback’s delivery was perfectly placed to neutralize both defenders as well as the goalkeeper. It was a simple chance for Salah to convert, and the Egyptian will be pleased to have opened his 2018-19 account so early in the campaign. </p>
<p id="Fu8Iec">Though far from panicking, West Ham were now ever more clearly in a bend-don’t-break mode. <span>Mark Noble</span> gave up a free kick after attempting to undress <span>Roberto Firmino</span> on the pitch, and the ensuing effort from Trent Alexander-Arnold deserved a goal. It was kept out only by virtue of a stellar effort from Fabianski - not the first time or last time during this match that the former <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> and Swansea keeper would come to West Ham’s rescue. </p>
<p id="Zu1YdY">In open play, Alexander-Arnold showed just a bit of rust with his deliveries, though his position was as solid as ever. Liverpool were eager to attack from both the left and right flanks, but their moves from the left - particularly their interplay involving Robertson, Mané, and Keïta, arguably carried the greater threat. </p>
<p id="5dnc8m">With the clock ticking towards half time, the ball found Salah unusually on the left this time. His effort was pinged around to Robertson, whose lofted pass eluded all defenders and found Milner just past the far post on the right. The No. 7’s volleyed cross was practically set on a plate for Mané to finish. West Ham looked to have had switched off mentally just before the break, and paid the price for it. </p>
<p id="j5fqz2">To rectify the situation following the break, Pellegrini brought on <span>Robert Snodgrass</span> for Declan Rice. A slightly odd choice, as it seemed to invite Keïta to wreak more havoc in midfield. Liverpool’s new No. 8 promptly obliged, with a little help from his friends. As the midfielder’s influence grew, Liverpool got their third through the usual suspects. </p>
<p id="FLVGA2">Milner unleashed Firmino in the middle, the defenders collapsed around the Brazilian, and the pass found a lurking nearby Mané (admittedly in an offside position), whose low shot left Fabianski flat-footed this time. It was now damage-control time for Pellegrini. </p>
<p id="HzbbfO">Chicharito and Yarmolenko were soon summoned from the bench to replace Felipe Anderson and Arnautovic respectively. It was somewhat of a disappointing day for the latter, who rarely troubled Liverpool’s back four, except for brief moment when a flash of indecision by <span>Joe Gomez</span> allowed Arnautovic to get into a shooting position. New keeper Alisson wasn’t troubled, and also dealt well with a close-range header from the ensuing corner. </p>
<p id="QBgaGN">In the minutes that remained, Klopp found some minutes for <span>Jordan Henderson</span>, <span>Xherdan Shaqiri</span>, and Daniel Sturridge. All three looked lively and hungry upon introduction, but none more so than Sturridge. The striker - almost a forgotten man in Liverpool’s recent history - found himself on the end of a Milner corner seconds after coming on, and scored the Reds’ fourth goal of the day with his first touch. Cue the dancing. In truth, Liverpool had already been dancing much earlier in this match.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2018/8/12/17680544/liverpool-4-west-ham-0-premier-league-2018-match-recap-keita-show-salah-mane-sturridgesaintgrobian2018-08-12T16:30:02+01:002018-08-12T16:30:02+01:00Milner and Mané: We Were Fantastic Today
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<img alt="Liverpool FC v West Ham United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Qhl0ALNtZhc7ldBSV8Ha7bhPZ-k=/87x217:4612x3234/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60810389/1015530518.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool’s captain on the day was man of the match while the Senegalese forward bagged a brace to give the Reds a flying start to the season.</p> <p id="ToAnVI"><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> supporters could not have hoped for a better start to the 2018-19 season than the 4-0 walloping their side inflicted on West Ham. With other top six rivals laying down markers earlier in the fixture list, the Reds responded by putting four past the Londoners for the third straight meeting on the way to securing the most impressive Matchday 1 result so far.</p>
<p id="zUPCvu"><span>Mohamed Salah</span> opened the scoring in the first half before Sadio Mané bagged a brace either side of the half time whistle. A rejuvenated <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> came on late to score with his first touch of the game to round things up with the score line reflecting dominant individual performances from the boys in red all over the pitch.</p>
<p id="7kYTY3"><span>James Milner</span> took the armband on the day to skipper his side due to captain <span>Jordan Henderson</span> still working his back to fitness following his <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a> exertions, with the 32-year-old giving a glowing assessment of team following the game.</p>
<p id="UZJOju">“Expectation is always there first game of the season,” Milner told Sky Sports.</p>
<p id="2Oukz4">“It’s a good victory, a pretty good performance, but we can always improve on that.</p>
<p id="F1sR89">“It was a good start all in all. The most important thing was to get off with a good start.”</p>
<p id="A87R9t">While Milner took home the Man of the Match honors, Liverpool’s new no. 10 in Mané was at the center of much the good going forward, with his two goals putting him alongside Thierry Henry and John Barnes as one of the six Premier League players to have scored on three consecutive opening day matches.</p>
<p id="wLeVuc">”We played great football, created lots of chances and deserved to win,” the Senegalese forward said.</p>
<p id="llU7OW">“I’m happy to score goals for the team.</p>
<p id="FNaAxr">“I think the team was fantastic today, and we now have important games to come. We take it game-by-game.”</p>
<p id="MpU9Tb">The Reds are next in action in eight days away to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/crystal-palace">Crystal Palace</a>.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2018/8/12/17680822/james-milner-and-sadio-mane-we-were-fantastic-today-west-hamO.T. Obaisi2018-08-12T15:30:59+01:002018-08-12T15:30:59+01:00Liverpool 4, West Ham 0: Man of the Match
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<img alt="Liverpool FC v West Ham United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZXtHQKpcG2eDw2vbIDB82NrBI_I=/0x0:3846x2564/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60810069/1015514742.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>With an emphatic victory over visitors West Ham United in the books, we want you to rate Liverpool’s players and choose your man of the match.</p> <p id="KSPpqI"><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> stroll to a comfortable opening day victory over Manuel Pellegrini’s <a href="https://bracethehammer.sbnation.com/">West Ham United</a>, and new signing Naby Keïta lives up to his billing, confidently pulling the strings in midfield. The visitors started with a clear plan to compete, but goals from <span>Mohamed Salah</span>, Sadio Mané (who bagged a brace), and <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> put Liverpool out of sight, and in fairness, the visitors lost their grip on this on fairly early in the contest. We all knew what Klopp’s side could do, and today they executed, in more ways than one. </p>
<p id="OOLKF7">Now let us know how you saw it. Hitting the up arrow is a vote to move the player up the list—or to help keep them on top. Hitting down is a vote to push that player closer to the bottom. It’s half man of the match poll and half power ranking, and we want to use it to find out who you think played well after each Liverpool match and, at the other end, who you’d maybe like to see given the next game off.</p>
<p id="ztNsEK">At the end of the month we’ll go through the results of that month’s polls and vote The Liverpool Offside’s player of the month and, come next May, those monthly results will help to determine your TLO player of the season for 2018-19. Anyone visiting on Google AMP who wish to vote will have to navigate to the front page and re-enter the story to access a non-AMP version of it.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2018/8/12/17680522/liverpool-4-west-ham-0-epl-2018-motm-vote-best-worst-performancessaintgrobian2018-08-12T15:22:25+01:002018-08-12T15:22:25+01:00Liverpool 4, West Ham 0: First Thoughts
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<img alt="Liverpool FC v West Ham United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3znCA-FjHrxxrEN1KmZiU-v2d54=/1x0:5221x3480/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60810011/1015501398.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool start the season off right with a good old fashioned thumping of West Ham. </p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="sites-canvas-main-content">
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<a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> 4 - 0 West Ham</h1>
<h5 id="aeUzrx">Liverpool: Salah 19’, Mane 45+2’ & 53’, Sturridge 88’</h5>
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<strong>Pre-Match Thought: </strong>It’s here, it’s finally time! The beginning of a long, at time frustrating, at times joyous season. All the preseason work has led up to this moment and we’ve made our squad almost as strong as possible over the summer. Time to prove that we’re in the conversation for the title, and that starts against West Ham, today. GET PUMPED. Also <span>Joe Gomez</span> is in center defense today because Lovren did Lovren things and that’s a whole other level of exciting. </li>
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<strong>And we’re off! </strong><span>James Milner</span> leading the Reds today with his punk rock headband to protect those fifteen stitches from last weekend, and <span>Mark Noble</span> is still kicking around for West Ham so nice to see things don’t change. </li>
<li id="8xCdNN">First decent chance of the match comes up at seven minutes, when Salah and Mane get through a couple defenders to set up <span>Roberto Firmino</span>, only to have the effort smothered by Fabianski. </li>
<li id="RtALYB">This game has started pretty subdued for all the excitement building up around it. There’s been a lot of passing and a couple missed chances but it’s been pretty even. </li>
<li id="T79qmF">Oh god we’re only 17 minutes in??? </li>
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<strong>GOAL!! WHO ELSE BUT SALAH TO GET THE FIRST OF THE CAMPAIGN! </strong>Set up by Këita and assisted by Andy Robertson, it was a picture of perfection and the best way to open up this match. </li>
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<strong>ALMOST! </strong>Liverpool win a free kick after Mark Noble tries to split Bobby in half and Trent Alexander-Arnold sends in a belter that is just BARELY saved by West Ham’s keeper that isn’t <span>Joe Hart</span> (because he’s at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a> now!) </li>
<li id="1hjtea">Anthony Taylor, everyone. </li>
<li id="RsqkT9">Joe Gomez practically sacrificed himself right there to block a cross from a West Ham player, holy toledo. </li>
<li id="ylKSB7">Oh my gooood, another chance after some gorgeous build up involving Këita to set up Bobby and Mo that was saved by Fabianski. Unluckyyyy. </li>
<li id="uzaESH"><strong>GOAL! OUR NEW NUMBER TEN SADIO MANE MAKES IT TWO just before the end of the half! </strong></li>
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<strong>Halftime: </strong>I’d like to say Liverpool had been dominating most of the time but West Ham are certainly giving us a run for our money today. If Fabianski weren’t so dead set on helping his team, we might have a few more but unfortunately for us he’s decent at his job today. </li>
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<strong>We’re back! </strong>No changes made for the Reds but with our bench looking like THAT today, expect some to come later in the half. </li>
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<strong>GOAL! And that makes three! </strong><span>Sadio Mane</span> just turns and barely makes it (could be dodgy but we deserve it) but that’s two for our new number 10! </li>
<li id="U1Ol5j">This is a feeling Pellegrini knows well, losing 3-0 to us, right? </li>
<li id="OY2usD">Dirty foul by Balbuena on Mane wins Liverpool another free kick in a sweet spot but James Milner takes it short - then he and Salah proceed to bean a couple West Ham players in the babymakers. </li>
<li id="Sf7aIL">Klopp makes his first change at just around 69 minutes, bringing on captain <span>Jordan Henderson</span> for Bobby! Nice. </li>
<li id="iPR3zC">Just a couple barely missed chances in these ten minutes but Reds are feeling hungry, and <span>Xherdan Shaqiri</span> coming on for Mane just proves it. Powercube gonna do powercube things. </li>
<li id="iFah5l">Been really impressed by Alisson this match. His quick decisions and distribution have been a nice comfort. </li>
<li id="Kkt2hl">Klopp’s last change comes at 86 minutes, with <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> coming on for Salah. </li>
<li id="x7GdQL"><strong>AND HE SCORES LESS THAN TWO MINUTES AFTER COMING ON! DANIEL STURRIDGE BRINGING HIS DANCE MOVES BACK TO ANFIELD! </strong></li>
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<strong>Final Whistle: What a showing. </strong>What a way to start the season. This feels good. </li>
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<p id="VRGkj1">We’ll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today’s game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven’t already, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/account/setup?community_id=373"><strong>join the community on the Liverpool Offside</strong></a>, where we’ll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2018/8/12/17680198/liverpool-4-west-ham-0-match-recap-report-epl-2018Jordan J. Keeble2018-08-11T17:30:02+01:002018-08-11T17:30:02+01:00Preview: Liverpool vs West Ham
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<img alt="Liverpool v West Ham United - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5mxpcXC32QQcwbalKt4hFZXRbmA=/1096x0:3252x1437/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60794225/923786368.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool look to open their season with a bang when they welcome West Ham United to Anfield on Sunday.</p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="qm9v04">
<h2 id="BqgYiQ">LIVERPOOL VS WEST HAM</h2>
<h5 id="gH6SAI">| Saturday, November 4th |<br>Premier League | Anfield<br>1:30PM GMT / 8:30AM EST</h5>
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<p id="6j6KGL"><em>WAKE UP! </em>It’s time! It’s here! Finally! </p>
<p id="GMnMwh"><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>’s season is set to kick off tomorrow morning at Anfield. Due to the years of offseason renovations to the stadium, this will be the first time that the Reds have kicked off their season at home since the 2014-15 opener against <a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a>. (You may have forgotten this, if you, like me, scrubbed that season out of your brain.)</p>
<p id="2qXYLX">This is also the first year when the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">transfer window</a> in England has closed prior to the season beginning. The early parts of last season were marred by the ongoing <span>Philippe Coutinho</span> saga that saw the midfielder submit a transfer request and refuse to play in the team’s opening matches — including their big <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> qualifier against Hoffenheim. </p>
<p id="FAfOTQ">The transfer window remains open elsewhere in Europe, which means that while some players may yet leave the club by the end of the month, no new ones can be added. This may prove problematic for Liverpool after Dejan Lovren returned from his vacation with an untreated stomach muscle issue that may keep him out for an extended period. That news comes at a terrible time for the club, with the defense already missing Joël Matip and Ragnar Klavan for sure, and with Joe Gomez still recovering from injury.</p>
<p id="ziofOs">The way that Jürgen Klopp will choose to line his players up tomorrow is a mystery, but one thing is for certain: record signing goalkeeper Alisson will be starting between the sticks for the Reds. And barring any unforeseen circumstances, the three-man wrecking crew of Sadio Mané, <span>Roberto Firmino</span>, and <span>Mohamed Salah</span> will be up front doing their best to make the West Ham players cry. </p>
<p id="kpqeB9">Speaking of the opposition, the Hammers are coming into this season with plenty of changes to their team. At the very top, out went David Moyes and in came Manuel Pellegrini, who is tasked with improving morale and performances after a dismal last season that saw the Hammers finish in 13th place, only nine points above the relegation zone. The team has also brought in <em>nine</em> new players from around Europe, including <span>Jack Wilshere</span> and Lukasz Fabianski. The thought seems to be quantity over quality, so we’ll have to see how it works out for them.</p>
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<h5 id="unXFb5"><strong>Projected Liverpool Lineup (4-3-3)</strong></h5>
<p id="Yyzs1U">Alisson; Clyne, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Keïta, Wijnaldum, Milner; Salah, Firmino, Mané</p>
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<p id="ndKvLE">Trent Alexander-Arnold is a young player who is still recovering from the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a>. Though he didn’t play much, it’s still likely that Klopp gives him another week off before returning him to the starting line-up. Meanwhile, this could only mean good things for Nathaniel Clyne, who deserves a chance to win his spot back now that he’s fully recovered from the unfortunate injury that kept him out for the majority of last season. And if that means Klopp now has two excellent, fit players vying for that right-back position, then that can only mean good things for Liverpool as well.</p>
<p id="oFRw2W">World Cup runner-up <span>Lovren</span>, as previously mentioned, returned from his vacation complaining of a stomach issue, and may end up facing an extended spell on the sidelines. Meanwhile, other center-backs <span>Klavan</span> and poor Matip will not be ready tomorrow either. Therefore, the starting spot beside Van Dijk will either fall to <span>Gomez</span>, if he’s fit, or the youngster Nathaniel Phillips, who Klopp seemed impressed by in pre-season. Phillips got a huge vote of confidence from Klopp when the manager started him against Torino. That may have been preparation because Klopp knows he’ll need him on Sunday.</p>
<p id="4BeG39">The real mystery will be how Klopp sets up his midfield. There’s plenty of unknowns there, including the fitness of captain Jordan Henderson, still recovering from England’s deep World Cup run, and new boy Fabinho, who is being assessed for a late decision. Naby Keïta appears ready to make his long-awaited, official debut as a Red. Gini Wijnaldum has shined in pre-season, so expect to see him on the pitch — though whether it’s as a number six or pushed further forward, we’ll have to see. Is Adam Lallana in the conversation to start? Judging by his pre-season form, probably not, but Klopp has always liked him, so there may be a surprise in the cards.</p>
<p id="0UbV3C">Another interesting thing to look out for is how Shaqiri might fit in. When Liverpool acquired the Swiss international from Stoke for a cut-rate price, everyone believed he was being brought on as depth. However, he’s looked impressive during the pre-season in a number of positions, so could we see him start as part of the midfield tomorrow? Perhaps. </p>
<p id="A2fE1k">And while it’s almost certain that the attack writes itself, there’s high hopes for <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> this season, so cross your fingers for him to be a super sub in the second half.</p>
<p id="xkazMS">As for West Ham — prepare yourself, because what I’m about to say may shock you — <span>Andy Carroll</span> is out injured. Other players unavailable to Pellegrini tomorrow include <span>Winston Reid</span>, Manuel Lanzini, and Edimilson Fernandes. Expect this new-look Hammers squad to start plenty of new faces. It’s possible that Liverpool will be playing them at the right time, before the manager gets all these new parts working together the right way.</p>
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<h5 id="hlgGoA">What the Managers Had to Say</h5>
<p id="U1yeug"><strong>Jürgen Klopp</strong>: “People ask me already if it’s the best squad we have ever had - I don’t think about that because it’s not about what we have now, it’s about what we make of it. It’s about how often we deliver.”</p>
<p id="cbccE7"><strong>Manuel Pellegrini</strong>: “For me as a manager, it’s difficult when you don’t have options. We have options, I choose the starting XI and they know that during the whole season, you need a strong squad. We have two players in each position and they must work in a competitive way and it’s my duty to pick the team I think is the best.”</p>
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<h5 id="Ye0nud">The Officials</h5>
<p id="sNhhfY"><strong>Referee:</strong> Anthony Taylor <strong>Assistants:</strong> Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn <strong>Fourth official:</strong> Paul Tierney</p>
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<p id="b8UBoe">And a season kick-off poll, just for fun, we want to know who you think will score Liverpool’s first goal of the season. And as a reminder, if you’re visiting on Google AMP, you can access the poll by returning to the story from the front page.</p>
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<p id="bUa0tO">Kickoff is set for 1:30PM GMT/8:30AM EST tomorrow, and television listings for the match can be found on <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/2502841/liverpool-vs-southampton/">LiveSoccerTV</a>.</p>
<p id="fI7Cl7">Here at TLO Towers, we know from experience that World Cup years bring an influx of new football fans who may be testing their toes in the Premier League waters. So if this is your first Liverpool game and you were seduced by the proud majesty of Mohamed Salah; the easy smile, slick dance moves and even slicker ball control of Sadio Mané; the passionate, unmovable wall of Dejan Lovren; the quiet, selfless hyper-efficiency of Jordan Henderson; the <em>criminally under-utilized </em>(don’t get us started on this) manic brilliance of Roberto Firmino; or simply the long, storied history of the club itself, we encourage you to join the community and say hi. We <em>love</em> new people around here. When you’re a Liverpool fan, you never walk alone.</p>
<p id="gMrAwU">In the meantime, and as always, we’ll be keeping you updated with all the buildup to the game, including team news as it’s released, our live matchday thread, and post-match recaps from The Liverpool Offside staff. If you want to join the discussion, sign up for an SB Nation account to have your say on the action as it happens.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2018/8/11/17674526/liverpool-west-ham-epl-2018-preview-team-news-injuries-projected-lineups-how-to-watchepicskyline2018-08-10T17:00:05+01:002018-08-10T17:00:05+01:00Jürgen Klopp: “We Have to Be Ready to Fight”
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<img alt="Liverpool v S.S.C Napoli - Pre Season Friendly" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/b4FGfTJnkRXmhbVeSHpJzgTDUaQ=/0x186:3344x2415/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60791643/1010917160.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="HfRZkj">A strong and exciting squad has been assembled at <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>. The attacking talent that Jürgen Klopp has to work with is outstanding. Sadio Mané, <span>Roberto Firmino</span>, and <span>Mohamed Salah</span> can be considered among the best forwards in the world right now. The midfield was already one of the hardest working but with the additions of Naby Keita and Fabinho, Liverpool are expected to have an engine in the middle of the pitch to envy. So, too, in defense where solidity at the back came on strong once Virgil Van Dijk signed in January. Now, bolstered by the world-record-breaking Alisson in goal, Klopp has assured it will be difficult for teams to put one into Liverpool’s net.</p>
<p id="qsDaRO">Confidence is high but so are the expectations. With the money spent over the summer, it’s clear that Liverpool are ready and hoping to storm the Premier League table this season as well as the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> and any domestic competitions they decide to throw our way. </p>
<p id="l4u0fH">But Klopp is undaunted by the pressures of the media or supporter’s anxieties on the eve of the new season. </p>
<p id="OAwOig">“My own expectations are always pretty high,” said Klopp, “make the best of it, get everything out of it, try to reach the highest – that’s my expectation. </p>
<p id="inZ9mj">“For us it was pretty normal that there would be one point where we spend a bit more money, for the past few years I pretty much had to sit here and defend our ‘transfer behaviour’ that we sold more than we brought in, but that all made sense.</p>
<p id="OOTViN">“We had to create a squad which is strong enough and wide enough to cope with the Premier League and to be as successful as possible. Step by step, we come closer. </p>
<p id="KWc68E">“People ask me if its the best squad I’ve had or whatever, I don’t think about that because it’s not about what we have now but what we make of it. How often we deliver, how we bring ourselves in a mood to fight against all these Premier League teams, who all want our points. We have to be ready to fight and that’s it.”</p>
<p id="hqB4rw">Last season showed that Klopp has already instilled that winning determination into his squad. Come out fighting, give everything until the final whistle. The new players are arriving into that mentality and will learn quickly what it really means to play Liverpool’s all-action style of football for 90 minutes. </p>
<p id="gaUdHt">Three points on Sunday against West Ham would be a fantastic start to a highly-anticipated season that should see Liverpool fighting for silverware on all fronts. </p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2018/8/10/17674290/jurgen-klopp-we-have-to-be-ready-to-fight-sadio-mane-roberto-firmino-mohamed-salah-virgil-van-dijkMatt Wood2018-08-10T15:00:04+01:002018-08-10T15:00:04+01:00Fitness is the Business: Liverpool’s Pre-West Ham Injury Update
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<img alt="Liverpool v S.S.C Napoli - Pre Season Friendly" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pAHP0E0x1c6DAMVOT4CyaHD-_Fo=/0x43:4040x2736/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60791261/1011211902.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Jürgen Klopp is waiting on the fitness of several players ahead of Sunday’s opening match against West Ham.</p> <p id="Q71ark">The opening match of the 2018/19 season is just days away. <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> will host West Ham at Anfield on Sunday and the expectations from the home crowd and around the world will be high for a convincing win that sets the tone for the months ahead. Jürgen Klopp has brought in some exceptional talent this summer to strengthen the team. </p>
<p id="1JVS0U">Alisson, Fabinho, Naby Keita, and <span>Xherdan Shaqiri</span> have all arrived in Liverpool to be a part of the Red Renaissance and to help take Liverpool to the next level. Their opportunity to become legends begins this weekend. It’s crucial that the team gets off to a winning start against the Hammers in order to keep the confidence riding high. </p>
<p id="u9trid">Unfortunately, injuries are already playing their part in sabotaging Klopp’s plans for a strong IX on opening day. And the late arrivals from post-<a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a> holidays are also contributing to a incomplete squad. </p>
<p id="DCaE3g">Dejan has only been back since the beginning of this week and isn’t near ready for serious competition yet. <span>Jordan Henderson</span> and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been back at Melwood for a little bit longer and may be in contention for minutes on Sunday, but it’s safe to say that the squad is a bit uneven at the moment and the manager will have some selection issues picking his first team sheet of the season.</p>
<p id="XsLJPu">“Fabinho is clear,” said Klopp. “He had a scan but the check was clear. Then he felt ill so we sent him home and I haven’t seen him again. We will see.</p>
<p id="BCJjM0">“We will see about the England boys and Dejan. They are all in different shape. Trent has had longer, which is good. Hendo is full of power but hasn’t been back long. It’s Hendo though, you always think about him.</p>
<p id="oUbgiU">“Dejan is unavailable for the weekend.”</p>
<p id="LqKmUA">“Ragnar has no real chance. Joel did train in small parts like Joe [Gomez] did so we will see how they are today.” </p>
<p id="Mugx2p">Dejan is still in massive amounts of running mode. <span>Ragnar Klavan</span> isn’t fit. Joël Matip and <span>Joe Gomez</span> aren’t 100%. There’s a strong possibility that Nat Phillips finds himself on the bench at Anfield and a surprising chance that the young centre back is called on to partner Virgil Van Dijk in central defense against West Ham, such is the current state of Klopp’s options at the back. </p>
<p id="xC3A0O">The squad was looking packed with players not so long ago. And, certainly, the transfer moves over the summer have added depth and versatility to the team. But an injury here and an injury there has given Klopp a defensive headache he will need to address in time for Sunday. Sunday!!</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2018/8/10/17674164/fitness-is-the-business-pre-west-ham-injury-update-alisson-fabinho-xherdan-shaqiri-naby-keitaMatt Wood