Liverpool match preview
WHUFC.com
All the background information and team news ahead of Sunday's Barclays
Premier League fixture
05.04.2013
LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 7 APRIL 2013
KICK-OFF: 1.30PM
REFEREE: ANTHONY TAYLOR
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Liverpool on Sunday for their 16th Barclays
Premier League away fixture of the season.
• A minute's silence will be held before kick-off in memory of the 96
Liverpool fans who lost their lives at the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough
on 15 April 1989. Both teams will wear black armbands and West Ham officials
will also lay a wreath at the Hillsborough memorial outside Anfield ahead of
the game.
• The Hammers will need to end an unenviable run if they are to win at
Anfield, having not won there in 41 meetings in all competitions dating back
to 14 September 1963! That day, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters scored in a
2-1 Division One victory, with Ian St John replying for Liverpool and Jim
Standen saving Ronnie Moran's second-half penalty.
• West Ham start the weekend eleventh in the Barclays Premier League table,
having collected 36 points from 30 matches. However, the Hammers have
collected just eleven of those points on their travels, winning three and
drawing two of their previous 15 away matches.
• Sam Allardyce's side have won at Queens Park Rangers (2-1), Newcastle
United (1-0) and Stoke City (1-0) and drawn at Norwich City (0-0) and West
Bromwich Albion (0-0), but have lost their other ten away fixtures.
• Liverpool start the weekend seventh in the standings, having collected 48
points from 31 matches played. The Reds have collected 27 of those points at
Anfield, winning eight and drawing three of their 15 previous home games.
However, Brendan Rodgers' team have been beaten on home turf by Arsenal
(0-2), Manchester United (1-2), Aston Villa (1-3) and West Bromwich Albion
(0-2).
• Both clubs will go into the game on the back of important victories. West
Ham beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday, with
Reds loanee Andy Carroll scoring twice, while Liverpool recovered from a
goal down to win 2-1 at Aston Villa the following day.
Team news
West Ham United
• England striker Andy Carroll is unavailable due to the terms of his
season-long loan from Liverpool.
• Left-back George McCartney is out with a recurrence of the medial knee
ligament injury that previously ruled him out for three months. The Northern
Irishman was hurt in the victory over West Brom last weekend.
• Midfielder Mark Noble is unavailable after undergoing surgery to release a
trapped nerve in his arm.
• Former Liverpool attacking midfielder Joe Cole will be hoping to feature
against his old club after missing the previous two matches with a hamstring
injury suffered at Stoke City on 2 March.
• Ravel Morrison (Birmingham City), Rob Hall (Bolton Wanderers), Paul
McCallum (Aldershot Town) and Alou Diarra (Stade Rennais) are all out on
loan.
Liverpool
• Liverpool will definitely be without Wales midfielder Joe Allen
(shoulder), Italian striker Fabio Borini (shoulder) and full-back Martin
Kelly (knee).
• Danny Wilson (Heart of Midlothian), Jack Robinson (Wolverhampton
Wanderers), Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers), Adam Morgan (Rotherham United),
Michael Ngoo (Heart of Midlothian), Dani Pacheco (Huesca) and Henoc Mukendi
(Northampton Town) are all out loan.
Background
• West Ham United and Liverpool have met 124 times previously, with the Reds
enjoying 66 victories. The Hammers have tasted success on just 24 occasions
and there have been 34 draws. In the Premier League, Liverpool have won 20
of the 33 meetings, with West Ham winning six and there being seven draws.
• The first-ever meeting between the two clubs was an FA Cup intermediate
round tie played at the Memorial Grounds on 5 January 1901. Division One
Liverpool edged out Southern League West Ham United 1-0 in front of a crowd
of 6,000, with Sam Raybould scoring the winner.
• Vic Watson scored four times, Stan Earle twice and Wilf James once as West
Ham United went top of the Division One table after beating Liverpool 7-0
here on 1 September 1930 - the Hammers' biggest-ever home win over the Reds.
• A three-minute hat-trick scored by Roger Hunt either side of half-time
inspired Liverpool to a 5-1 Division One victory at the Boleyn Ground on 6
September 1965 - the Reds' biggest win at the home of the Hammers. Martin
Peters scored West Ham United's consolation goal.
• The largest crowd to attend a Liverpool versus West Ham United fixture at
Anfield was the 55,675 who attended a goalless Division One draw on 14 May
1977. Liverpool would go on to defeat Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-1 in the
European Cup final in Rome eleven days later.
• The Hammers and the Reds met in the 1981 League Cup final at Wembley. The
match ended in a 1-1 draw after extra-time, with Ray Stewart's last-gasp
penalty wiping out Alan Kennedy's 118th-minute strike. The replay, held at
Villa Park, saw Paul Goddard put John Lyall's side in front, only for goals
from Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen to see the trophy head to Merseyside.
• West Ham United and Liverpool famously met in the 2006 FA Cup final at the
Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Jamie Carragher's own-goal and a Dean Ashton
strike put the Hammers 2-0 up before Djibril Cisse and Steven Gerrard
brought the Reds level. Paul Konchesky put West Ham back in front before
Gerrard's late 25-yarder forced extra-time. After a goalless 30 minutes,
Liverpool prevailed 3-1 on penalties.
• Billy Bonds has made more appearances against Liverpool, 33, than any
other West Ham United player. The Reds' Ian Callaghan made a record 33
appearances against the Hammers, scoring twice.
• Vic Watson scored a record nine goals in 14 appearances against Liverpool.
John Toshack has scored more goals for the Reds against the Hammers than
anyone else with ten.
• Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll and Liverpool full-back Jose Enrique were all
part of the Newcastle United squad which won the Championship title in 2010.
• A number of other West Ham United and Liverpool players have lined-up
alongside one another at their former clubs and at international level -
Andy Carroll, Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Jordan Henderson, Stewart
Downing and Martin Kelly (England), Jack Collison, James Collins and Joe
Allen (Wales), James Tomkins and Allen (Team GB), Collins and Stewart
Downing (Aston Villa), George McCartney and Jordan Henderson (Sunderland),
Raheem Sterling, Matthias Fanimo and Blair Turgott (England age-group
sides).
• No fewer than 19 players have made their West Ham United debuts against
Liverpool - Alex Kane (January 1926), Walter Pollard (September 1929), Reg
Wade (January 1930), Bill Nelson (September 1954), Dave Bickles (September
1963), Eddie Presland (February 1965), Mick McGiven (December 1973), John
Radford (December 1976), George Parris and Keith McPherson (May 1985), Kevin
Keen (September 1986), Hugo Porfirio (September 1996), Andy Impey (September
1997), Marc Keller (September 1998), Gavin Holligan (February 1999),
Svetoslav Todorov (February 2001), Laurent Courtois (August 2001), Rufus
Brevett (February 2003) and Kepa Blanco (January 2007).
• Centre-back Dave Bickles made his debut in West Ham United's 2-1 Division
One victory at Anfield on 14 September 1963 - the last time the Hammers won
at Anfield!
• Eddie Presland scored on his debut in a 2-1 Division One victory over
Liverpool at the Boleyn Ground on 27 February 1965. The left-back would make
just six first-team appearances for the Hammers before joining Crystal
Palace in 1967.
• Tony Cottee was sent-off on his second 'debut' for West Ham United in a
goalless Premier League draw at Liverpool on 10 September 1994.
• Kepa Blanco netted just minutes after coming on as a substitute for his
West Ham United debut in a 2-1 home Premier League defeat by Liverpool on 30
January 2007
Last time out
West Ham United
Saturday 30 March 2013
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 3-1 West Bromwich Albion
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins, Demel (McCartney 78),
Nolan (Taylor 69), Jarvis, Diame (Collison 82), O'Neil, Carroll, Vaz Te
Subs not used: Henderson, Tomkins, C.Cole, Chamakh
Goals: Carroll 16, 80,O'Neil 28
Sunday 1 April 2013
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Jose Enrique, Agger, Carragher, Gerrard, Coutinho
(Sterling 77), Henderson, Downing, Lucas, Suarez
Subs not used: Jones, Coates, Skrtel, Shelvey, Sturridge, Suso
Goal: Henderson 47, Gerrard 60 (pen)
Previous meeting
Liverpool took the lead, lost it and then came from behind to win 3-2 at the
Boleyn Ground in the reverse Barclays Premier League fixture on 9 December
2012. Former Hammer Glen Johnson put the Reds in front on eleven minutes,
only for Mark Noble's penalty and a Steven Gerrard own-goal to give West Ham
United the advantage at half-time. Unfortunately, Sam Allardyce's side could
not hold on as former West Ham players Joe Cole and Jonjo Shelvey scored
within four second-half minutes late on to secure three points for Brendan
Rodgers' team.
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins, Demel (McCartney 46),
Nolan, Jarvis, Taylor (Maiga 86), Noble, Diame (Tomkins 73), C.Cole
Subs not used: Spiegel, Spence, O'Neil, Moncur
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Jose Enrique (J.Cole 27), Agger, Skrtel, Gerrard,
Downing, Lucas (Henderson 71), Allen (Coates 86), Sterling, Shelvey
Subs not used: Jones, Carragher, Suso, Morgan
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
9 December 2012 - West Ham United 2-3 Liverpool
27 February 2011 - West Ham United 3-1 Liverpool
20 November 2010 - Liverpool 3-0 West Ham United
19 April 2010 - Liverpool 3-0 West Ham United
19 September 2009 West Ham United 2-3 Liverpool
9 May 2009 West Ham United 0-3 Liverpool
Overall record v Liverpool (all competitions) W 24 D 65 L 35
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
Liverpool
2011/12 Premier League 8th (52 points)
2010/11 Premier League 6th (58 points)
2009/10 Premier League 7th (63 points)
2008/09 Premier League 2nd (86 points)
2007/08 Premier League 4th (76 points)
2006/07 Premier League 3rd (68 points)
2005/06 Premier League 3rd (82 points)
2004/05 Premier League 5th (58 points)
2003/04 Premier League 4th (60 points)
2002/03 Premier League 5th (64 points)
Referee
• Sunday's referee will be Anthony Taylor.
• Taylor is in his third season on the Select Group of referees appointed to
control Barclays Premier League fixtures.
• The Greater Manchester-born official started refereeing in the Northern
Premier League in 2002 before being appointed to the Football League list at
the start of the 2006/07 season, refereeing his match between Wrexham and
Peterborough United in League Two on 12 August 2006.
• Taylor's first Premier League appointment was the 3 February 2010
encounter between today's visitors Fulham and former West Ham United manager
Avram Grant's Portsmouth, with the Cottagers winning 1-0.
• Taylor has taken charge of two West Ham United games this season, the
first being the 3-0 home win over Fulham in September. He then sent-off
Carlton Cole and Darron Gibson in Everton's 2-1 victory at the Boleyn Ground
in December, but both red cards were later rescinded by an FA Regulatory
Panel.
• The 34-year-old took charge of the Hammers' final Barclays Premier League
fixture before they were relegated to the npower Championship in May 2011
when Sunderland secured a 3-0 win at the Boleyn Ground.
• When asked in an interview what his favourite match that he has refereed
was, he named British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division side
Chasetown's victory over Port Vale in the FA Cup second round in December
2007.
• Taylor will be assisted by Gary Beswick and Mike Mullarkey, while Mark
Clattenburg will be the fourth official.
Old boys
• On-loan West Ham United midfielder Alou Diarra spent three seasons with
Liverpool between 2002 and 2005 after joining the club from Bayern Munich.
However, the 31-year-old failed to make a first-team appearance for the
Reds, instead being loaned to Le Havre, Bastia and Lens before joining the
latter on a permanent basis.
• Andy Carroll, who is ineligible for Saturday's game under the terms of his
loan agreement from Liverpool, joined the Reds from Newcastle United for
£35million in January 2011. Carroll has played 58 times for Liverpool,
scoring eleven goals, including one in last season's FA Cup final defeat by
Chelsea.
• Glen Johnson came through the ranks at West Ham United, making 15 league
appearances in the 2002/03 season. He was transferred to Chelsea for
£6million in summer 2003 and subsequently moved on to Portsmouth before
Liverpool snapped him up in June 2009.
• Joe Cole played 149 games in all competitions for the Hammers, scoring 13
goals, before his switch to Chelsea in August 2003. Cole also won the FA
Youth Cup with West Ham United in 1999. Cole joined Liverpool in summer
2010, scoring five goals in 42 appearances - including one at the Boleyn
Ground in the reverse fixture this season in December - before moving back
to east London in January 2013.
• Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey spent a period of time as a schoolboy
within the West Ham United Academy before joining Charlton Athletic.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Craig Bellamy,
Yossi Benayoun, Tom Bradshaw, David Burrows, Titi Camara, Charles Cotton,
Julian Dicks, Ray Houghton, Don Hutchison, Paul Ince, David James, Rob
Jones, George Kay, Robbie Keane, Paul Konchesky, Mike Marsh, Javier
Mascherano, Neil Mellor, Neil Ruddock, Danny Shone, Rigobert Song and Thomas
Stanley.
General information
• All standard match tickets for this fixture have SOLD OUT. Three pairs of
Wheelchair/Carer tickets are still available for this fixture, for more
information click here.
• Sunday's forecast in Liverpool is for a cloudy afternoon with maximum
temperatures of 8C (47F).
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Diame driven by Liverpool defeat
WHUFC.com
Mohamed Diame is keen to make up for a 3-2 reverse against Liverpool in
December
06.04.2013
Mohamed Diame has a score to settle come Sunday's Barclays Premier League
fixture at Liverpool. When the sides met at the Boleyn Ground in December,
the 25-year-old departed the scene in the 76th minute owing to a torn
hamstring, with the Hammers 2-1 up at the time. In his absence, Liverpool
struck twice in the following four minutes to leave West Ham empty-handed
and Diame is keen on vanquishing those memories this weekend. "The home
game against Liverpool holds bad memories for me, because it's when I got an
injury," he told West Ham TV. "But now I'm back and I hope I'm going to do
well on Sunday. It's not a case of revenge, but we always go on the pitch
trying to win and we're going to give it our best and see what happens."
Meanwhile, the all-action midfielder believes Anfield is the perfect setting
for West Ham to pull off an historic win. "Anfield's a great stadium, and a
nice place to play well and show the fans we can win this game against
Liverpool. We just have to take the three points, it's important for us, and
make sure we stay in the Premier League."
Diame expects the Hammers to continue where they left off against West
Bromwich Albion, buoyed by three important points in their quest for a
top-half finish. The Senegal international received a huge ovation as he was
substituted late on, support that never goes unnoticed. "The support is
important, the fans are always behind the team and we feel this support ,"
he added. "I think we did well on Saturday. It was important for us to win
the game, get the three points and now it's good for our confidence for the
next games. "We know that at home we always have opportunities to score
goals and on Saturday the forwards did their jobs and Carroll scored his two
goals. His second one was very good quality, it was the goal of a top player
and it's very good for us. "The top ten is still our target, we're on the
way to doing that and we're going to keep working for that and make sure
that at the end of the season we'll be there."
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YouGov reveal details of fan survey
WHUFC.com
Further details announced for West Ham United supporter consultation on the
move to the Olympic Stadium
05.04.2013
Following last week's appointment of independent research organisation
YouGov, their sports division have now exclusively revealed details of West
Ham United's supporter survey that will offer fans the opportunity to have
their say on the move to the world-class Olympic Stadium in Stratford.
SMG-YouGov Managing Director Frank Saez said: "We relish the opportunity to
be involved in this exciting and ground breaking research and consultation
project. As experts in this field we will conduct an independent
consultation on behalf of West Ham United Football Club that will offer
supporters the chance to share their attitudes towards the move to the
iconic Olympic Stadium."
Cited as the most consistently accurate pollster, YouGov is an independent
full service market research company with global reach which delivers
support and services to sports governing bodies, sponsors and sports
investors and has conducted more than 25 major sports venue projects in 15
countries across six continents, covering national stadia, UEFA Champions
League clubs and Premier League teams, including Wembley, the Maracana,
Galatasaray, Inter Milan, and QPR.
YouGov's research programme will provide a comprehensive assessment of the
spectrum of opinion related to the stadium relocation across the West Ham
United fan base, covering the core groups that will drive the club's future
attendances at the 2012 Olympic Stadium. YouGov are currently in the process
of gathering the required data and developing a comprehensive electronic
survey. Due to the vast numbers of supporters who qualify to take part, the
survey will be distributed via email later this month. If you are a
supporter who is registered on the club's database but has not provided the
club with an email address, you will be given the opportunity to update your
details ahead of the survey's release to ensure you can offer your feedback
on the move to the Olympic Stadium.
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On this day - 6 April
WHUFC.com
Sir Trevor Brooking scores his one and only hat-trick in a 5-0 win over
Newcastle on this day
06.04.2013
Classic match
West Ham United 5-0 Newcastle United
6 April 1968
Division One
Sir Trevor Brooking bagged the match ball for the first and only time in his
illustrious career as Newcastle United were put to the sword at the Boleyn
Ground on this day in 1968. A then 19-year-old Brooking, in his first senior
campaign, netted for a second successive Division One outing, after scoring
in a 1-1 home draw with Arsenal a week earlier. The Barking-born Hammer's
triple was added to by forward John Sissons, who completed the 5-0 rout with
two goals of his own. It was the beginning of a woeful end to the season for
the Magpies, as they proceeded to lose five of their final seven outings,
including a 6-0 reverse at Old Trafford. That said, they would still finish
three points and two places above the Hammers, as the clubs stood tenth and
12th in the top tier respectively.
Complete record - 6 April
2012 Barnsley 0-4 West Ham United (Championship)
2002 West Ham United 2-0 Charlton Athletic (Premier League)
1996 West Ham United 1-1 Wimbledon (Premier League)
1991 Port Vale 0-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1985 West Ham United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Division One)
1982 West Ham United 3-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Division One)
1974 Arsenal 0-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1968 West Ham United 5-0 Newcastle United (Division One)
1963 Fulham 2-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1962 West Ham United 2-2 Birmingham City (Division One)
1957 Leicester City 5-3 West Ham United (Division Two)
1953 Fulham 2-3 West Ham United (Division Two)
1935 West Ham United 1-0 Bradford City (Division Two)
1931 Bolton Wanderers 4-2 West Ham United (Division One)
1929 West Ham United 3-0 Bolton Wanderers (Division One)
1928 West Ham United 0-0 Aston Villa (Division One)
Played 16, Won 8, Drawn 5, Lost 3, Scored 31, Conceded 18
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Open Training Day time changed
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Open Training Day will now take place at 2pm on Tuesday 9
April
20.03.2013
Young Hammers fans will have the chance to get up close to their heroes when
West Ham United hold a special Open Training Day for Academy members, Season
Ticket holders and corporate members at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday 9
April. Supporters should note that the Open Training Day will now commence
at 2pm - later than the previously scheduled start time of 10.30am. The
event, which is free to all the above members, will see the first-team squad
get put through their paces on the Boleyn Ground pitch by manager Sam
Allardyce and his coaching staff. The session will come as the players begin
to prepare for the trip to Southampton in the Barclays Premier League four
days later. There will be full coverage on the giant screens with regular
stadium PA Jeremy Nicholas giving some running commentary and the
ever-popular Hammerhead and Bubbles mascots will be on hand to greet young
supporters enjoying the Easter School holidays.
The stadium superstore will also be open from 9am to 5pm for fans to grab
Hammers goodies and take advantage of the in-store sale on the remaining
2012/2013 Macron replica kits - with away kit now at a 70 per cent discount
- and the fantastic savings on trainingwear. Supporters will be seated in
the Alpari West Stand Lower to watch all the action on the pitch with access
via Gate 3 from 1.30pm. Parking will be on a strictly first-come-first
served basis. Stay in touch with whufc.com for any further details on the
open day as they are available. Timings are subject to change.
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Big Sam on: Liverpool
WHUFC.com
Big Sam spoke to the press ahead of West Ham's Barclays Premier League clash
with Liverpool
05.04.2013
Sam Allardyce urged his players to take their chances against Liverpool on
Sunday, as West Ham United bid for a first win at Anfield in almost 50
years.
The Hammers were at their ruthless best in Saturday's 3-1 win over West
Bromwich Albion, and though Andy Carroll is ineligible to face his parent
club, Big Sam is confident West Ham still have plenty of firepower to call
upon. Carlton Cole and Marouane Chamakh are the men vying for a recall, with
West Ham gunning for their first back-to-back Barclays Premier League wins
of the campaign. Sam, 36 points, eight game to go, you've looked comfortable
all year.
Do you continue to look up rather than behind you at this stage of the
season?
SA: "Well recently we have had a couple of concerning moments, where we've
been looking down. I think we can reflect that all season our performances,
certainly at home, have been very, very good. "We need to just focus on
securing on as many points as we can between now and the end of the season.
I think that certainly with the points total we've got, we know we're not
too far away now. That should give us confidence, relax us that little bit
more and ensure we're not too tense, too uptight and hopefully we deliver
the sort of performances to finish the season off that have served us so
well. We shouldn't be too concerned and yet we've got that little way to
go."
You're on a run of win one, lose one and if that continues you'll end the
season with 48 points...
SA: "Yes, we are a win-lose team. We can't seem to draw in between that. At
the end of the day, lots of people talk about the fact you can go on an
undefeated run and a lot of it is about too many draws perhaps, rather than
the wins. I always think an undefeated run is a better way of securing more
wins rather than win, lose, win, lose but our real problem has been goals
away from home. "I think Sunday's going to be a big test for us because we
go away, we create chances and yet we don't score. And when we don't score,
instead of getting those draws we might have got, we've ended up losing most
of the games we've played away from home. So we've got to show the finishing
quality that we did last Saturday against West Brom."
Forty is often talked about as the safety margin that you need, what do you
think it will take this year?
SA: "I think it will be a bit less, but we always have the magic 40.
Historically, the last team to go down with 40 was a long, long time ago -
that might have been West Ham with 42, which was a first, ever. But I do
think 40 will definitely be enough this season. For us it's about getting 40
and more if we possibly can."
By the terms of the loan agreement, you knew you'd be without Andy Carroll
for this weekend, is it frustrating given how well he played last Saturday?
SA: "It is and it's frustrating for him as well but that's the way the
fixtures have fallen and we've got Carlton Cole and Marouane Chamakh who can
step in to the team and hopefully they can deliver the sort of performance
Andy can deliver. That's what we'll need at Anfield on Sunday. "Andy looks
to be in full flow at the moment and in good goalscoring form, which is what
we've been waiting for, for a long time. Our position in the league is
strong again, so we want to continue that. Like I say our weakness has been
scoring goals, so we have to get the chances first and we have to show the
sort of quality we showed against West Brom to try and get anything against
Liverpool."
Historically Anfield hasn't been a particularly happy hunting ground for the
club. Why do you think that is?
SA: "I think it's always a difficult place for anyone to go and play, but if
on any given day you hit your best form, then anybody can win any football
match that is in front of them. It happens less often at certain places like
Anfield than it does at others. I think you're talking about 50 years and
for most of that time Liverpool were so much better than anyone else that
you wouldn't have expected it. Other teams have won there, recently West
Brom, so they have slipped up now and again. "You just hope that when you
go, it's your turn to catch a big boy who slips on the day. If we're able to
capitalise on a downside to their performance, we're capable of doing that,
but we need to be on top form and need to take our chances when they arrive.
If we don't, life will be really difficult.
"It's nice to see one stat coming out of our attacking play, that Matt
Jarvis is the best and most successful crosser in the Barclays Premier
League. It shows that the service is there, as I've been saying all season.
What we haven't done is capitalise on that service, particularly from Matt,
and we should have scored more goals."
What's the team news ahead of Sunday?
SA: "The bad news is obviously George McCartney coming off last weekend,
which is something we were really sick about. The good news is that while
the injury is quite serious, it doesn't need an operation, which we're glad
to hear. The specialist thinks that when we rehab him this time he'll be ok,
so there's an outside chance that he gets fit for a couple of games at the
back end of this season. "Mark Noble is still recovering from his trapped
nerve problem in his shoulder. So he won't be quite ready and Joe Cole's
still got his hamstring injury."
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Demel pumped for Anfield clash
WHUFC.com
Guy Demel has high hopes for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with
Liverpool
05.04.2013
Guy Demel is relishing the prospect of pitting himself against Liverpool's
talented personnel, as West Ham United get set for Sunday's Barclays Premier
League trip to Anfield. The Hammers full-back is not planning to
underestimate the threat posed by the much-vaunted Luis Suarez, Philippe
Coutinho and co, but is every bit up for the challenge. Indeed, the 3-2
defeat in December's reverse fixture still rankles with the Ivorian and he
has every intention of making amends come the weekend. "I came to the
Premier League to face big players, to play the best players in the world,
because it's the best league in the world," Demel told West Ham TV. "To play
against Suarez or Coutinho is a challenge, but you want to compete against
the best to see how good you are. "At home, I think we were much better than
them, yet they went back with the three points. So we have to keep that in
the back of our minds and try to punish them. "It's going to be a different
game. We're playing away, we all know that we've had problems away from home
and going to Anfield is never easy, especially right now. I think they are
playing good football and getting results. "If we could win there it would
be really nice because I'd be writing history for West Ham. To be fair a
draw would be fantastic, but it's not impossible to beat Liverpool.
Reflecting on Saturday's convincing 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion, Demel
was impressed with West Ham's showing in both penalty areas. Though he
expects a somewhat sterner test on Sunday, the 31-year-old reckons
confidence is king when it comes to fixtures of this import. "It was really
nice to see Andy score twice and it was really important to score three
goals because it gives us confidence up front, which will help us for the
next couple of games," he added. "We may not have as many chances at
Liverpool as we did against West Brom, but if you've got the confidence and
the killer mentality to put the ball in the back of the net, then it will be
really helpful. "It's always pleasing to be good and solid defensively, but
we've proved throughout the season that we can be good as a team
defensively. Because it's always as a team, we defend as a team and we
attack as a team."
Meanwhile, Demel has high hopes for the remainder of the campaign,
maintaining that he and his teammates are worthy of a top-half Premier
League finish.
"I think our season could have been even better if we had a bit of luck, but
we still have eight games to go. I think at the end of the season we can be
proud and finish the season in the top ten, because I think that's where we
belong."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Essex want Twenty20 cricket at Olympic Stadium
BBC.co.uk
Essex chief executive Derek Bowden has said the club are keen to play
Twenty20 fixtures at the Olympic Stadium. West Ham will be the main tenants
of the venue from 2016. But the Chelmsford-based club are eager to discuss
the possibility of hosting T20 games at the Stratford arena. "We regularly
sell out at Chelmsford. We'll sell 7,000 for a Twenty20 game on a Friday
night. There's an opportunity to take cricket down to East London," Bowden
told BBC Look East.
Multi-purpose cricket stadiums
Melbourne Cricket Ground: The Australian 100,000-capacity venue has hosted
football as well as cricket
Moses Mabhida Stadium: Located in Durban, South Africa, the 54,00-seater
stadium was a World Cup venue that also hosts cricket
Eden Park: Auckland's 50,000-capacity stadium hosts rugby union and rugby
league and has a removable cricket pitch
Westpac Stadium: Capable of holding 36,000, the Wellington venue hosts
football, rugby union, rugby league and cricket
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium: Football and cricket are played at the
70,000-capacity stadium in Kochi, India
"East London is actually part of the region Essex County Cricket Board is
responsible for in terms of grassroots cricket. "We'll hopefully speak to
West Ham, in the next few weeks. I would think towards the end of April,
early May we could meet with the West Ham management to see if there is any
viability." Bowden's predecessor David East suggested in 2010 that the
Olympic Stadium could become a Twenty20 venue for the county. While the
Hammers have been named as the anchor tenant for the Olympic Stadium, the
decision over whether to allow cricket to be played at the venue is likely
to lie with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), the
organisation overseeing the transformation of the arena. There are also
plans to host rugby matches at the London 2012 site, with the Rugby World
Cup in 2015 an aim. A spokesperson for the London Legacy Development
Corporation said: "The Stadium will become a multi-use venue so we are open
to additional uses including cricket provided they can fit alongside other
concessionaires such as West Ham United and UK Athletics. "We will be
creating a process for interested parties to submit proposals for one-off
events such as Twenty20 cricket matches."
Mayor of London Boris Johnson, the chairman of the LLDC, is keen to
encourage a diversity of sports at the Olympic Stadium and has welcomed
Essex's interest. "I've said repeatedly that the stadium is something for
everybody in London and everybody in the country," he told BBC London 94.9.
"It is a national asset. We are going to make sure it doesn't just have
association football, although that is going to be a glorious part of it
with West Ham. "We are going to have other events as well. We are still
trying to make it fit for the rugby, but we can't be confident that will
work for 2015. If we can get some cricket in that would be fantastic as
well."
England captain and Essex batsman Alastair Cook has also backed the
proposal. "It would be fantastic for Essex to be able to play at the Olympic
Stadium," Cook said. "East London has a huge amount of participation in
cricket and taking the game there would benefit Essex as well. "As a player,
it would be fantastic. It would have to be a Twenty20 game. County
Championship matches should be played at Chelmsford or at the festival at
Colchester. "You want to play in front of good crowds befitting of the
stadium. With Twenty20 you have got a chance of getting 10,000 or 15,000
there which would make it a good atmosphere."
West Ham intend to reduce the stadium's capacity from 80,000 to 60,000, but
Bowden believes crowds of at least 20,000 could be accommodated for cricket.
"We would need to look at the financials as well as the logistics, but
20,000 people watching Twenty20 cricket on a Friday night would make for
fantastic entertainment," he said. "It can work for cricket. There is
obviously a cost attached and that is something we would need to look into
very clearly. "Technologically it can be done."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool v West Ham
KO 13:30
5 April 2013
By Ian Dennis
BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Anfield Date: Sunday, 7 April
Continue reading the main story
Liverpool have no fresh injuries so Brendan Rodgers may stick with the side
that beat Aston Villa last weekend. Joe Allen and Fabio Borini (both
shoulder) and Martin Kelly (knee) are all out for the rest of the season.
West Ham striker Andy Carroll is ineligible to face his parent club under
the terms of his loan, so Carlton Cole or Marouane Chamakh will deputise.
Joe Cole (hamstring) also misses out on an Anfield return, with Mark Noble
(shoulder) another absentee.
MATCH PREVIEW
There are no such things as a certainty on Grand National weekend in
Liverpool but the visit of West Ham United to Anfield must be the closest
you will get to one. If you look at the form then The Hammers will be
classed as outsiders on a ground where they have found the going
particularly tough. The last time West Ham won at Anfield was in 1963; a
year better remembered as when Liverpool's "Fab Four" caused hysteria as
Beatlemania hit the UK. Since then, West Ham have made 39 league visits to
Anfield and failed to score in 28 of them. Their anaemic away goal tally of
nine from 15 matches this season suggests they might not be about to improve
that statistic. "West Ham were very impressive against West Brom last week
and they are going to stay up, no problem.
After their defeat at Southampton last month, Liverpool are now playing for
fifth or sixth place, because any higher looks impossible."
What won't help their cause is the absence of Andy Carroll, who is unable to
play against his parent club. Carroll will be sorely missed after scoring
five goals in his last nine league outings. His future remains uncertain and
even though he's not playing there has been no shortage of speculation about
him this week. West Ham are reportedly keen to take him on a permanent basis
but are also said to be looking at strikers all across Europe for next
season, while Brendan Rodgers says there is nothing to discuss now,
preferring to wait until the end of the campaign. The Liverpool boss must be
very content with how things are progressing, especially with the way his
side bounced back against Aston Villa after the slip up at Southampton. It's
unlikely Liverpool will finish in the top four but after four league wins
from their last five they are mounting a challenge for fifth spot, which
would secure Europa League qualification. I was at Anfield when Philippe
Coutinho made his debut in the last 12 minutes against West Brom in February
and I'm looking forward to witness in person the partnership he has built
with Luis Suarez. The Brazilian provides another dimension to Liverpool's
creativity and, along with a resurgent Stewart Downing, the home side will
not lack confidence going forward - which doesn't augur well for West Ham.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham have never beaten Liverpool at Anfield in 16 previous Premier
League attempts.
Liverpool are looking to complete a sixth Premier League double over The
Hammers.
West Ham's only post-war top-flight win at Liverpool was a 2-1 victory in
September 1963.
The Hammers have failed to score in their last four league visits to
Anfield.
Liverpool
Liverpool have scored 15 goals in their last five Premier League matches,
winning four of those matches.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, on 98 Premier League goals for the club,
has scored four Premier League penalties this season - level with Mikel
Arteta, Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Sunderland's Craig Gardner.
Philippe Coutinho has been involved in a Premier League goal every 74
minutes on average since he joined the club, scoring two and assisting three
in 369
minutes.
Liverpool have had 242 shots off target in the league this season; 35 more
than any other side.
West Ham
The Hammers have won just one of their last 10 away games in the Premier
League (W1, D1, L8).
Sides managed by Sam Allardyce have lost on each of their last eight Premier
League visits to Liverpool since his Bolton side drew on his first trip to
Anfield in January 2002.
Jussi Jaaskelainen has made 127 saves in the Premier League this season,
nine more than any other goalkeeper (Sunderland's Simon Mignolet).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
50 years of hurt
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 5th April 2013
By: Staff Writer
This year marks an incredible 50 years since West Ham last beat Liverpool at
Anfield. This weekend, Sam Allardyce becomes the tenth West Ham manager to
take a United team to Merseyside looking to end the club's longest-running
hoodoo against an established Premier League club. You have to go back to
September 1963 to find West Ham's last win at the home of the former
European champions; that being a 2-1 victory courtesy of goals from
youngsters Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst (fellow England international Roger
Hunt grabbed a second half consolation for the Reds).
Since then, the very best subsequent Hammers sides have managed is a draw -
and even that has only happened on 10 occasions during the 39 visits to
Anfield since 1963. Statistically speaking, Harry Redknapp holds the best
managerial record on Merseyside since that day 50 years ago; his seven
visits there between 1994 and 2001 yielded three draws and four defeats -
even though his team failed to score in six of the seven games!
And with only TEN West Ham players having scored at Anfield in that period,
'Pop' Robson and Geoff Hurst - with three goals apiece - remain United's
most prolific goalscorers of the period. The last West Ham player to score
an Anfield was Bobby Zamora in a 2-1 reversal back in August 2006. The
current QPR-striker's 12th minute goal gave Alan Pardew's team an early lead
before strikes from Daniel Agger and Peter Crouch won the home side their
customary three points.
John Moncur and Paolo Di Canio remonstrate with referee Jeff Winter during a
2-1 defeat at Anfield in August 2001
50 Years of Hurt: West Ham at Anfield since 1963
Ron Greenwood: Pld10 W0 D2 L8 F6 A18 GD-12
1964/65: Liverpool 2-2 West Ham Utd (Hurst 2)
1965/66: Liverpool 1-1 West Ham Utd (Hurst)
1966/67: Liverpool 2-0 West Ham Utd
1967/68: Liverpool 3-1 West Ham Utd (Peters)
1968/69: Liverpool 2-0 West Ham Utd
1969/70: Liverpool 2-0 West Ham Utd
1970/71: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham Utd
1971/72: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham Utd
1972/73: Liverpool 3-2 West Ham Utd (Robson 2)
1973/74: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham Utd
John Lyall: Pld12 W0 D4 L8 F5 A27 GD-22
1974/75: Liverpool 1-1 West Ham Utd (Robson)
1975/76: Liverpool 2-2 West Ham Utd (A.Taylor 2)
1976/77: Liverpool 0-0 West Ham Utd
1977/78: Liverpool 2-0 West Ham Utd
1981/82: Liverpool 3-0 West Ham Utd
1982/83: Liverpool 3-0 West Ham Utd
1983/84: Liverpool 6-0 West Ham Utd
1984/85: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham Utd
1985/86: Liverpool 3-1 West Ham Utd (Dickens)
1986/87: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham Utd
1987/88: Liverpool 0-0 West Ham Utd
1988/89: Liverpool 5-1 West Ham Utd (Rosenior)
Billy Bonds: Pld2 W0 D0 L2 F0 A3 GD-3
1991/92: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham Utd
1993/94: Liverpool 2-0 West Ham Utd
Harry Redknapp: Pld7 W0 D3 L4 F2 A13 GD-11
1994/95: Liverpool 0-0 West Ham Utd
1995/96: Liverpool 2-0 West Ham Utd
1996/97: Liverpool 0-0 West Ham Utd
1997/98: Liverpool 5-0 West Ham Utd
1998/99: Liverpool 2-2 West Ham Utd (Lampard, Keller)
1999/00: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham Utd
2000/01: Liverpool 3-0 West Ham Utd
Glenn Roeder: Pld2 W0 D0 L2 F1 A4 GD-3
2001/02: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham Utd (pen, Di Canio)
2002/03: Liverpool 2-0 West Ham Utd
Alan Pardew: Pld2 W0 D0 L2 F1 A4 GD-3
2005/06: Liverpool 2-0 West Ham Utd
2006/07: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham Utd (Zamora)
Alan Curbishley: Pld1 W0 D0 L1 F0 A4 GD-4
2007/08: Liverpool 4-0 West Ham Utd
Gianfranco Zola: Pld2 W0 D1 L1 F0 A3 GD-3
2008/09: Liverpool 0-0 West Ham Utd
2009/10: Liverpool 3-0 West Ham Utd
Avram Grant: Pld1 W0 D0 L1 F0 A3 GD-3
2010/11: Liverpool 3-0 West Ham Utd
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 5th April 2013
By: Preview Percy
Next up we pay a visit to Anfield where Liverpool will be our hosts.
Kick-off is 1.30pm on Sunday which means we'll be playing our second match
in little over a week. Blimey. What will they think of next?
There's engineering works on the line between Liverpool Street & Shenfield
first thing on Sunday so if you're trying to get to Euston for an early
train you may need to take that into account.
The home side sit in 7th place with 48 points from their 31 matches played
so far. They've won four and lost two of their last six in the league. The
wins came at Villa last weekend (2-1), at home to Bale (3-2), away at Wigan
(4-0) and at home to a Wembley-preoccupied Swansea (5-0).
They won't be qualifying for the so-called Champions League this season,
and, with even the Happy Shopper version in the shape of the Europa League
looking a long shot, the recent news about the club has been all about
top-scorer Luis Suarez who has expressed an interest in moving on to someone
who can promise European football. The quote ran something along the lines
of: "if another team comes around with more prospects of competing in
international club competition games, which is willing to have [me], they
are welcome. We would talk to the club, and we would see if I want to go
[or] if I don't want to go." Rather predictably the club were keen to play
the "probably misquoted in translation" card they like to use so much. The
official statement said that they were "100% certain" that he would stay.
It's not something I'd be too keen on testing out at the bookies myself.
The problem with Suarez, and make no mistake he is undoubtedly one of the
most gifted players you are likely to see, is that far too many on
Merseyside are happy to defend the indefensible as far as he is concerned –
something that reached its nadir with the t-shirts worn by players after the
Evra affair. Since then boss Brendan Rodgers was eager to broadcast how
unfair the press treatment Suarez was getting over his diving was. Rodgers
may have had a point with his comments that British players get an easier
ride over the diving thing – Gerrard has won countless free-kicks over the
years with that clever trick of tripping himself up after all. Admirable
though it was to see Suarez disciplined by the club over his antics, I might
have been more impressed had Rodgers read the riot act on any of the dozens
of times Suarez had dived before actually admitting to it in the press. The
message was clear – "don't admit anything and don't get caught".
Their captain is, of course, the inexplicably fireproof Steven Gerrard. One
could be forgiven for the misapprehension that the player is the greatest
player the world has seen if one based one's opinions on match commentaries.
For example, watching England in midweek the ITV gentlemen marvelled over
the three occasions he got a three foot pass right, strangely choosing to
talk about the weather on the multiple – and boy were they multiple -
occasions he gave the ball away. Like Suarez he knows when and how to fall
over, though, as mentioned earlier, he benefits from the dispensation given
to English players whenever the subject is raised. He'll score against us of
course – he usually does – but I'd still like to know what secrets he holds
over those responsible for providing tv commentary on matches to have them
fawn over him so much.
The earlier part of their season was notable for a lack of resources up
front. Having sent Andy Carroll on to better things they had hoped to bring
in Clint Dempsey from Fulham. The Cottagers took exception to Liverpool's
illegal efforts to sign the player and flogged the Septic to Spurs. This
left them relying on Suarez and the youngster Raheem Sterling. At that time
Sterling was also the subject of a rather unseemly struggle between the club
and his "advisors". As he was about to turn 18 Liverpool needed to secure
him on a new deal or face seeing him depart on the cheap at the end of term.
Meanwhile the player's advisors were keen to see the player on top wages, in
reflection, I am sure, of his then first XI regular status rather than from
any desire to increase the value of their 10%. The contract got sorted in
the end but one was left with the distinct feeling that nobody really gave a
monkeys' about the kid's welfare as long as they didn't lose out
financially.
The striker situation was sorted out during the January window with the
arrival of Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea for a rumoured £12m. I guess being
behind Torres in the pecking order would make anyone seek a move. It was
also rumoured that he had an aversion to being stuck out on the wing all the
time rather than in his preferred central role.
The other arrival in the window was Brazilian Phillipe Coutinho who came in
from Internazionale. Although technically an Inter player since 2008,
Coutinho spent the first two years of his Italian career with his original
Brazilian club Vasco Da Gama as a result of the Italian rule prohibiting the
playing of foreigners under the age of 18. When he finally got to the San
Siro there were noises from the then head coach Rafael Benitez along the
lines of "this player is our future". Those words proved to be about as
sensible as any of the rubbish Benitez has ever spoken and, failing to
impress in Italy, he was eventually shipped off to Espanyol on loan. His
form improved to the extent that he started appearing on people's radar and
Inter will have made a tidy profit with the £6.5-£8.5m (amount depending on
from which paper you source your transfer fee info) received from Liverpool.
The main absentee for the home side for this one will be midfielder Joe
Allen. Allen followed Rodgers from Swansea in the summer. However, his form
over the season hasn't over-impressed with things not being helped by
problems with his shoulder. Strangely for Liverpool, this wasn't caused by
an over-abundance of chips balanced thereon. Whatever the issue the player
went under the knife and will now miss the remainder of the season.
And what of us? Good win that one last weekend. We rode our luck a bit early
on with the save from Jaaskalainen that came back nicely off the post but
once we'd gone ahead there was no looking back. Apart from his goals – and
the second was a bit special wasn't it? - Carroll had a superb match and
West Brom found him unplayable. Shame then that the rules relating to his
loan spell will prevent him from appearing in this one. Carlton Cole this is
your moment to shine.
One has got to feel a little bit for George McCartney. Having done his
ligaments in it was rotten luck to get the same injury again only minutes
into his return. That looks to be his season done then. Mark Noble is also
likely to miss out with some reports suggesting we won't see him again this
season. Although Joe Cole was said to be close to a return last weekend in
the end his hamstring hadn't recovered enough to see him make the squad and
he's unlikely to be ready for this week either, which is a bit of a shame
given that he a) owes us having scored against us in the reverse fixture;
and b) owes them for stagnating his career. Noble's absence will mean
another start for Gary O'Neil who had a fine game last weekend – even
without the goal which was a deceptively fine finish.
History dictates that this will be a toughy. The last time we won here was
so long ago they were still doing legal transfer deals in that part of the
world. Even when we do play well at this venue the refereeing from officials
who have contributed to their trophy count so much over the years usually
kicks in to get them off the hook. Dives, dubious offsides, ignored fouls,
I've seen us stitched up by them all over the years. The choice of official
for this one (see below) doesn't inspire too much in the way of confidence
either, especially with Gerrard and Suarez ever ready to collapse at the
merest glance in the wrong direction.
Prediction? Well I'm loath to actually go to the bookies and actually bet
against us on the grounds of superstition. However, if I were to raid the
Avram Grant Rest Home For The Bewildered's Unseasonably Cold Weather Fuel
Contingency Fund (£2.50) and place it on a result I'm afraid I'd have to be
putting it on a 3-1 defeat this time, thus ensuring that new contract for
the manager is put on hold for another week or two.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met At Anfield: Lost 0-3 November 2010. A totally spineless
performance from us saw Johnson, Kuyt (statutory dubious pen) and Rodriguez
put the home side into a 3-0 lead at half time. That was about it.
Referee: Anthony Taylor. We last saw this clown in our home match against
Everton when he had an unbelievably poor game. The baffling sendings-off of
Carlton Cole and Darron Gibson ruined the match. Thankfully the decisions
were reversed on the grounds that no sane person would have made them in the
first place. Taylor received no punishment of course.
Danger Man:Luis Suarez. They can moan all they like about how referees
"misunderstand" him but, like Bale at Spurs, his undoubted talent is spoilt
by his blatant cheating. He and Gerrard must be licking their lips at the
prospect of having as dumb a ref as Taylor in charge for this one.
Daft Fact Of The Week: A few years ago when The Beatles finally settled
their long-running dispute with Apple over the use of Beatles songs on
iTunes, the good people at Fox News referred to the group as "Manchester's
favourite mopheads". This, of course was factually incorrect. As everyone
knows it was to London that the "Fab Four" escaped as soon as they had more
than tuppence to rub together.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Premier League: Liverpool welcome West Ham to Anfield on Sunday
Last Updated: April 5, 2013 11:13am
SSN
Liverpool will be looking to remain in the hunt for Europe when they welcome
West Ham United to Anfield on Sunday. The Reds sit seventh heading into the
latest round of fixtures, three points adrift of arch-rivals Everton and
five short of fifth-placed Arsenal. Overhauling the Toffees will be a top
priority for Brendan Rodgers and his players, with it important for them to
end the campaign as the top team on Merseyside. Should they succeed in that
quest, they may find themselves back in the Europa League for 2013/14. Four
wins in their last five have helped to keep Liverpool in contention and they
will be determined to end a campaign which started slowly with a flourish.
West Ham are, however, looking to end any lingering doubts regarding their
top-flight status. Two victories in their last three Premier League outings
have helped to lift them six points clear of the drop zone and one more win
should be enough to see them safe. Sam Allardyce will, however, be setting
his sights higher than that, with a top-half finish still very much on the
cards at Upton Park. They may find the going tough this weekend, though,
with the Hammers yet to secure a Premier League victory at Anfield - taking
just four points from 16 previous visits.
Liverpool
Last 6
1-2
3-1
3-2
0-4
3-1
5-0
Liverpool have no fresh injury or suspension concerns to contend with
heading into the weekend. Long-term absentees Martin Kelly (knee), Joe Allen
and Fabio Borini (both shoulder) remain the only men on the sidelines. It is
possible that Rodgers will keep faith with the starting XI that came from
behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 last time out, meaning Daniel Sturridge and
Martin Skrtel will once again have to make do places on the bench.
West Ham
Last 6
3-1
2-0
0-1
2-3
2-1
1-0
West Ham will be unable to call upon the services of in-form Andy Carroll,
as the terms of his loan agreement prevent him from playing against his
parent club.
Joe Cole may, however, line up against former employers, with the midfielder
expected to shake off a hamstring complaint in time to put himself in
contention.
Mark Noble (shoulder) and George McCartney (knee) are unlikely to figure for
the Hammers again this season.
Opta stats
Liverpool have fired 242 shots off target in the league this season; 35 more
than any other side (Man City).
After masterminding a draw on his first Premier League trip to Anfield (Jan
2002), Sam Allardyce has seen his teams lose on each of his last eight trips
there.
Luis Suarez has created 77 chances from open play this season; more than any
other player in Europe's top five leagues.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce says West Ham will miss Andy Carroll against Liverpool
Last Updated: April 5, 2013 3:52pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce says Andy Carroll's enforced absence this weekend has come at
a frustrating time for the striker and West Ham. Injuries have meant a
stop-start season on loan in east London for Carroll, who is ineligible for
Sunday's trip to Liverpool under the terms of his deal. That means another
90 minutes on the sidelines a week after the 24-year-old - a summer transfer
target for the Hammers - showed a glimpse of his best form with two goals
against West Brom.
Allardyce said: "Andy looks to be in full flow and good goalscoring touch,
which is what we've been waiting for a long time. "It's frustrating to be
without Andy for Sunday and it is for him as well but that's the way the
fixtures have fallen."
Allardyce has never made a secret of his wish to make Carroll's loan
permanent - as long as the terms suit West Ham. He said "I think there'd be
a lot to be discussed between ourselves, Liverpool and Andy before that
could be the case, but once we're secure then we'll move on with that
business as quick as we possibly can. "I wouldn't have spent as much time as
I did trying to get him here if I didn't want him here on a permanent basis.
"We would have hoped he'd score a few more goals, but the circumstances
around why he hasn't are ones we can put right. In other words, keeping him
match-fit would mean more goals."
West Ham have not won at Liverpool for almost 50 years, but Allardyce said:
"On any given day on your best form you can win anywhere. "For most of those
50 years Liverpool have been so much better than everyone else that you
wouldn't expect to win there, but we're capable of winning there and if
we're on top form and take our chances we can."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam: We can't splash the cash
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 8 hrs ago
The Sun
SAM ALLARDYCE has warned West Ham fans there will be no bank-busting
spending spree to go with their Olympic Stadium move. The Hammers boss
admits he must start constructing a team fit to grace the grand opening of
their new 54,000-capacity home in 2016. But West Ham are still £60million in
debt and incoming FIFA rules on balancing the books mean teams can no longer
live in permanent overdraft. Allardyce said: "There is a big motivation for
everybody to try and get West Ham to become the biggest club it's ever been.
"But the days of huge money being thrown at transfers look like they might
be restricted, so the growth of West Ham might not be as quick as we would
all like. "We are telling the fans now that it might be a problem and we
can't spend it because we are not allowed to. The fans will probably take a
while to understand that and I know the players and agents will. "So when we
turn round to an agent and say, 'We would like to pay you that but under the
new regime we can't', we'll go off somewhere else and hopefully find
everybody will say the same and it will bring a bit more financial stability
to the game. "But from my point of view it doesn't help that I want to build
a team as quick as I can and promote an exceptionally good Premier League
side in that stadium."
Putting a squad together to lift West Ham out of mid-table and to a place
reflecting the status of its proposed new home requires an investment
upwards of £300m. Winger Matt Jarvis is the club's current record signing at
just £10.75m. Allardyce revealed that work has already started on
recruitment for next season. But with Premier League safety still not
mathematically guaranteed, there remains an uncertainty about the financial
future. Co-chairman David Sullivan insists debt is being reduced and this
summer the Hammers will hand over the last instalment of an £18m payout to
Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez affair. Big Sam added: "We are
gathering information on players' availability. There will be hundreds of
thousands of conversations and emails and, as everybody knows, David
Sullivan is highly active in that area. "He loves a conversation on what
players might become available, wherever they might be from."
On-loan Liverpool striker Andy Carroll is ineligible to play at Anfield
tomorrow under the terms of the deal. Former Reds midfielder Joe Cole is
also out with a hamstring injury. Allardyce said: "Our real problem has been
scoring goals away from home. "We've got to use the sort of finishing
qualities we did last Saturday against West Brom."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Karren Brady's football diary
The Sun
By KARREN BRADY
SunSport columnist
Published: 7 hrs ago
SATURDAY, MARCH 30
TWO goals from Andy Carroll and three points closer to the shoreline. By any
reckoning, our man Sam was right to insist that we bought winger Matt Jarvis
from Wolves last summer. Stats shown to me today reveal Jarvis as the
Premier League's leading open-play crosser of the ball with easily the most
successful attempts at 42 from 171. Analysts suggest this is because Sam
Allardyce prefers traditional wingers aiming the ball for big strikers.
Perhaps, but that's a gross under-estimation of Jarvis, who can be quietly
devastating. It worked today as Andy scored twice but we have to be without
our loan player at Liverpool this Sunday and someone else will have the
pleasure of meeting Jarvis' crosses.
SUNDAY, MARCH 31
WHEN David Miliband decided to ditch the Houses of Parliament for Manhattan,
I did wonder how he expected to earn £125,000 as vice-chairman of
Sunderland. We do not have to worry about that now as the one-time favourite
to lead the Labour party has resigned from the board because Paolo Di Canio
has been appointed Sunderland manager. Many times since we took over the
club Paolo has approached owners David Sullivan and David Gold about being
the manager of West Ham. I think they considered him briefly — something I
never did — but dismissed him on the basis that football and fascism do not
mix.
MONDAY, APRIL 1
WHEN a football was thrown to Barack Obama at a ceremony in Hawaii, the US
President set about juggling it on his head. Admittedly, balancing the
Middle East isn't quite so easy but it's still some feat for a guy who was
force-fed American football and basketball. The real news though is that the
President of the United States of America has joined our Family. Yes he's
declared himself a Hammer and a very proud one at that. And he's coming to a
game the next time he's here! Another man of taste and power who joins our
growing number of A-list celebrity supporters.
TUESDAY, APRIL 2
I'M finding it really hard to believe that Neil Warnock will no longer be
snarling on the touchlines of Football League grounds up and down the
country. Once managers move deeper into their sixties most of them either
lose their drive or lose touch with their players. But I know there is a
serious exception to this — and I do seriously believe that Neil will be
back before very long. I already know of one Championship club in London
whose chairman is considering having Warnock as his director of football.
He's seen it all and rescued so many teams, maybe we should call him the
Fireman. And I also know he does possess a good eye for a decent player —
because he once signed my husband!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3
SCORES of coaches laden with United fans from all over the country roll into
the Old Trafford car parks on match days. But in their home-town clubs,
people who choose to back United or another big name are about as popular as
ants in your underpants. It's a free country but being true to your roots
says something about loyalty. So let's hear it for Stuart Astill, a Forest
supporter who had been home and away for 1,786 matches until he injured his
foot last weekend. This is great and I'd love to hear from any Hammers
follower who can match that record.
THURSDAY, APRIL 4
WHAT is it about Manchester City players? Carlos Tevez has been given 250
hours of community service for driving without insurance and Sami Nasri a
six-month driving ban. Nasri, likely to be earning about £100,000 a week,
won an appeal against a £1,900 fine but had no answer when the police came
back with a different charge for his speeding offences. It appears he didn't
know he was driving at the time. Roberto Mancini recently confirmed he's
been missing on the field, too. If I was City, I'd make my next signing a
chauffeur.
FRIDAY, APRIL 5
MYSELF and a host of friends from inside and outside football watch my
appearance on Piers Morgan's Life Stories from behind the sofa. Piers, a
massive Arsenal fan, spent most of the night talking to one of my guests who
attended the filming, David Dein. It's clear he'd love to be back in
football and I couldn't think of a better ambassador than David. I think the
funniest moment was when Piers asked me if I think I am sexy. Not as sexy as
you think you are I replied. And trust me, that's true!
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Andy won't leave on the cheap
The Sun
By PHIL THOMAS
Published: 8 hrs ago
BRENDAN RODGERS has told Andy Carroll's would-be suitors: You can forget
about getting him on the cheap. Geordie striker Carroll, who will watch from
the stands as West Ham play at Liverpool tomorrow, has spent the season on
loan at the Hammers. But Kop boss Rodgers has refused to slam the door on an
Anfield return — even though Carroll would be even further down the pecking
order now following the arrivals of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho.
The likeliest option still remains a permanent departure, with a return to
Newcastle in part-exchange for Hatem Ben Arfa a strong possibility. Yet that
does not mean the Reds will let the striker go for peanuts, even though Kop
top brass know they will take a hit on the £35million he cost from the Toon
in 2011. Rodgers warned: "It's absolutely the case that IF the player does
leave then it won't be for nothing. "It is no fault of his own but he came
here for an astronomical fee.
"There is no doubt Andy has real qualities — some of his goals from set-
plays with West Ham have proven that. And the financial aspect to it means
he won't be leaving on the cheap if he does."
The best Carroll could hope for back at Anfield is being used as an impact
player. But wages of around £90,000 a week on top of that huge price tag
mean it is unlikely the Reds would want him kicking his heels. Rodgers
added: "With every player it is about the style and how they fit into that.
If you look at Luis Suarez we are a team that is set up to exploit his
qualities. "It's not that Andy hasn't got qualities because, if we set up in
a different way, we'd get the best out of him. But we are happy with playing
around Luis."
When Rodgers missed out on landing Clint Dempsey from Fulham on last
summer's deadline day, it left Suarez as the only senior striker on the
books. Yet the Northern Irish manager still cannot understand those who
slammed his decision to let Carroll go on loan. He added: "I find it funny
when I hear people saying we shouldn't have let Andy go out. It was the
right thing because it is not just about the football, there is a financial
implication here too. "At this moment the club isn't one which can have that
money sitting on the bench, in terms of what he cost and his wages."
The Hammers come to Anfield for a game Liverpool MUST win if they want any
chance of European football next season. Yet Carroll — as was so often the
norm before he went on loan — will be no more than an onlooker, as the terms
of his Upton Park loan mean he cannot play.
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Claret 'n bruised
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 8 hrs ago
WEST HAM boss Sam Allardyce is claret, black and blue through and through.
Big Sam, 58, is nursing four stitches in his nut and will be sporting a
black eye when he leads out the Hammers at Liverpool tomorrow. He arrived
for a Press conference yesterday with a plaster over his right eye after
slipping over in a 'kitchen accident'. The former Bolton defender hopes the
bruises will help put the frighteners on Liverpool. But he admitted: "I
recommend not having a marble worktop. I'd say it won hands down."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll stinger: Liverpool's Rodgers drops huge hint that £35m Andy has no
future at Anfield
5 Apr 2013 22:31
The Mirror
Steve Bardens
Brendan Rodgers will refuse to let Andy Carroll leave Liverpool on the
cheap, but admits his Anfield blueprint is designed around Luis Suarez.
On-loan Carroll can't play for West Ham against his parent club on Sunday,
but the £35million man is still the centre of attention going into the
match. Reds manager Rodgers said: "It's absolutely the case that, just the
same as last season, if the player does leave, then it won't be for nothing.
"It's no fault of his own, but he came here for an astronomical fee. "There
is no doubt Andy has real qualities – some of his goals from set plays with
West Ham have proven that. There is the financial aspect to it. He won't be
leaving on the cheap."
Some-time England centre-forward Carroll is the Merseysiders' all-time
record signing and is on £80,000 a week but doesn't seem to fit into a
game-plan that focuses on Suarez's talents. "With every player it is about
the style, and how they fit into that," added Rodgers. "We are a team that
is set up to exploit Suarez's qualities, and he has flourished in the
roaming role we have given him "We are the second-highest goal-scorers in
the league, so we have been able to score goals all season – and we are
happy with playing around a talent like Luis. "The club can't have that
money sat on the bench, in terms of what Andy cost and his wages. "The big
boy's gone out and he's scored five goals, probably not played as often as
he and West Ham would have liked, but there was a massive price tag on him
and we have to consider that."
Hammers manager Sam Allardyce has an agreement to pay £17m for Carroll if he
chooses to make the move permanent. Allardyce said: "There'd be a lot to be
discussed between ourselves, Liverpool and Andy before that could be the
case. But at the end of the season, we'll move on with that business as
quickly as we possibly can. "I wouldn't have spent as much time as I did
trying to get him here last year if I wouldn't have wanted him on a
permanent basis. "We'd hoped that he would've scored a few more goals, but I
think the circumstances are ones we could put right – keeping him match fit
and clear of injuries."
Carroll, 24, has been hampered by injury this season and a return to
Newcastle in an exchange deal for the Geordies' Hatem Ben Arfa is believed
to appeal to the player. Allardyce added: "He has got to go and play in
someone's first team and score goals and continue his development at his
age. "The number of goal-scoring players in the England squad is very
limited. I would be surprised if Andy doesn't get back in there. "But he
needs to be playing in someone's first team on a regular basis."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, April 6
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