Alisson and Wirtz in Contention to Face West Ham

In a few short hours, Liverpool will face West Ham United in the Premier League, hoping to end a historically awful run of results that has lead to countless pieces over the past couple of weeks. Liverpool failing to find a way to win at home against Nottingham Forest and against PSV this past week has only made the mood around Anfield more dour. And considering that the loss to Forest was to a side that was in the relegation places, it doesn’t bring much hope for the tilt against the Hammers.

Liverpool’s woes are wide and myriad – which is likely the most obvious note given just how bad the performances have been. But it’s been helpful for me to list all of the issues to at least make clear just how tall an order Arne Slot has been facing since the start of this season.

I won’t go through all of them – that’s likely a column I’ll be trying to draft at some point, though. What is high on my list, though, is the lack of fitness across the first team which has impacted Slot’s ability to field a regular rotation. Which has impacted the integration of the team’s new signings – a major overhaul that would understandably upset the performance of any club under any manager; one need only look at how things are going at the Etihad to see that. That injury spells have hit each of Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, and Florian Wirtz, only complicates this matter.

Coming into today’s match, Ekitike and Wirtz are both nursing injuries. But the German playmaker along with Alisson Becker were mentioned by Arne Slot as being possibly available to face off against the Hammers. Which is an incredibly good bit of news because Ali’s steady presence at the back might help calm a suddenly leaky defense while Flo’s ability to play on the left might give Slot the opportunity to rest Cody Gakpo whose performances have looked a little haggard of late.

Ekitike, though, is looking a game time decision with a minor muscle issue in his back. Isak should be available to start at the 9, which would earn him precious time to get match sharpness given his own recent spell on the trainer’s table.

Regardless, Liverpool’s needed to rely on their depth given issues with injuries and the need to build out time for new players to adjust. It’s come at a cost, though, as Liverpool’s title defense exists in name only and their quest for a top 4 spot feels that much shakier given they’ve got 9 spots in the table to overcome to get there.

If a turn around is coming, then, a win against West Ham is the best place to start. Here’s hoping the lads put in a heck of a shift and deliver a win for the traveling Kop.