Deportivo Hammer
12/08/18

Bang!!!!! We’re back, in what seems like a very short break the Premiership returns. Yes, I know it came back Friday night but the real football starts this afternoon. Manuel Pellegrini will be leading a much changed West Ham team out for the 1st time and hopefully onto victory.

Liverpool like ourselves have been very busy in the transfer market managing to spend somewhere near the 140 million mark, with nearly half of it being spent on a Goalkeeper. Trying to catch up with Manchester City is not cheap.

But more about West Ham United.

New manager Manuel Pellegrini has managed to get our owners to open their wallets splashing the cash on attacking talent such as Anderson, Yarmolenko and Perez.  Shoring us up at the back with Fredericks, Balbuena and Diop.  Strengthening the midfield with Carlos Sanchez and Jack Wilshire.  Last but not least a new keeper in Fabianski.  If I have missed anyone I apologize.

The one big name out of the club was Kouyate, I think most people will agree that it was probably about time.

With only pre season games to go on, it’s very difficult to judge a teams form.  Liverpool have had some good results and have scored 12 goals in their last 3 warm up games.  While scoring goals has never been a problem for them its the stopping them going in that’s key for them.  Mo Salah will be hoping to start where he left off in the premier league and be top scorer again.  I have asked him to start next week.

But it’s not all looking good for Liverpool, new signing Fabinho has been struggling with an injury and illness before this game and will be a game time decision.

We will start the season as always with Andy Carroll not ready to play, joining long term injuries Winston Reid and Manuel Lanzini on the side lines.

Predicted Lineups:

Liverpool : Alisson, Gomes, Van Dijk, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Milner, Wijnaldum, Keita, Salah, Mane, Firminio.

West Ham United : Fabianski, Fredericks, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Rice, Noble, Wilshire, Antonio, Anderson and Hernandez.

Now before you all panic, I’ve heard that Arnie will be a 50/50 decision and if fit he will replace Hernandez in the line up. Yes I know its very typical of West Ham to get injuries but the best thing about it now is we have a squad that can cope with a few injuries.

But while I am very optimistic about the coming season, I don’t think a visit to Anfield is the best way to start and with a heavy heart I predict us to lose this game 0-2 which I really hate doing and hope to be proved wrong.