Bowen to start in three changes: Predicted West Ham starting XI v Liverpool
West Ham United face the unenviable task of following up a trip to the Etihad Stadium last Wednesday with a journey to Anfield to face Liverpool.
The Hammers were beaten 2-0 by the champions, of course, and they could be lucky to avoid an even worse defeat against the runaway league leaders.
Manager David Moyes will have to weigh up how aggressive he wants to get with his team selection on Monday night.
Will he opt to take the game to Jurgen Klopp’s side, or will he sit back with a flat back five as he did at the Etihad?
The safe money is on the latter. It’s likely that the Scot will make three changes from the loss to City, though.
Indeed, Ryan Fredericks, Arthur Masuaku and Mark Noble will surely drop out, with Pablo Zabaleta, Fabian Balbuena and Jarrod Bowen expected to replace them.
Lukas Fabianski remains the undisputed first choice at the London Stadium, despite Darren Randolph’s return to the club, and so he will almost certainly start once again here.
As mentioned, Fredericks will drop out after the injury he suffered against City, and so Zabaleta is a shoe-in to start. Meanwhile, Aaron Cresswell will surely move across to the left wing back role.
The three centre halves will likely be Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna and Balbuena, giving the defence a little more solidity.
In the centre of midfield, captain Noble can expect to drop to the bench. The legs and technical quality of Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Robert Snodgrass gives them the edge.
Up top, Bowen could well come in for his debut, playing just off Michail Antonio at the tip of the Irons’ attack.
In other West Ham news, a Hammers 23-year-old is expected to start for the first time this week.