Charlie Nicholas predicts West Ham clash v ‘agitated’ Liverpool
Charlie Nicholas predicts that West Ham will lose against Liverpool on Monday evening, but not as heavily as people may think they will.
The Hammers face the unenviable task of a trip to Anfield knowing that they must secure at least a point to move out of the bottom three.
But while Nicholas doesn’t expect them to achieve that result, he does hold out hope of a fairly conservative scoreline.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “Liverpool will have had a chance to recover from Tuesday’s defeat in Madrid. We knew they would get it tough; they did not play well and had lots of the ball but it was a dogged team that got physical and defended well, and that agitated Liverpool. This happens and it is the Champions League after all.
“We saw West Ham go to Man City and park the bus. David Moyes went with Michail Antonio instead of Sebastien Haller due to counter-attack threat. Robert Snodgrass could not keep the ball, and West Ham could not get out. If they go down 2-0, they will be happy with that, with goal difference tot think about.
“Liverpool will be the exact same, as it is three points closer to the Premier League title. They just need to get another game ticked off and though the crowd will want it to be more exciting, they will be happy to just get over the line too.
“Liverpool will take it nice and easy if they do score early, and then can afford to make the changes. Jurgen Klopp has to protect some of these players and do not want them to pick up any injuries for the return leg.
“The result will not be as damaging as some people may think.”
Nicholas predicts a 2-0 loss for the Irons.
Will Nicholas be proven right?
Sadly, the answer is probably yes.
To be fair to the Irons, there would be no shame in taking a beating from the Reds, but the reality is that we are in a situation where every game matters.
Even matches like this, ones that should be written off as free hits, have now taken on a new significance in the fight to avoid relegation.
David Moyes’ men are running out of time to save their hides this term, and while their season won’t be decided tomorrow evening, it’s a shame that we’re at a point where every game lost is a game closer to the drop.
In other West Ham news, Journalist: Hammers starter had a ‘stinker’ v Man City.