Lopetegui and West Ham ‘Unhappy Marriage’ verdict drops in Liverpool prediction
West Ham United and Julen Lopetegui were initially thought to be an “unhappy marriage” but now the Hammers are “hanging on”, according to Lars Sivertsen.
The Norwegian sports broadcaster, speaking live on talkSPORT with Max Rushden and Charlie Baker [28 December, 11:24 via Facebook], admitted the past few results have come against not necessarily the strongest opponents, but that Lopetegui’s squad are responding well recently to his demands.
The Spaniard – who replaced David Moyes in the summer – was strongly expected to be sacked last month but form has taken a turn for the better, as the Irons now prepare to close out 2024 against runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool [29 December] – a game Sivertsen predicted the Reds will win.
“I mean, I guess the simple and easy answer is no you generally don’t [see a win], because Liverpool are ticking along very nicely but West Ham haven’t lost in four now and I was convinced the Lopetegui thing was just not going to work,” Sivertsen said.
“I was convinced they might as well just fire him because that looked like such an unhappy marriage, but they seem to be hanging on.
“The players do seem to be fighting for him, they’re unbeaten in the last four. Okay, they’ve played Wolves, Brighton, Bournemouth and Southampton – it’s not a terrifying fixture list.”
Can West Ham turn over Liverpool?
If one thing is for sure, an increasingly confident Hammers fanbase will certainly not be expecting roses when Liverpool rock up to the London Stadium on Sunday evening.
Arne Slot, another recent managerial appointment, has struck a real chord from his Reds side that has seen them sit six points clear atop their perch – and also having played a game fewer than their fellow title challengers.
But having secured an away win and a clean sheet at Southampton on Boxing Day – avoiding a slip-up by virtue of Saints’ new manager ‘bounce’ with Ivan Juric – Lopetegui will be defiant in instilling positivity into his players.
While discipline continues to be a sporadic problem – the Irons have received three red cards in all competitions this season and narrowly escaped a fourth on Thursday after Guido Rodriguez’s was downgraded to a yellow – progress is undoubtedly being made.
The Hammers must strike the finest of balances between gunning for Liverpool and not showing too much respect; all the while not leaving themselves wide open as they have done too many times under Lopetegui, against the outrageous weaponry Slot’s visitors possess in attack.
In other West Ham news, more discourse over a possible January departure for a key Hammers star.
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