West Ham early team news v Liverpool: Potter drops new Fullkrug injury update
Graham Potter has shared an update on the availability of West Ham United star Niclas Fullkrug for the trip to Liverpool on Sunday.
The Hammers are looking to arrest a run that has seen them go four Premier League matches without a win.
The Irons looked set to return to winning ways against Bournemouth at the London Stadium last Saturday (5 April) but a late Evanilson strike meant that the points were shared.
Potter’s team have been given little chance of securing a result at Anfield on Sunday (13 April) and his job may have been made harder after a new update from Rush Green.
Potter gives Fullkrug update for West Ham
Michail Antonio is a certain absentee given that he is still recovering from the injuries that he sustained in a car crash in December.
Crysencio Summerville is also on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in the FA Cup loss to Aston Villa on 10 January, while Aaron Cresswell missed the clash with the Cherries. Potter has now confirmed they should miss the clash.
Fullkrug has had injury issues and has only started three times in the top flight but did score in the draw last Saturday and Potter gave an update on his condition.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference (11 April), he said: “No major issues from the previous match. We will pretty much be a similar squad, I think.
“Fullkrug probably had a little bit of not fatigue, just making sure he is okay after the weekend.
“He has trained with the team today, so hopefully no reaction and he will be in the squad for the weekend. Apart from that, we are as we were.”
West Ham need to finish strongly
The Hammers have little to play for in terms of league position, but it is crucial that they end the season in good form to take momentum into the next campaign.
Potter has won just three of his 12 matches in charge, but that is not surprising given the state of the squad that was left for him by Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten.
| Premier League | Played | GD | Points |
| 15. Everton | 31 | -5 | 35 |
| 16. West Ham | 31 | -17 | 35 |
| 17. Wolves | 31 | -16 | 32 |
The former Brighton man is set to oversee a huge rebuild in the summer transfer window and many players are fighting to remain in East London in the final few weeks of the season.
In his time on the South Coast before he was sacked by Chelsea, Potter built a squad that was able to compete above the sum of its parts and the hope will be that he can do the same at the London Stadium.
However, to do so, he must be given time to weed out the deadwood and bring in his own players and the real litmus test will be the early weeks of the new season, when he has moulded the squad to his system and had time to drill his methods in pre-season.
It could be a very exciting summer for the Hammers if they can get the right players through the door and finally banish the demons of the dismal Lopetegui era.