West Ham fans will be ecstatic with what Nuno Espirito Santo has done ahead of Liverpool clash
Max Kilman’s poor run of form has finally seen him dropped from West Ham’s starting lineup in Sunday’s clash with Liverpool.
West Ham have picked up seven points from their last three matches under Nuno Espirito Santo, and they take on a beleaguered Liverpool side who are in crisis under Arne Slot.
Lucas Paqueta comes back into the side after serving a one-match suspension in West Ham’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on 22 November, while Freddie Potts retains his spot in the team.
Callum Wilson is in fine form, and he leads the line once again at the London Stadium, with Jarrod Bowen taking up his customary role on the right wing.
Kilman made a crucial mistake against Bournemouth, and his exclusion from the team will leave supporters incredibly happy.
Max Kilman benched, Nuno Espirito Santo makes three changes
Kilman joined West Ham from Wolves in 2023, and it’s safe to say his spell in E20 has been underwhelming.
Against Bournemouth, he inexplicably handled the ball inside the box when making a slide tackle, which allowed the Cherries to grab a foothold in the match.
It’s clear that if West Ham are to avoid relegation, they’ll need everyone to be completely switched on for each game, and Kilman has shown multiple times that he can’t do that.
| Stat | Max Kilman |
| Appearances | 12 |
| Pass accuracy | 88.3% |
| Ground duels won | 55.4% |
| Aerial duels won | 60.7% |
| Touches | 629 |
There is nothing to warrant the 28-year-old starting other than the £40million fee that the Hammers paid for him, and alternatives are finally being used in his place.
Konstantinos Mavropanos comes back into the team after spending over a month on the sidelines, while Jean-Clair Todibo is rewarded for his recent performances.
As for the changes, Kilman, Igor Julio and Luis Guilherme make way for Mavropanos, Soungoutou Magassa and Paqueta.
The good news for West Ham fans is that Potts has been given the chance to prove himself against the reigning champions.
Freddie Potts given another chance to impress vs Liverpool
Having started the last three matches, Potts has been a catalyst for the change in West Ham’s fortunes, and he has certainly become one of the first names on the teamsheet.
West Ham have been criticised for their lethargic midfield over the past two seasons, yet in Potts, they have an answer to all their problems.
Potts has a huge potential at West Ham, and he could become the closest player to Declan Rice in terms of his athleticism at the heart of midfield.
Coming up against Liverpool is a completely different test, and it’ll be interesting to see how he asserts himself in the match.
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