David Moyes has largely had a successful spell with West Ham

Team news: Trent Alexander-Arnold issue emerges for Liverpool ahead of clash v West Ham United

Wed 20 September 2023 19:40, UK

Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is in a race against time to be fit for next weekend’s Premier League showdown with West Ham at Anfield.

According to Liverpool Echo journalist Paul Gorst, key man Alexander-Arnold is hopeful of returning to the team, but he is rated only as “50/50” at this stage.

Given he did not take part in full team training on Wednesday [20 September] as he recovers from a hamstring problem, it is not looking good for the England international.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is hopeful of a return to the Liverpool team on Sunday against West Ham. The defender was undergoing his own training programme at the AXA Centre this afternoon. Rated as ‘50/50’ at present. Will continue to be assessed after that hamstring issue.
— Paul Gorst (@ptgorst) September 20, 2023

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Should he indeed be deemed unfit to play a part against West Ham on Sunday [24 September], it is something David Moyes’ men must take full advantage of.

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Alexander-Arnold also sat out the game against Wolves last weekend, which Liverpool went on to win 3-1 but only after badly struggling in the first half.

Wolves’ goal to put them 1-0 ahead came via an attack down their left-hand side, where Joe Gomez was filling in, while Pedro Neto turned the Liverpool defender inside out and laid a chance on a plate for Matheus Cunha, who fluffed his lines.

It is worth pointing out that Virgil van Dijk is set to return from suspension for the Reds, but potentially being without Alexander-Arnold is a massive blow.

While the 24-year-old’s defensive capabilities are often called into question, Liverpool could hardly perform much worse than they did in the first half at Molineux.

That is not to mention Alexander-Arnold’s ability to start attacks from deep with some pinpoint passes, which West Ham’s travelling supporters have seen up close at Anfield in the past.

Should Lucas Paqueta be fielded on that side of the pitch, you’d fancy both him and Emerson to overload Liverpool in that area with or without Alexander-Arnold in the side.

Even with the disappointment of throwing away the lead against Manchester City, this is a fixture West Ham should be targeting at least a point from.

In other West Ham news, a transfer development that emerged this week can only be considered a positive from the Irons’ perspective.