Liverpool set to face West Ham United side which left pundits 'bemused' after Chelsea defeat

Liverpool’s next opponents were described as ‘worrying’ by Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy after their recent performance.

Their three-nil defeat to Chelsea at the London Stadium meant they have lost their first three home games of a season for the first time in the club's 129-year existence. Despite bringing in quality across the pitch including Niklas Fulkrug, Guido Rodriguez, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Crysensio Summerville, they have failed to put it all together under new boss Julen Lopetegui.

We are likely to see rotation from both teams with league games to come against Wolves and Brentford on Saturday, but Arne Slot possesses the stronger squad overall and the game being at Anfield automatically favours the Reds. However, the growing discontent under the new boss and their poor form was clearly evident in the defeat against Chelsea. Lopetegui described the Liverpool game as a ‘great challenge’ and was resilient speaking about his side claiming that they ‘will improve’ in his post-match interview but Murphy picked apart the manager’s tactics. “He has to take some responsibility for this.” He began.

“The man-to-man marking of Nicolas Jackson from Edson Alvarez was really strange. To man-mark someone, when you don’t have the same physicality, you need help. Why start that way? It was very strange.”

Then former Everton and Swansea City defender Ashley Williams continued the analysis. “We were bemused, we could see from minute one it was so obvious. He assigned the wrong players to the wrong job. This is Lopetegui’s tactics, Jackson’s two of the easiest goals he’ll get, not taking anything away from the goals.”

Ahead of that game, we can predict the changes that Slot is likely to make. Caoimhin Kelleher is likely to remain in goal after Alisson Becker’s injury that ruled him out of the clash with Bournemouth. Wataru Endo will likely come into the side alongside Curtis Jones to ensure Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are rested. The same goes for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah with Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah and Federico Chiesa all potentially set to come into the side.

The Hammers may well look to maintain a strong starting XI as they look to produce a result to turn around their poor form. Nevertheless, Liverpool’s clear quality depth will ensure we see a strong side despite the EFL Cup falling lowest on their priorities this season.