Liverpool reportedly handed huge fitness boost, but West Ham can counter it

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According to claims from This Is Anfield, Liverpool have been handed a major boost with the news that Thiago Alacantara is nearing a return from injury ahead of Saturday’s clash with West Ham.

Read also: ‘Best news of the year’: Some West Ham fans react jubilantly to news coming out of the LS

The silky Spanish pass master was on the receiving end of a horrendous tackle from Richarlison during the Merseyside Derby 10 days ago.

But it seems as though he could be available for selection against the Hammers on Saturday at Anfield. That’s according to This Is Anfield.

And Jurgen Klopp will undoubtedly be delighted if he can call upon the 29-year-old midfield maestro.

West Ham boss David Moyes must select a team to counter Liverpool’s strengths, however.

If Thiago does play, we need to pack out the middle of the park and make it difficult for the Reds to build their attacks through midfield.

The Hammers should setup in a 3-5-2 system. And here’s how it can work.

With Lukasz Fabianski in goal and Arthur Masuaku, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Angelo Ogbonna and Issa Diop coming in for Fabian Balbuena, we should be fairly solid.

Diop’s pace means that he should be selected in favour of Fabian Balbuena.

With that structure in place at the back, Moyes should then pack out the midfield by moving Pablo Fornals in alongside Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek.

Sebastien Haller could then be utilised in a front two alongside Jarrod Bowen. Said Benrahma will likely have to make do with a place on the bench given his lack of match fitness.

Sure, it might not work. It’s Liverpool away after all. But West Ham really do have nothing to lose.

We have proved that we can compete with the best already his season. Saturday’s draw with Manchester City at the London Stadium was evidence of this. So was our draw away at Tottenham and wins over Wolves and Leicester.

Liverpool will be another step up all together, however. And if Klopp has Thiago to call upon, we could be in for a tough afternoon on Merseyside.

But playing a 3-5-2 system should help us nullify the Premier League champions. And if we make it hard for Klopp’s men, we will have a chance to take something away from Anfield.