West Ham face Liverpool at the London Stadium tomorrow night.
The Hammers are in real trouble, and are outside the relegation zone purely because of a superior goal difference to those below them.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are flying high at the top of the table.
There will undoubtedly be mis-matches all over the pitch tomorrow. The Reds players are far superior to the Hammers in every single department.
One particular area that will be of concern to David Moyes, however, is the right side of the pitch. Pablo Zabaleta, 35, is likely to play, and considering the fact that he has played West Ham’s last three games, that is a real worry given his age.
There is a slight ray of hope for the Hammers, however.
Sadio Mane, arguably Liverpool’s best attacking player of the season so far, has been ruled out of tomorrow night’s game (Liverpool Echo).
Cue a sigh of relief from Zabaleta.
The bad news, however, is that Jurgen Klopp can call upon any one of Divock Origi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Takumi Minamino to fill in for the Senegal international.
Nightmare scenario potentially avoided
Having said that, Zabaleta would surely to choose to play against any one of those names instead of Mane.
The 27-year-old Liverpool man has been in superb form this season. He has racked up 15 goals and 11 assists in 31 games for the Reds (Transfermarkt).
In 22 Premier League outings, Mane has won six Man of the Match awards (Who Scored).
The Reds ace has created seven big chances, and boasts an impressive shot accuracy rate of 49% (premierleague.com).
The Senegal international gave the Argentine a torrid time when they last met in February 2018 during Liverpool’s 4-1 win over West Ham at Anfield.
Zabaleta, meanwhile, is in slow decline. So he will undoubtedly be delighted that he doesn’t have to take on Mane tomorrow night.
West Ham will still have to be at their very best if they are to take anything from Liverpool tomorrow night.
But their task will be made that little bit easier with Mane missing out.
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