West Ham welcome Liverpool to the London Stadium this weekend in what is undoubtedly their biggest test of the season.
Julen Lopetegui came through his latest must-win game when West Ham somehow beat Southampton 1-0 on Boxing Day.
Meanwhile Liverpool came from behind to beat Leicester 3-1.
The Hammers could and should have been beaten comfortably by the rock bottom Saints.
But Southampton missed a host of golden chances to let Lopetegui off the hook.
Liverpool will not afford West Ham such luxuries.
While the Reds have clearly had more success than the Irons could ever dream of, they are two of English football’s most storied and historic clubs.
West Ham and Liverpool are both fiercely proud of their roots and traditions.
Bill Shankly, Bob Paisely, Ron Greenwood and John Lyall have left their mark on Liverpool and West Ham respectively.
But their ethos was very much built around a Liverpool way and a West Ham way.
Intrinsic to both were the club’s famed academies.
When Liverpool and West Ham were weighing up who to bring in as replacements for Jurgen Klopp and David Moyes, a big factor for supporters was a track record of using young players.
Hammers fans are rightly proud of the club’s Academy of Football roots.
But a rich history of bringing through top young talent has waned in recent years.
Slot aims clear dig at Lopetegui over West Ham principles
Lopetegui pledged to bring through young players when he joined the Hammers.
There were several young stars in the first team squad in pre-season. That led fans to believe the manager would be looking to finally give some of the Academy’s brilliant young stars a proper chance.
Especially as the Hammers have been losing far too many to rival clubs as they get frustrated by a lack of clear pathway to the first team.
But The Athletic made a shocking revelation that Lopetegui had given a shocking zero minutes to club-trained players this season until the draw at Bournemouth last week.
West Ham were one of only four clubs with that disgraceful record.
Now Liverpool boss Arne Slot has aimed a clear dig at Lopetegui over his West Ham principles.
Lopetegui surprised Hammers fans by bringing Ollie Scarles and Kalean Casey on for a spell in the last couple of matches.
But supporters were angered to see them ditched when West Ham went to Southampton.
Many believe the Spaniard had merely brought them in to appease fans after The Athletic’s revelation sparked a backlash.
Liverpool boss Slot has continued to bring through Academy talents as Klopp had before him.
It certainly hasn’t done the Reds any harm. They’re top of the Premier League and Champions League ahead of their visit to east London.
Slot is known for speaking his mind to the press with no filter.
And he hasn’t disappointed this week.
Liverpool boss highlights difference between him and Lopetegui
The Dutchman will also find his comments very much chime with West Ham fans though.
Slot has made a telling remarks about Lopetegui’s preference to always turn to senior players as back-up over academy talent.
He says he prefers to give Under 21 stars a chance because it stays true to the club’s identity.
But he knows Lopetegui won’t use young players despite West Ham missing five key stars for the visit of Liverpool.
And he says that’s the difference between him and the Hammers boss.
“They (West Ham) have many players, I think they have signed also many players during the summer so even if three midfielders are out I don’t think they have to play Under 21 players, they are still able to play players they brought in for many, many millions,” Slot said in his pre-West Ham press conference.
“That’s the Premier League – they all have, not only us or Chelsea, a lot of clubs have so many good players.
“Although when I didn’t play my starters, we used our U21 players – that is part of our identity and that’s what makes this club special I think as well.”
Hammers are betraying Academy roots
That is damning. And Slot is spot on. It’s what always used to mark West Ham out as a special club too.
West Ham fans will wholeheartedly agree with the Reds boss.
Lopetegui pledged to give young talent a chance. Just like so many others before him.
Yet here West Ham fans are watching old, slow players on big wages being persisted with.
It’s not like there aren’t any young stars putting their cases forward for a chance either.
West Ham won their first FA Youth Cup in 24 years last summer, beating Arsenal 5-1 for good measure in the final.
Two of Arsenal’s players from that final defeat are now regulars in Mikel Arteta’s first team. So what are West Ham doing?
That Youth Cup final saw over 9,000 West Ham fans travel to the Emirates.
The last time it happened when Joe Cole and co were emerging, supporters were so engaged and invested they sold out Upton Park to watch the Hammers beat Coventry 6-0 to secure a 9-0 aggregate victory.
If that doesn’t tell the club something about what supporters want to see then nothing will.
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