West Ham star Tomas Soucek has moved to defuse Michail Antonio’s controversial Liverpool comments and lay down the gauntlet.
West Ham head to Anfield to take on Liverpool on Sunday afternoon in what promises to be a tight game.
After significant midfield rebuilds in the summer window, both clubs have made excellent starts to the new season both in the Premier League and Europa League.
But historically the Hammers tend struggle to get anything at Liverpool, regardless of what kind of form the Reds are in.
So many felt the last thing West Ham needed was one of their players doing Liverpool’s team talk for them.
West Ham star Tomas Soucek moves to defuse Michail Antonio’s controversial Liverpool comments and lays down gauntlet
If there’s one thing about Hammers striker Michail Antonio, he’s not shy in voicing his opinion.
Sometimes, though, he has a tendency to make comments that come back to haunt him.
As fans of both clubs will be aware by now, Antonio told the Footballer’s Football Podcast he thinks West Ham can finish above Liverpool in the Premier League this season.
“I am backing myself over Liverpool. You know what, I think we are going to finish higher than Liverpool this season. I’m putting it out there. I watched the game [Wolves vs Liverpool] because it was before our game and Wolves could have run away with it. They had quite a few opportunities. We’ve got them this weekend and it’s a six-pointer.”
Michail Antonio on the Footballer’s Football Podcast ahead of Liverpool v West Ham
Some have said there’s nothing wrong with being confident and backing your own team. Others feel his comments have just saved Jurgen Klopp a job when he comes to his pre-match team talk.
His claims have been scoffed at in Liverpool and further afield.
Now West Ham star Tomas Soucek has moved to defuse Antonio’s controversial Liverpool comments and lay down the gauntlet.
‘Go and get the goals to prove your make your prediction come true then’ Soucek tells Antonio ahead of Liverpool clash
The big Czech midfielder says Antonio often makes his Hammers teammates laugh with some of his comments on the podcast and during interviews.
And he has warned the Jamaican he will have to have the season of his life if he wants to ensure his prediction about finishing above Liverpool to be proved right.
“Micky does lots of interviews that are funny and we just laugh about it!” Soucek said, as reported by The Mirror.
“It’s great that he has this show but in terms of what he is saying (about Liverpool), it’s something we need to follow through.
“If it ends up being true I will be very happy but he needs to score many goals to get us ahead of Liverpool.”
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