West Ham predicted line-up vs Liverpool as Espirto Santo faces midfield choice

West Ham's run of just one defeat in six has been achieved with a largely settled group, and that is likely to be the case again at Anfield on Saturday as the Hammers take on Liverpool

West Ham predicted line-up vs Liverpool

Nuno Espirito Santo is expected to name a similar side to face Liverpool to the one that started last week’s draw against Bournemouth.

Since the Portuguese head coach took charge at the London Stadium, he has settled on a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1 formation. There have also been few shocks with Espirito Santo’s line-up, with 10 players starting all of the last three West Ham games.

That includes Mads Hermansen, who has ousted Alphonse Areola as the Hammer’s no.1 goalkeeper. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Axel Disasi and El Hadji Malick Diouf has also formed a settled back four.

The ever-reliable Tomas Soucek has also been a reliable option for Espirito Santo’s relegation-threatened side, while Mateus Fernandes has not missed a league match since his summer arrival from Southampton.

Captain Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville have impressed in the wide areas, while striker Taty Castellanos has started the last seven matches.

That leaves just one spot up in the line-up for debate, with Soungoutou Magassa, Freddie Potts, Callum Wilson, Pablo Felipe all starting in the last four matches.

But with Potts suspended and Felipe injured, Espirito Santo is likely to select Magassa again after he put in a solid display in last week’s draw with Bournemouth.

Pablo Felipe is missing through injury

On Felipe’s injury, Espirito Santo said: “He didn't join us yet. He's starting his individual programme, so he's improving day by day. Like I said, we keep assessing him to see when he can return.

“It all depends on him. It depends on how he adapts to the loads again, so hopefully soon, because we miss him.”

Meanwhile, Espirito Santo will be hoping to continue the Hammers’ upturn in form, especially with the London club sitting just two points from safety at present. Therefore, a win at Anfield could see West Ham move out of the relegation zone.

West Ham's results have improved significantly in recent weeks(Image: Getty Images)

It has picked up 11 points from the last six games, based largely on the back of a solid defensive structure that has conceded just one goal in the last three matches.

“Our defensive organisation comes from the whole team, not only the backline. It comes from our strikers, with the way we organise and intend to press,” said Espirito Santo, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Anfield.

“I think we’re growing in that aspect of the game, which improves our defensive organisation, and I think the players have been getting to know each other better, realizing that it’s a team effort to achieve a clean sheet in the Premier League.”

West Ham predicted line-up: Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf; Magassa, Soucek; Bowen, Fernandes, Summerville; Castellanos.