Our prediction for this EFL Cup match:
Buoyed by a 3-0 win over Bournemouth, Liverpool will look to give fans yet another reason to celebrate when they take on West Ham United in the EFL Cup last 32. Arne Slot wants to win everything this season, but the former Feyenoord boss is widely expected to mix the squad for the EFL Cup game. Summer signing Federico Chiesa is pushing for his first Liverpool start, with Cody Gakpo likely to sneak into the starting XI as well.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is unlikely to be risked, while midfielder Harvey Elliott remains in the recovery room. The Hammers, on the other hand, experienced all sorts of problems at the back in a 3-0 loss to Chelsea and given Liverpool’s fine form, we predict that Julen Lopetegui’s men are going to return to London with their hands empty. Niclas Fullkrug is a major doubt, while fellow attacker Michail Antonio should be recalled to the starting XI.
Highlighted Player (Mohamed Salah):
Mohamed Salah is considered one of the best African players. Salah began his senior career at El Mokawloon, scoring 11 goals in 41 league appearances for the club and in 2012 he moved to Europe, signing a four-year deal with Swiss side Basel.
The pacey winger, who is capable of playing as a striker as well was producing outstanding displays for the RotBlau from 2012 to 2014 and, as a result, Chelsea chiefs decided to sign him on 26 January, 2015 for a fee of £11 million. Mohamed Salah, though, failed to impress in the Premier league and one year later he was sent on loan to Fiorentina.
After making 16 league appearances for the Viola in the Serie A, the left-footed winger signed a loan deal with Roma on 6 August, 2015. The Romans made the contract permanent on 3 August, 2016. Speaking of his international career, Salah made his Egypt debut on 3 September, 2011 in a 2-1 loss to Sierra Leone. It has to be noted that he was named Roma’s player of the season (2015/2016).
Highlighted Team (West Ham):
West Ham United are an English football club based in East London. The club was founded in 1895 and it has to be noted that the club’s name was Thames Ironworks back then. The Hammers were playing their home games at Upton Park from 1904 until 2016, when they moved to the Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
West Ham have won three FA Cup trophies (1964, 1975 and 1980) and they were runners-up in 1923 and 2006. The capital club finished the 1985/1986 England first division campaign in third place in the standings and that is the club’s highest placing in the top flight. West Ham United have strong rivalries with fellow London clubs, but Tottenham Hotspur are considered the club’s main rivals.
A number of top-class players were part of West Ham in the past and the likes of Joe Cole, Carlos Tevez, Paolo Di Canio, Paul Ince, Julian Dicks, Shaka Hislop, Michael Carrick and Slaven Bilic are some of them.