Liverpool travel to face West Ham United on Wednesday knowing they can capitalise on an early error.
The Reds faced Shrewsbury Town on Sunday, of course. Jurgen Klopp opted to rest a huge chunk of his first-team, only starting with kids and players returning from injury.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino did all leave the bench. However, you can put this one down as a week off for the majority.
West Ham, though, went the other way. Their 1-0 defeat at home against West Bromwich Albion featured a very strong XI.
The only outfield players who haven’t started a majority of the Hammers’ 23 Premier League games were Pablo Zabaleta, Carlos Sanchez, Manuel Lanzini and Albian Ajeti. And even then, Lanzini and Zabaleta started their last three.
So in short, the vast majority of Liverpool’s probable starting XI had the weekend off. The same cannot be said of West Ham’s.
You have to say that, in hindsight, that’s a real error of judgement from David Moyes. His side are far from favourites for Wednesday’s game regardless but things will only be tougher if they can’t even match the fitness.
Liverpool are gunning for their 41st game unbeaten in the Premier League. Only two teams have ever accomplished that in top-flight English football.
So as Liverpool go for what could be a historic result, an error from West Ham has handed them an advantage before things have even kicked off.
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