Following Liverpool’s important Boxing Day win over Leicester City, the Premier League schedule quickly moves to Sunday, where the Reds travel to east London to face West Ham, who are looking to improve after his bad start to the season. The Hammers come into this match after a victory at Southampton, after two draws: one at home against Brighton and another at Bournemouth.
With consistency finally starting to build under David Moyes’ successor Julen Lopetegui, it represents a difficult moment for Liverpool as they head to the London Stadium. With Arsenal closing the gap on Liverpool to six points (having played one more game), securing maximum points in this crucial Super Sunday clash becomes even more urgent.
A positive thing about Luis Diaz playing in the middle is that he arrives in many situations with dynamic superiority.
He doesn’t stand still waiting for the ball to come to him, but rather he manages to come behind the ball and take the momentum of his actions, which suits him.
-WhattaHit (@WhattaHit) December 22, 2024
How should Arne Slot beat West Ham?
With Liverpool’s Hungarian captain Dominik Szoboszlai serving a one-match suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against Leicester, the central energy and pressing he usually provides will have to come from other sources. The midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones will likely be retained for this tough away game. Meanwhile, in-form duo Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah will occupy the wide positions, leaving the centre-forward position as the main area of concern in the final third.
After an uninspiring performance on Boxing Day, Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez is expected to be left out of the starting XI. This will leave Arne Slot to choose between three alternatives. After recovering from injury, Federico Chiesa is a viable option, while Diogo Jota has gradually built up his match fitness, preparing him for a start. Both international stars have the experience and ability to excel in the center forward role.
A few weeks ago, I would have immediately thought that Diogo Jota, the Portuguese striker, would be the first choice to return to the starting XI. However, the emergence of energetic striker Luis Díaz in the false nine position has changed my expectations. After a strong performance against Spurs in the thrilling 3-6 win at White Hart Lane, Díaz was rested in midweek to prepare for Liverpool’s trip to the capital. With eleven goals and three assists in twenty games this season, the 27-year-old has effectively reinvented himself as a central striker on the big stage.
He played this role against formidable teams like Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid and Spurs, indicating a willingness to pit the versatile striker against established competitors. While West Ham may not be as strong as those teams, their home advantage and revitalized form suggest that a rested Luis Díaz could be an ideal choice for Liverpool’s next Premier League game.
Cody Gakpo is averaging a goal every 98 minutes this season.
Luis Diaz is averaging a goal every 111 minutes this season
Mo Salah is averaging a goal every 59 minutes this season
– LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) December 26, 2024
And Diogo Jota?
Diogo Jota, the former Wolves player, represents an effective playing option at this stage, given that he is one of the club’s most naturally gifted goalscorers. Although his limitations in pressing and carrying the ball can sometimes restrict his involvement outside the opposition’s penalty area, the hard work rate and unpredictable nature of teammate Luis Díaz creates a complementary dynamic that would make him an excellent starting role, as well as strategic in-game adjustments.
With Brentford set to host Arsenal on Wednesday night, there must be a sincere desire to create a nine-point gap to the north London side. This London Derby must be undertaken with maximum pressure applied to Mikel Arteta’s men, as well as Chelsea and their away day at Ipswich on Monday.
