Liverpool travel to Upton Park in a potential banana skin against West Ham on Saturday in their quest for unbridled joy, ecstasy and a long wait to lift the Premier League trophy this season. The Reds are currently atop the League table after brushing aside Tottenham by 4-0 which was inexplicably a feeble one sided encounter right from the starting whistle. With six matches to play, the Reds have their  fate in their own hands as they look to keep winning and maintaining their lead at the zenith of the table.

West ham, however would be no pushovers and Sam Allardyce’s side, who are currently eleventh in the League take the pitch having won three consecutive games. Can Brendan Rodgers and co keep their juggernaut rolling or will the Hammers deal a severe blow to the Reds’ hopes?

We here at Soccersouls provide our readers with Liverpool’s strongest possible lineup heading for what by the looks of it, an intriguing encounter.

Liverpool lineup

Goalkeeper:

Simon Mignolet had a great game against Tottenham, keeping a well deserved clean sheet and making two great saves to keep Spurs at bay. The Belgian however will be up against the likes of Andy Carroll on Saturday, the former Geordie carries a significant goal threat. The Hammers have made their home more like a fortress, scoring important goals in their rise from relegation places to the mid half of the table. Mignolet will also have to deal with West ham’s aerial threat and their long balls up front as the home side will give their all to breach the Liverpool back line.  

Defenders:

While Jon Flanagan should start on the left back slot, Glen Johnson will man the other flank for the Reds. Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger will have a familiar foe in Andy Carroll, the latter who will try to prove a point against his old team. If Liverpool can defend as well as they did to nullify Tottenham’s threat last weekend make no mistake, the Reds might well return with three points in their kitty.

Midfield:

Captain Steven Gerrard will again play deep and will have the job to lookout for the runs of Kevin Nolan into the Liverpool box. Gerrard would more than comfortably sit in his newly found quarterback role and dictate the tempo of the match with his arrays of passing and keeping possession for the travelling side.

The much improved Jordan Henderson should start on the wide right of the midfield diamond working tirelessly tracking back and making his runs up front. Rodgers is sure to give Philippe Coutinho an extended run in the starting XI after his recent performances and should start at the top of the diamond. Elsewhere, on the left it should most probably be Joe Allen who will be given the nod ahead of Raheem Sterling, hoping that it gives more stability to the Liverpool’s midfield which will come up against a tough tackling Hammers side.

Strikeforce:

The SAS partnership of Suarez and Sturridge are sending down shivers on any opposition they face and it sure would be the same this Sunday as well. While Luis Suarez continues his imperious run of form, Daniel Sturridge looks impeccable too with every touch of his turning to gold this season. The Reds can hope their front duo can once again give them an early lead and settle the nerves in the early stages in what should be three crucial points in the bid to win the League title.