Julen Lopetegui’s remarkable luck with injuries has run out at West Ham ahead of the big game against Liverpool.
In a break from tradition, West Ham have had remarkably good luck with injuries this season.
But that’s all changed ahead of Liverpool’s visit to the London Stadium this weekend.
The Hammers are the club who have been least impacted by injuries this season.
By some distance in fact with Niclas Fullkrug the only long-term lay-off as we approach the halfway stage.
Well that luck ran out at Southampton and Liverpool will be the beneficiaries.
West Ham were dreadful yet again as they rode their luck against the Saints.
But Jarrod Bowen – who has long been admired by Liverpool – got a scrappy second half winner in a smash and grab raid.
Southampton could and should have been out of sight before the Hammers got their goal. But their woeful finishing let Julen Lopetegui off the hook.
Disaster for West Ham as five will miss Liverpool
Against Liverpool on Sunday, West Ham will not be afforded such luxuries.
It’s a game which could get very ugly for the Hammers if Liverpool show up in the kind of form that’s seeing them lead the way at the top of the Premier League and Champions League.
West Ham need all their best players in top form to have a chance of getting a result against Arne Slot’s side.
But there’s disaster for West Ham as Lopetegui confirms five players will now miss Liverpool.
The Reds will be filled with even more confidence when they hear the players who will be missing out against them in east London.
Max Kilman went down with a bizarre shoulder injury without any obvious impact causing it.
He was treated for several minutes and strapped up by West Ham’s physios.
But Kilman couldn’t continue and was substituted for one-time Liverpool target Jean-Clair Todibo.
Kilman has been an ever-present for the Hammers since arriving in a £40m deal in the summer.
He has been one of West Ham’s best players.
Speaking on Prime Video after the game, Lopetegui said he is worried about the shoulder injury and cast serious doubt on Kilman’s availability for Liverpool.
Lopetegui confirms three injuries and two suspensions for Reds
In-form Lukasz Fabianski pulled off another superb save to keep West Ham in the game.
A few moments later, though, the game would be halted for another seven minutes as Fabianski was treated following a blow to the head.
The veteran ‘keeper was stretchered off and after the match Lopetegui confirmed Fabianski has suffered a concussion.
That means the Polish star will have to miss at least 10 days due to concussions protocols, ruling him out of the games against Liverpool and Man City.
West Ham fans were bemused when classy midfielder Carlos Soler was subbed off at half-time.
Soler has been key for the Hammers of late and has been coming into his own in the middle of the park.
But speaking on Prime Video, Lopetegui actually confirmed Soler has a worrying knee issue which will likely rule him out for Liverpool given the quick turnaround.
To add insult to injury, the Hammers boss admitted he is concerned after he also lost two more players for the clash with the Reds.
Central midfield duo Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez will both be suspended for Liverpool after picking up yellow cards.
That leaves Lopetegui with a serious lack of options in midfield for the game on Sunday evening.
Although Lucas Paqueta will be back from suspension.
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