Hearts were in mouths when Max Kilman went off with a mysterious shoulder injury in the first half of the win over Southampton.
West Ham’s defence have been like lambs to the slaughter during many games due to a lack of protection from midfield.
Even woeful Southampton had 18 shots against the Hammers – the most they’ve managed all season.
With Liverpool up next, West Ham simply cannot afford to allow that to continue.
If Saints are comfortably the worst team in the Premier League then Liverpool are far and away the best.
Arne Slot’s Reds score goals at will and the prospect of West Ham facing them with a fully fit side is daunting enough.
So Julen Lopetegui confirming five key West Ham players will miss Liverpool is gravely concerning.
One of those was Max Kilman.
The £40m summer signing has been one of West Ham’s best players all season.
Kilman has been a revelation and just needs his partners to up their game to his level as Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos continue to blow hot and cold.
Hammers hit by major blows ahead of Liverpool
The prospect of being without Kilman for the huge test against Liverpool does not bear thinking about.
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 Todibo.
Lopetegui offered a grim update on Kilman’s injury after the 1-0 win at Southampton.
He did not sound hopeful at all.
“With Max Kilman, we have to wait, but I am not optimistic with him,” Lopetegui told West Ham’s official website and Prime Video.
Now there’s a major Kilman update from West Ham ahead of Liverpool and January window.
West Ham were desperate to sign another centre-back in the summer window.
Lopetegui wanted two senior players for every position.
The club even looked extensively at the free agent market after the window had closed with the likes of John Egan, Joel Matip and Mats Hummels considered.
Major Kilman update ahead of Liverpool and window
In the end West Ham didn’t sign another defender, though, going with Kilman, Mavropanos and Todibo.
That was a risk and one which they’ve got away with so far. Until now.
Hammers News reached out to the top spokesman close to West Ham’s owners about the worrying Kilman situation with Liverpool and the winter window looming large.
There may be some good news, though.
Although it’s more hope than surety.
Hammers News asked the key senior London Stadium spokesman whether Kilman’s injury will keep him out for an extended period.
We also asked whether West Ham would have scope to bring in another defender in January if that is the case.
The contact did not give anything away on a potential new defender signing.
But the Hammers are hoping Kilman’s injury is not as bad as first feared.
“We hope it is not too much or too serious,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News.
Given the quick turnaround to Liverpool, it seems highly unlikely Kilman will be available for Sunday.
No timescale was put on his return by the Hammers spokesman.
West Ham can only hope Mavropanos and Todibo steer clear of any issues and sort their inconsistency out with immediate effect.
With Man City, Aston Villa twice, Chelsea and Arsenal coming up in the eight games after Liverpool – they simply have to step up or things could get messy.
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