Liverpool vs West Ham Half-Time Update

The evening kick-off in the Barclay’s Premier League sees Liverpool currently 3-0 up against West Ham, and are very much in control of the match.

In the absence of Steven Gerrard, Liverpool named summer signings Meireles and Poulsen as the central midfield pairing, with Maxi and Kuyt making up the rest of the midfield. Fernando Torres is paired with Ngog up front.

Jamie Carragher is back in his preferred position of centre back, with Kyrgiakos dropping to the bench. His 650th appearance for the Merseyside club has so far been a quiet one.

Attacking full-back Glenn Johnson is back in the starting 11, and has started brilliantly against his old club, scoring right-footed from a Meireles corner after 18 minutes. Johnson’s pace and range of passing is causing Hammers defenders, especially left-back Hérita Ilunga, all sorts of problems so far. West Ham’s 4-3-3 formation is highlighting the lack of support for the full-backs when Liverpool attack.

Their second goal came after a Gabbidon handball in the box. Dirk Kuyt sent the ball beyond Rob Green from the spot after 27 minutes. Their 3rd came from a Maxi header after 38 minutes.

The Hammers' worst-ever start to a Premier League season is slowly deteriorating further; they are sorely missing nine first team players, including Scott Parker, who is out with a chest infection. Carlton Cole, who is making his 100th start for the Hammers, has had West Ham’s only real effort to speak of. He is priced at 12/1 to get the next goal after the break.

With many top-half teams winning so far this Saturday, including Bolton and Spurs, Liverpool can’t afford to slip up. Three goals up at home against a dire West Ham performance should be safe enough, odds of 10/3 can be found for it to remain at this score.

LFC: Reina, G Johnson, Konchesky, Carragher, Skrtel, Raul Meireles, Maxi, Poulsen, Torres, Kuyt, Ngog

Substitutes: Jones, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Kelly, Shelvey, Babel, Eccleston

WHUFC: Green, Gabbidon, Upson, Ilunga, Jacobsen, Boa Morte, Kovac, Noble, Cole, Piquionne, Obinna

Substitutes: Stech, Reid, Tomkins, Spector, Barrera, McCarthy, Nouble