MatchWest Ham United v Liverpool: Team news

Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui is contending with numerous injuries and suspensions following their 1-0 Boxing Day win away at Southampton.

Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez, both starters at St Mary's, are suspended after accumulating five yellow cards in the top flight this season.

That's also the case for Reds midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who received his fifth caution of the term in the victory over Leicester City on Thursday.

On the injury front, West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was stretchered off in the first half versus Southampton as a result of a nasty-looking collision from a corner.

Maximilian Kilman and Carlos Soler were also unable to continue in that match.

Lopetegui said afterwards: "Unfortunately, we started having problems with injuries, with Maximilian Kilman and with Lukasz Fabianski.

"Fortunately, Lukasz is conscious and he's well now in the dressing room, which is the most important thing. With Max Kilman, we have to wait but I am not optimistic with him.

"After, we had one problem with Carlos Soler, too, in the half, so we had to change him [at half-time]."

Michail Antonio had surgery earlier this month on a lower limb fracture he suffered in a road traffic accident and is unavailable.

But the Hammers will welcome back Lucas Paqueta from a one-game suspension.

Meanwhile, Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate remain sidelined for table-topping Liverpool.

"They will not be back for West Ham United, but then there is a week in between [before the game against Manchester United] so let's see how close they are then," Arne Slot told his pre-match press conference.

After recovering from a two-month lay-off due to injury, Diogo Jota has made appearances off the bench in the Reds' last four fixtures.

On the No.20's condition, Slot said: "For sure, we're still managing his fitness. He has been out for quite a long time and he couldn't train that much.

"Sometimes if a player has an injury he can do a lot, but he couldn't do a lot for quite a long time. Since this league is so intense, it's not so easy if you are almost two months out to come in and play from the start again.

"You need to have some minutes to build this up. And he is in competition with some other special players as well who are at this moment also on top of their game.

"He is gradually building it up and I think he comes close to starting a game, but like I said, he has competition in this position as well."

Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Darwin Nunez are walking the disciplinary tightrope and would be suspended for the visit of Manchester United on January 5 if they are booked at London Stadium.

An appearance for left-back Kostas Tsimikas would take his tally for the club to 100.

Last match

Liverpool 3-1 Leicester (December 26): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.

Southampton 0-1 West Ham (December 26): Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Rodriguez, Soucek, Kudus, Soler, Bowen, Fullkrug.