Julen Lopetegui says he may be able to pick from a fully-fit squad for West Ham’s Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool on Wednesday.
The Hammers suffered no fresh injury concerns in their defeat by Chelsea at the weekend, with striker Niclas Fullkrug training on Monday after recovering from a calf injury.

A late call will be made on whether or not Fullkrug travels with the squad to Anfield, but Lopetegui struck an optimistic tone when speaking about the German striker, who joined the club from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
“We don’t have new injuries”, West Ham boss Lopetegui said at his pre-Liverpool press conference on Tuesday. “Fullkrug is better too. Maybe we are going to have all the squad ready. Yesterday he [Fullkrug] trained, and today he is going to train after. We will see how his level is [ahead of] Anfield.

Fullkrug is an experienced player. It is true that he doesn’t have continuity, because when he started being better he had a little injury with the German national team. It was a pity, because he was very close to playing with us.”

Lopetegui is expected to make a small number of tweaks to his team rather than wholesale changes for the trip to Anfield, with West Ham having won just twice in all competitions so far this term.
“We are going to try to balance the team”, he said. “All players have the possibility to play with us.

Lukasz [Fabianski] is going to play. He’s one player who is always ready, so tomorrow he is going to play.”
Predicted West Ham XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Coufal, Mavropanos, Todibo, Emerson; Rodriguez, Soucek; Kudus, Soler, Summerville; Antonio

DON’T ALLOW HIM – HE IS VERY SHAMELESS- JAMIE CARRAGHER CALL ON WEST HAM BOSS TO BENCH OR RULE OUT ANTONIO PLAYING AGAINST LIVERPOOL AFTER WHAT HE DID VS CHELSEA

CarrAgher in a social media post called on west ham boss to relieve Antonio of his contract after what he did vs Chelsea says he is a disappointment for the entire team

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West Ham and Julen Lopetegui: Navigating Early Struggles Under a New Manager

West Ham’s start to the season has been anything but smooth, and much of the conversation centres around Julen Lopetegui. With a string of disappointing results and tactical inconsistencies, fans and pundits alike are questioning whether Lopetegui is the right man to lead West Ham forward. On The Athletic Football Podcast, host Ayo Akinwolere sat down with Jon Mackenzie and writer but also a West Ham fan Benji Lanyado to discuss the club’s current situation.

Lopetegui’s Tactics: A Work in Progress

One of the key issues discussed on the podcast was the lack of a coherent tactical structure under Lopetegui. Jon Mackenzie pointed out that, historically, Lopetegui has built his teams around a strong defensive core. “Lopetegui was brought in due to his strengths defensively, but what we saw against Chelsea was one of the worst defensive performances I’ve seen in five years,” Mackenzie observed.

West Ham’s defense has been shaky, and their attack has failed to compensate. “West Ham are in the bottom five for chance creation this season,” Jon added, further highlighting the lack of offensive output under Lopetegui. Despite some positive moments in possession, the team has struggled in the final third, and their defense remains vulnerable.

Benji Lanyado also chimed in, acknowledging that Lopetegui’s constant experimentation with the lineup was a concern. “He’s still learning the things that Moyes learned last season,” Benji lamented. The West Ham fanbase expected a quicker turnaround, particularly given Lopetegui’s Premier League experience. Benji added, “We were hoping for an upgrade on Antonio through the middle, but we haven’t seen enough to suggest we’ve found it yet.”

Challenges with West Ham’s Squad

West Ham’s summer business also became a point of contention during the podcast. Despite a £120 million spree, some of the new signings have yet to make an impact. “We’ve got the raw materials, but it’s been exposed,” said Benji, reflecting on the number of new players and the late signings that have left Lopetegui scrambling to find his best lineup.