Liverpool vs West Ham early team news with 1 out and 2 doubts as Julen Lopetegui sweats over £28m man

Fullkrug is working his way back from injury.Fullkrug is working his way back from injury.
Fullkrug is working his way back from injury. | Getty Images
West Ham make the trip to Merseyside in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

Pressure is beginning to mount on new West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui after a shaky start to the Premier League season.

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A 3-0 humbling at the hands of Chelsea at the London Stadium was the latest blow for the Spaniard and a midweek trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup won't be any easier.

Here's your early Liverpool vs West Ham team news.

Liverpool team news

Liverpool first choice shot-stopper Alisson was absent from the Premier League meeting with Bournemouth last weekend due to a muscle injury but was only a minor doubt. Arne Slot said: "He has a slight issue with one of his muscles and we wonder if this game tomorrow is coming too early or not."

That might suggest that the Brazilian could return against Fulham but, given it's a cup game, Caoimhin Kelleher could retain the starting berth between the sticks.

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Midfielder Harvey Elliott is the only other concern for a largely fit Reds squad. The player sustained a fractured foot while on international duty with the England under-21s in the recent international break.

Harvey Elliott is sidelined with injury.Harvey Elliott is sidelined with injury.
Harvey Elliott is sidelined with injury. | Getty Images

The 21-year-old is expected to be sidelined for around a month and won't be available to face Fulham. Slot said: "Harvey is of course a big disappointment for him but not only for him, also for us because OK, he didn’t play that much in the first three games but he played a lot in pre-season and he showed himself really well so, of course, if he had stayed fit he would have had a lot of playing time in the upcoming fixtures."

West Ham team news

Julen Lopetegui has the luxury of an almost completely fit West Ham team to choose from ahead of the trip to Anfield with rotation to be expected for the Carabao Cup.

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The only injury worry for the Hammers is £27.5 million summer signing Niclas Fullkrug. The 31-year-old picked up an Achilles tendon and calf injury on international duty and missed out against Fulham and Chelsea.

Speaking last week, Lopetegui said: “We are trying to recover all the players, and we have to wait until the day before the game to know more about all of them.

“That includes Niclas. He has had a different kind of problem to Emerson, and really we just have to wait until Friday to know what is going to happen.”

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