Hello and welcome to the liveblog for today’s early Premier League kick-off.
Liverpool travel to West Ham but without the likes of Jordan Henderson, Martin Skyrtel, James Milner and Divock Origi absent through injury. Daniel Sturridge, despite being fit, will not be risked by Jurgen Klopp today.
There is better news for West Ham though with the return to the bench of French talisman Dimitri Payet from a two-month ankle injury – Slaven Bilic’s side have really felt his absence after he, and the Hammers, made an outstanding start to the season.
Today’s teams:
West Ham: Adrian, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Lanzini, Noble, Kouyate, Antonio, Valencia, Carroll.
Subs: Randolph, Song, Zarate, Jenkinson, Obiang, Jelavic, Payet.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Can, Lucas, Ibe, Coutinho, Firmino, Benteke.
Subs: Toure, Lallana, Allen, Brannagan, Bogdan, Smith, Randall.
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)
So Payet takes a spot on the bench for West Ham, where he is joined by Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph.
The Hammers make three changes with former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, Manuel Lanzini and Aaron Cresswell coming in for Carl Jenkinson, Alex Song and Mauro Zarate.
For Liverpool, Lucas and Jordon Ibe replace Jordan Henderson (heel injury) and Adam Lallana, who drops to the bench.
This fixture is live on BT Sport 1.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is hoping Christian Benteke can continue his goal-scoring form today of course. While he remains hopeful Daniel Sturridge will feature again soon.
“Christian can hopefully do well in the next few weeks,” he said.
“Daniel is training and sometimes he feels better or worse, so we have to ask. Hopefully we can use him in the next few weeks but today it’s not an option.”
The teams are coming out of the tunnel now. It’s seventh v eighth in what is the first Premier League game of 2016.
No Sturridge, Milner, Origi or Henderson for Liverpool. Payet on the bench for West Ham who have Carroll starting up top. How do you see this one going?
And we’re under way at Upton Park.
It’s a blustery, wet day in east London, surprise surprise.
Ennor Valencia seems to holding a hamstring already.
Jordon Ibe with the first effort on goal. The youngster did well to create the space but drags his right-footed shot wide.
It has been a scrappy start at Upton Park, Valencia seems to be OK to continue.
Antonio with a shot for the Hammers but his effort from outside the area never threatens Simon Mignolet’s goal.
GOAL: West Ham 1 Liverpool 0 (Antonio)
Valencia swings in a beaut of a delivery to the back post and Antonio attacks it with real venom. A stunning header, Mignolet had no chance.
Valencia began the move by tracking back Moreno. He won the ball back near his own byline, although it looked like he fouled the Liverpool defender in the process. Valencia then stormed up the right flank before whipping the ball in for Antonio to put the home side ahead.
West Ham are playing well here.
Lanzini hits the post. What a strike from outside the area – the ball moved all over the place before striking the right upright. Mignolet had waved it wide.
It’s all West Ham now.
Liverpool are keeping the ball a bit better but they seem to be struggling with West Ham’s pace.
This has been an entertaining game so far. It has a bit of bite, plenty of pace (from West Ham at least) and two big front men that are obvious focal points of the tactics for both teams.
Mark Noble has gone down after a nasty challenge from Lucas. Studs were showing and he caught Noble late on the foot – that will hurt.
Lucas is shown a yellow card for it. Noble looks shaken but should be OK to continue.
West Ham still lead 1-0 after this bullet header from Antonio
Some poor control from Benteke after Firmino put him through. His touch his heavy though and nothing comes of it.
As it stands West Ham would leapfrog Liverpool and move into fifth in the Premier League table.
Until 5pm at least.
PENALTY SHOUT – Collins blocks a Coutinho strike from outside the area, it seemed to catch Collins on the elbow but the contact looked outside the box.
CHANCE – A Moreno delivery causes trouble in the West Ham area. Benteke’s header strikes Carroll in the midriff before trickling through to Adrian.
The Spaniard is now retrieving treatment to his nose after collecting the ball – Darren Randolph doesn’t look concerned and hasn’t moved from the bench. After a lengthy stoppage we’re back under way.
A clever attacking move between Firmino and Benteke sees the ball scuffed wide – a bit more promising all the same.
Lanzini has gone down injured, which is a shame – he has been one of the best on the field.
It looks like he is done for this afternoon – Obiang is coming on.
All of these stoppages have taken the life out of the game a bit. There will be plenty of injury time at the end of this half.
Liverpool are lacking a bit of spark at the moment. They’ve been sloppy in possession. Henderson and Milner have been missed.
Five minutes of stoppage time to come in the first half. No surprises there.
CHANCE – Emre Can hits the bar from the edge of the area Good work from Firmino and Ibe before the German rattles the bar – that’s more like it.
Liverpool having their best spell of the game now. They’re having success out wide and West Ham are getting frustrated. Still 90 seconds to play in this half.
HT: West Ham 1 Liverpool 0
Liverpool were starting to click just before half-time. Can they turn it around in the second period?
Benteke has been particularly poor. Those around him haven’t been much better but at least Firmino, Coutinho and Ibe have shown flickers of creativity.
It was an entertaining half of football; plenty of action at both ends, one excellent goal and two shots off the woodwork.
We’re back under way at Upton Park
Good hold-up play from Ibe. He finds Coutinho but the little Brazilian fires way over from 25 yards out. Liverpool have started the second period the better of the two.
West Ham look happy to sit back. They might regret that – Liverpool keeping the ball far too easily now.
Chance for Benteke but he mis-kicks it – that sums up his afternoon so far.
GOAL, Carroll – West Ham 2 Liverpool 0
Wow, just when Liverpool were getting on top West Ham break up the other end. Mark Noble swings in a decent ball from the right wing and that man Andy Carroll does what he does best; he attacks it with his massive frame and heads back across goal into the corner. Completely against the run of play.
The former Liverpool man enjoyed that.
You can’t help but wonder is Klopp now regretting leaving out fit-again Daniel Sturridge.
They need to chase this game, and quickly.
It looks like Klopp is going to make a couple of changes; Lallana and Smith are getting ready.
Firmino is going off and will be replaced by Lallana. Brad Smith will replace Moreno as Liverpool have a free-kick about 30 yards out from goal.
But nothing comes of it as Lovren powers it into the wall.
The volume at Upton Park is about to lift; Payet is getting ready to come on.
Payet comes on for Valencia; those West Ham grins get even wider.
THREE CHANCES – Carroll is nearly in again after some great play by Cresswell and Payet. But his powerful header is stopped well by Mignolet. The rebound is then deflected off Lovren before another effort is gathered by Mignolet.
Liverpool under serious pressure now; hard to see them getting back into this the way it’s going.
Cresswell and Payet are combining really well on the left-hand side. They fashion another cross for Carroll but he fails to connect with the volley. It’s been end-to-end stuff.
The young Aussie Smith has looked good going forward from left back – his cross finds Benteke but the big Belgian hoofs it into the stands. Oh dear.
Great ball from Coutinho – a swinging free kick is heading dangerously towards the back post but James Collins is there to deflect it wide.
After a sustained period of Liverpool pressure we have some handbags in the area. Emre Can the main culprit – it was all over nothing. Shouts of a handball from both sides looked unfounded.
The Reds had three corners in quick succession but they can’t make the breakthrough.
A fourth to come.
Ten minutes, plus additional time, to play as Benteke screams for a penalty. Wishful thinking it seems. Never looked like handball.
Liverpool are getting frustrated now – you could see this boiling over.
Joe Allen on for Sakho. That says it all really – you desperately need to get back in the game and you bring on Allen, Lallana and Brad Smith.
Payet has looked outstanding in his half-hour cameo. Such a classy footballer.
CHANCE – Liverpool should have pulled one back through Allen but he heads wide.
FT: West Ham 2 Liverpool 0
Great stuff from West Ham, they move up to fifth in the table with the rest of the weekend’s fixtures to come.
Andy Carroll caused Liverpool problems throughout while Benteke couldn’t get in the groove at the other end.
Lanzini excelled before going off injured and Payet looked a class above on his return when introduced as a substitute.
After wins at Chelsea and Manchester City, Liverpool fans must be wondering what has gone wrong following away losses to Newcastle, Watford, West Ham.
Is this the day that Jurgen Klopp finally stops smiling?
Match report and reaction to follow.
Thanks for joining us.