Liverpool face West Ham on Saturday at 17:30 hours local time as the Reds return to Premier League action following their midweek Champions League win over Debrecen. The game at Upton Park will be the Reds third in the space of a week and comes just 48 hours after Fernando Torres officially unveiled his first book ‘El Niño, My Story’.

Back to back wins over Bolton Wanderers and Burnley have seen Liverpool recover from a slow start to the Premier League campaign. Earlier defeats to Tottenham, on the opening day of the season, and at home to Aston Villa, had meant the Reds had a lot of catching up to do.

With five games gone, the Reds have climbed up to fifth, and now lie six points adrift of leaders Chelsea who have claimed maximum points from five games played.

Gianfranco Zola's team arrive for Saturday’s fixture in 13th place with four points from four games. Although it’s still early days, the Hammers suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Wigan last weekend which left them just one point off relegation.

Liverpool have an excellent record against the Hammers in recent years. The Merseysiders have lost just one of their last 14 league encounters, wining ten. West Ham’s last success came in January 2008 as a Mark Noble penalty in the last minute sealed all three points for the Londoners.

Last season the Reds crushed West Ham 3-0 at Upton Park. Fernando Torres set-up Gerrard for the first, and on 38 minutes the striker won the penalty from which the captain doubled Liverpool’s lead. The victory saw the visitors return to the summit of the Premier League- but only temporarily, as second-placed Manchester United won their two games in hand.

The corresponding fixture at Anfield on December 1, 2008, ended goalless. The point was enough to move the Reds temporarily top of the Premier League- but this time it was Chelsea who leapfrogged Liverpool by wining their game in hand.

Back on March 5, 2008, Fernando Torres became the first Liverpool striker in more than 60 years to net successive hat-tricks at Anfield as Liverpool beat West Ham 4-0.

The Spaniard followed up his treble against Boro 10 days earlier, with three strikes against the Hammers. Torres, who had scored on 8 and 61 minutes, wrapped up his hat-trick nine minutes from time, sliding into the bottom corner after leaving Lucas Neill for dead.

Next-up Liverpool face Leeds United in the Carling Cup on Tuesday September 22, before Hull City visit Anfield four days later.


Photo: J.A. Sirvent