Hodgson awaits results of Gerrard scan ahead of West Ham game
Published:Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres will all undergo fitness tests at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground today as Roy Hodgson frets over the fitness of his three star players.
Gerrard pulled up with a hamstring injury after 85 minutes of Liverpool’s game last night, and Dirk Kuyt was rested in Holland’s tie with Turkey last night over concerns surrounding his ankle injury.
But Fernando Torres, who travelled with the Spanish squad despite worries surrounding an ankle injury, replaced David Villa at half-time in their 4-0 loss to Portugal.
After flattering to deceive following their victory at Chelsea, Liverpool have subsequently drawn at Wigan and lost at Stoke, Hodgson will hope his best players can overcome injuries in time for what could be a crucial point of Roy Hodgson’s career.
At home Liverpool should be expected to walk over a West Ham side that sit bottom of the Premier League and have only scored four goals on their travels, and the Premier League betting odds suggest an easy win for the Reds – Liverpool are 4/9 to beat West Ham.
But in Gerrard and Torres, Roy Hodgson has two players who have created or scored all but one of Liverpool’s 13 goals this season, and the loss of those two would leave Hammers fans quietly confident of taking something from the game.
West Ham are 6/1 to beat Liverpool but the draw is being offered by Ladbrokes at 3/1, a big price if Gerrard and Torres fail to win their race for fitness.
Should the two not play, David Ngog will take centre-stage and despite impressing in the early part of the season, Ngog has gone nine appearances without a goal.
Considering the two sides frailties in front of goal, the fans that fill Anfield on Saturday could be set for an uneventful match.
A 0-0 result on Saturday is priced at 12/1. See the full Barclays Premier League football betting odds here.
