The great news for Liverpool is that Xabi Alonso has made it back from injury to take his place in the starting line-up today. The team is pretty much as expected, with Djibril Cisse getting the nod ahead of Fernando Morientes to partner Crouch up front.
West Ham are going to take a gamble on striker Dean Ashton and left midfielder Matthew Etherington, both get to start even though neither have been able to take part in training this week. Carl Fletcher takes the suspended Hayden Mullins’ midfield place.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Kewell, Crouch, Cisse
West Ham: Hislop, Scaloni, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Konchesky, Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Fletcher, Etherington, Harewood, Ashton