West Ham looking to bounce back against Liverpool

LONDON – Alan Curbishley has tired of being reminded of West Ham’s startling achievements last season, but today’s meeting with Liverpool is another unwanted memento of happier times.

It is just over six months since the east London club crowned their first season back in the Premiership with a long overdue appearance in the FA Cup final, where they came within seconds of snatching an improbable victory against the Merseysiders. Steven Gerrard’s last-gasp thunderbolt and Pepe Reina’s heroics in the penalty shoot-out were enough to whisk the trophy to Anfield, but West Ham emerged with their pride – and reputations – enhanced.Another richly fulfilling season was in the offing.But the Hammers’ fortunes have plummeted since that heady day in Cardiff.Alan Pardew, the manager, was sacked, key players lost form and fitness, the club was dogged by rumours of in-fighting and now they are mired in a potentially crippling relegation battle.Not even the cup could provide succour last Saturday, as fellow strugglers Watford eased to victory at Upton Park.Alan Curbishley, the new manager, is now confronted with a Herculean task in keeping the club in the top flight, although he admits that confidence has been splintered almost beyond repair by a six-game winless streak in the league.”The last few weeks have been tough,” he said.”From our point of view it’s a confidence situation and, as I’ve said all along, the results give you confidence and the confidence gets you the results.”Everyone at West Ham is going through a difficult time at the moment and the frustration’s there for everyone to see.”Only results will halt that frustration but at the moment they’re just not coming.That means the lack of confidence goes all around the ground to the fans as well.”Curbishley’s mood has not been helped by a spate of injury problems to key defenders, including Lucas Neil, who hobbled out of Saturday’s defeat with a sprained ankle.The Australian’s appearance against Liverpool would have added extra spice to an already crucial game, given he controversially decided to snub the advances of the Merseyside club in favour of a move to London, ensuring a vastly superior 60,000 pounds-a-week salary in the process.Liverpool made public their annoyance with Neil last week, but his absence from Tuesday’s encounter should draw some of the sting out of the situation.Instead, Rafael Benitez, the Reds manager, can focus his attentions on closing the gap to second-placed Chelsea.Liverpool may have endured a torrid month in knockout competitions – having been eliminated from the League Cup and FA Cup in the space of four days by Arsenal – but they have lost just once in their last 12 Premiership matches and comfortably defeated Chelsea in their last outing.”It’s always good to win against the top sides but at the end of the day it was only three points,” Benitez said.”You can’t beat Chelsea and then lose to West Ham – this game is just as important.The players understand that each three points are just as important and that means that we are moving in the right direction.”Nampa-AFPSteven Gerrard’s last-gasp thunderbolt and Pepe Reina’s heroics in the penalty shoot-out were enough to whisk the trophy to Anfield, but West Ham emerged with their pride – and reputations – enhanced.Another richly fulfilling season was in the offing.But the Hammers’ fortunes have plummeted since that heady day in Cardiff.Alan Pardew, the manager, was sacked, key players lost form and fitness, the club was dogged by rumours of in-fighting and now they are mired in a potentially crippling relegation battle.Not even the cup could provide succour last Saturday, as fellow strugglers Watford eased to victory at Upton Park.Alan Curbishley, the new manager, is now confronted with a Herculean task in keeping the club in the top flight, although he admits that confidence has been splintered almost beyond repair by a six-game winless streak in the league.”The last few weeks have been tough,” he said.”From our point of view it’s a confidence situation and, as I’ve said all along, the results give you confidence and the confidence gets you the results.”Everyone at West Ham is going through a difficult time at the moment and the frustration’s there for everyone to see.”Only results will halt that frustration but at the moment they’re just not coming.That means the lack of confidence goes all around the ground to the fans as well.”Curbishley’s mood has not been helped by a spate of injury problems to key defenders, including Lucas Neil, who hobbled out of Saturday’s defeat with a sprained ankle.The Australian’s appearance against Liverpool would have added extra spice to an already crucial game, given he controversially decided to snub the advances of the Merseyside club in favour of a move to London, ensuring a vastly superior 60,000 pounds-a-week salary in the process.Liverpool made public their annoyance with Neil last week, but his absence from Tuesday’s encounter should draw some of the sting out of the situation.Instead, Rafael Benitez, the Reds manager, can focus his attentions on closing the gap to second-placed Chelsea.Liverpool may have endured a torrid month in knockout competitions – having been eliminated from the League Cup and FA Cup in the space of four days by Arsenal – but they have lost just once in their last 12 Premiership matches and comfortably defeated Chelsea in their last outing.”It’s always good to win against the top sides but at the end of the day it was only three points,” Benitez said.”You can’t beat Chelsea and then lose to West Ham – this game is just as important.The players understand that each three points are just as important and that means that we are moving in the right direction.”Nampa-AFP