Liverpool’s build-up to a crucial visit to the London Stadium has taken an unexpectedly positive twist, as West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo hinted that his squad may not be at full strength for Sunday’s showdown.
According to updates released by the Hammers, two key players — Crysencio Summerville and Dinos Mavropanos — are facing late fitness tests. Nuno revealed that both players are improving but must be re-evaluated on the eve of the match before any final call is made.
Summerville was absent during West Ham’s recent draw with Bournemouth after a run of eight straight league starts, while Mavropanos has been unavailable since suffering a leg injury against Brentford in late October. Youngster Ollie Scarles is still out, and although Niclas Fullkrug has returned, his involvement is expected to be managed carefully.
For a Liverpool side desperate to halt a damaging run of six defeats in seven Premier League outings, this development offers a timely lift. With optimism also growing over the returns of Alisson and Florian Wirtz, the Reds are slowly inching towards a stronger squad.
The pressure around Arne Slot remains immense. Pundit Jamie Carragher recently stressed that Liverpool’s next three league fixtures could define the manager’s future, warning that anything less than seven points would deepen an already alarming crisis.
Slot’s second campaign has spiraled into frustration, with defensive errors, wasted chances, and injuries dragging Liverpool down to 12th in the table — a stark contrast to their title-winning momentum just months earlier.
Sunday’s clash now carries enormous weight. If Summerville and Mavropanos fail to feature for West Ham, Liverpool may find themselves facing a weakened side at precisely the moment every advantage matters.
As the spotlight intensifies, the London Stadium encounter is shaping up to be a defining test of whether Slot can reverse Liverpool’s slide and steady a team enduring its most turbulent period in decades.
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