Hammers stalwart Winston Reid has moved across London to join Championship front runners Brentford on loan for the rest of the season, the 32 year old Kiwi captain had returned from his loan spell in the USA in 'good' condition but a bit short of match practice.
As this is the day the transfer window 'slams shut', we thought we would join in the spirit of things with a countdown clock, unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your view point
West Ham United's name will most definitely NOT be featured among the movers and shaker headlines, this is what happens when your club has been named and shamed as perrenial 'low ballers' in the transfer market.
West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice (c), Souček, Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals, Antonio Subs: Martin, Fredericks, Johnson, Diop, Balbuena, Noble, Lanzini, Yarmolenko, Odubeko
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Henderson (c), Robertson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Thiago, Salah, Origi Subs: Adrian (GK), Kelleher (GK), Tsimikas, R.Williams, Jones, Oxlade-Chamberlain, N.Williams, Firmino, Minamino
Liverpool's defensive woes have been a matter of wide spread media comment, Sunday's visitors to the London Stadium are currently without ANY established centre backs in their squad, captain Jordan Henderson has filled in admirably for them, however fans from both sides are of the opinion that Michail Antonio, Angello Ogbonna, Craig Dawson and of course 'Mr Potato Salad' himself, Tomas Soucek, will be a 'difficult' proposition to deal with for any back line, let alone one that is down to the bare bones!
Ahead of Sunday's clash with West Ham at the London Stadium, visitors Liverpool find themselves bereft of 'proper' centre backs, the situation is so acute that Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that the League Champions are looking for a short term loan to help plug the gap until their influential players return to fitness.
Jesse Lingard's arrival on loan from Manchester United has raised many eyebrows among Hammers fans with many questioning the wisdom of expensively acquiring another midfielder, albeit a very talented one, as opposed to addressing the need for a back up striker to work alongside or in place of Michail Antonio and his dodgy hamstrings.
We must instantly declare that we in no way condone the use of hallucinogenics in this article, and the above mentioned title has nothing at all to do with mind bending drugs, however Hammers fans might feel that 'something' has been put in the water given the recent run of results!
Palace: Guaita, Ward, Cahill, Kouyate, Mitchell, Townsend, Milivojevic (c), McArthur, Eze, Zaha, Benteke Subs: Butland (GK), van Aanholt, Dann, Ayew, Clyne, McCarthy, Batshuayi, Kelly, Riedewald
West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice (c), Souček, Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma, Antonio Subs: Randolph (GK), Johnson, Fredericks, Balbuena, Diop, Noble, Lanzini, Yarmolenko, Odubeko
Having had their fingers incinerated by the purchase of Sebastien Haller from the Bundesliga, and just seen the fall out at Chelsea following Frank Lampard's dismissal due to him 'wasting' £116 Million on Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, BOTH from the Bundesliga.
Frank Lampard's 18 month tenure as Chelsea manager has come to an end following a run of dismal results, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, known for his lack of patience with managers, has pulled the trigger on the ex-Hammers' managerial stint half way through his original three year contract.