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West Ham have been charged by the Football Association after their players surrounded referee Peter Bankes during Sunday's draw at Southampton. The Irons players were angered by the decision to allow Romain Perraud's goal in the 1-1 draw as they felt Bankes blocked Jarrod Bowen's path as he attempted to beat Perraud to the ball in the 20th minute.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Tsimikas, Carvalho, Henderson ©, Thiago, Salah, Roberto Firmino, Nuñez Subs: Kelleher (GK), Robertson, Phillips, Milner, Fabinho, Clark, Jones, Elliott, Oxlade-Chamberlain
West Ham: Fabiański, Johnson, Kehrer, Zouma, Cresswell, Downes, Rice ©, Souček, Bowen, Fornals, Scamacca Subs: Areola (GK), Randolph (GK), Coufal, Emerson, Ogbonna, Coventry, Lanzini, Benrahma, Antonio

It may seem a bit far fetched given the multiplicity of circumstances surrounding team selection for this evening's tough impending fixture away to Liverpool at Anfield as both teams are facing an 'injury crisis', but David Moyes, never one to give ANY information or disinformation that could possibly assist an opposing manager, DID allude to the fact that summer signing 26 year old Nayef Aguerd is actually training with the rest of the squad following the serious injury he sustained in the friendly defeat up at Ibrox during pre-season.

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is one of the best midfielders, arguably the best in the Premier League having helped lead West Ham United to a top-seven or higher finish the last two seasons. While the Hammers haven’t had a season like that this year, Rice is still showing his quality week in and week out.

Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap, Salisu, Perraud, Maitland-Niles, Aribo, Ward-Prowse ©, Elyounoussi, A.Armstrong, Adams Subs: McCarthy (GK), Lyanco, Caleta-Car, S.Armstrong, Mara, Djenepo, Edozie, Diallo, Larios
West Ham: Fabiański, Coufal, Johnson, Kehrer, Cresswell, Rice ©, Souček, Bowen, Paqueta, Emerson, Scamacca Subs: Areola, Randolph, Fornals, Antonio, Lanzini, Downes, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Coventry

Crikey Mikey what is it with West Ham and 'serial' injuries? Not content with losing one centre back during a game, Hammers went large and went through THREE centre backs during the midweek game against the Flare throwers from Flanders!

The massive signing who the entire defence was going to be assembled around, Nayef Aguerd, promptly got crocked on his 2nd outing for the club during the friendly defeat up at Ibrox and the rest have just been dropping like flies.

West Ham secured their progress to the next round of the Con Cup with aplomb against fellow group favourites Anderlecht, a comfortable 2-0 win was on the cards courtesy of goals by Benrahma and Bowen before a late penalty gifted to the visitors ensured the traditional anxiety fans have grown accustomed to over the years had a chance to test the nerves.

West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Johnson, Ogbonna, Cresswell ©, Emerson, Lanzini, Downes, Paquetá, Benrahma, Bowen Subs: Randolph (GK), Hegyi (GK), Dawson, Coventry, Rice, Fornals, F.Potts, Forson, Scarles, Souček, Scamacca
Anderlecht: Van Crombrugge ©, Debast, Delcroix, N’Diaye, Murillo, Arnstad, Diawara, Verschaeren, Amuzu, Esposito, Silva Subs: Verbruggen (GK), Coosemans (GK), Hoedt, Raman, Vertonghen, Ishaq, Sadiki, Stroeykens, Ait El Hadj, Sardella, Leoni, Stassin

This evening West Ham United have the opportunity of 'putting to bed' their qualification for the final group stage of the UEFA Conference League Cup, more commonly referred ro as the Con Cup by those within the football industry. Whether it has a joke name nor indeed whether it is a 'real' barometer of how a club is doing it is what it is and as such represents a route through to next season's Europa League as well as giving fans the chance to 'do Europe', albeit in a slightly Busman's holiday setting.

David Moyes has wholeheartedly backed Angelo Ogbonna's return to fitness and welcomed the Conference Cup games as an ideal route for a player returning from a serious long term injury, particularly as the player in question has recently turned 33 years of age.