By support

2nd Nov, 2017 | 3:33pm

Bilic: This player will be key for West Ham v Liverpool

By Guy Giles

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has singled out Andy Carroll as the player who holds the key to beating Liverpool in their Premier League clash this Sunday.

Carroll will be coming up against his former club, a club where he failed to live up to expectations after they made him the most expensive British player at the time by signing him for £35 million in 2011.

After managing only 11 goals in 58 appearances for the Reds, a successful loan spell with the Hammers led to a permanent move in 2013, and Carroll will be hoping to prove his worth to his former employers while firing West Ham into a more comfortable position in the Premier League table.

Speaking to the press ahead of the clash, as quoted by West Ham’s official website, Bilic said: “We have to be very solid when we play them. They have that pace and quality up front and on the flanks.

“If you have a good transition and players in the right positions you can hurt them.

“Andy Carroll is definitely one of our players who can hurt them.”

While Bilic did single Carroll out as the danger man, the Croatian also praised the rest of his attack for their recent form when asked about selecting young players from West Ham’s PL2 team.

He said: “Toni Martinez is scoring goals but at the moment we have three strikers in good form. Andre Ayew is in good form, Chicharito is in good form, you mentioned Andy Carroll is the ideal player to play against Liverpool.”

In other West Ham news, the Hammers have three names on a shortlist to replace Bilic if they lose heavily to Liverpool this weekend.

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