Saturday 10 December 2016 07:35, UK
Slaven Bilic says Liverpool are genuine Premier League title contenders ahead of their clash with West Ham this weekend.
Jurgen Klopp's side are four points behind leaders Chelsea in the table after an impressive start to the season but they did drop points in last weekend's 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth.
Liverpool were leading 2-0 and then 3-1 in that game before a stunning Cherries comeback but Bilic, who takes his side to Anfield as part of Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD, says that result does not alter his view on the Reds' title chances.
"They are definitely one of the contenders. Some of their football is great, well not some of their football, most of their football, to be fair," he said.
"They have been quite consistent this season. Ok, their last result was not the greatest, especially when they were winning 3-1 or 2-0, but they are definitely one of the title contenders."
West Ham beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield last season and Bilic is taking that result and the fact that the Reds are capable of conceding goals as encouragement as the Hammers look to bounce back from a 5-1 defeat at home to Arsenal.
"Of course, they are conceding goals. Ok, they are an attacking-minded side but first of all you have to be solid and have to stop them creating and scoring and even coming into those positions where they are very dangerous," he said.
"But, of course, because they attack with numbers they leave the back quite open and there is a lot of space, although they have a good transition, defensive and offensive, still there is a big space sometimes."
West Ham will have Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio available for Sunday but Cheikhou Kouyate will miss the game. All three players picked up groin injuries in West Ham's EFL Cup defeat to Manchester United last month.
"From the three players who got injured in the EFL Cup game, a couple of them should be back," Bilic said. "Antonio and Cresswell are training with us today after the press conference and according to the medical reports they are fit and they are okay.
"With Cheikhou Kouyate, it is a little bit different. We were hoping he would be okay for Sunday's game, but unfortunately he will have to miss it. It's not a big injury, but he has a great chance to make it for the Burnley game in midweek."
The Hammers are 17th in the table and have not won in the Premier League since October, but Bilic said he had spoken to the club's co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold and felt he still had the support of the club's hierarchy.
"We didn't have a meeting, we had a conversation like we normally have," Bilic added. "Since I've been here, I speak to the chairman a couple of days after every game. After Saturday's game we spoke on Monday and had a good conversation, but not a meeting.
"I feel the support and have said that so many times and I felt that support in our conversation this week. I believe in myself and my staff and look at what we achieved last year and I believe there is time to turn it around."
