Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has saluted his West Ham counterpart Sam Allardyce for the job he has done at Upton Park this term.
The Hammers were scrambling for their Premier League lives last season, with a number of the club's fans calling for Allardyce to be dismissed.
However, following a strong summer transfer window they now sit seventh and just four points off a top four spot. West Ham play Liverpool, who are eighth, this coming weekend. And Rodgers has been keen to hail Allardyce before the match.
Rodgers told a press conference: "West Ham have done great.
"Sam will believe they have every chance of getting into the top four.
relatedNewsStory
"Sam's a very experienced man and has been a leading figure in the game and he'll understand that his team have done very well this season."
Allardyce's West Ham beat Liverpool in the earlier meeting between the two teams at Upton Park this season and a win at Anfield would not only boost their own top four ambitions, it would deal a big blow to Liverpool's own objective of securing Champions League football.
Rodgers' Liverpool head into the clash on the back of exiting the League Cup at the semi-final stage to Chelsea on Tuesday, and will be looking to bounce back.
Like betting on football? Check out our sister site Inside Bet. Free bet offers, betting tips, betting facts. Visit Inside Bet.
