I didn't understand Arne Slot decision vs Fulham - Two Liverpool players must start against West Ham

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John Aldridge has his say on Liverpool's attacking options and looks ahead to West Ham in the second half of his weekly ECHO column

I couldn’t understand the reason why Luis Diaz was a substitute against Fulham. He was probably our best player against Everton. He’s the one who looks like he’s going to make things happen every week.

He wants the ball, he’s everywhere. He should be one of the first names on the teamsheet. I don’t think he’s tired.



Even if you played him down the middle, he still gives you more than our other centre-forwards at the moment. He is a real livewire. He was all over the place.

Okay, sometimes his final ball could be better at times. But he showed what we were missing when he came on against Fulham. 'There's progress' - Virgil van Dijk teases contract news as Liverpool captain gives significant update What Liverpool really need to win Premier League title as worst case scenario clear He should have started.

He’s always lively. He wants to play, he wants to win. Diaz has to start against West Ham.

And every game between now and the end of the season, we have to start him. We have to start Luis Diaz. Bradley’s back and not a moment too soon The one good thing about the Fulham game was the second half was good.

We left ourselves too much to do after the first half, but the performance after the break was good. The difference Conor Bradley brought to the team was so evident. He even brought Mo Salah into the game, and he hasn’t been in any of the last six games really.

But when Conor came on, he levelled up that right-hand side. His return is a plus. He has to play now, he has to play all of the remaining games.

He has shown us how good a player he is, the difference he made. He has to start now, they really need him. Him and Diaz are the two first names on the Liverpool teamsheet for me now.

Forwards fall short again We’re not scoring many at the moment. Again, it’s another game where the strikers aren’t scoring. How many games is that now? The last seven or eight? You had Jota in the derby, Chiesa in the final but he wasn’t upfront.

You notice it so much more when Salah isn’t scoring, he’s only had his two penalties against Southampton. That’s a worry. I don’t think Arne will make many changes and bring Chiesa or Elliott in.

Chiesa should be considered an option at centre-forward though, he certainly couldn’t do much worse. If not that, he has to put Diaz back there and play someone else on the left. But it’s a worry when your forwards aren’t scoring and don't look like scoring.

Jota’s goal against Everton was brilliant. We’ve got to see more of him doing that. But what else did he offer? Against Fulham, he’s quiet again and then misses a glaring chance in the second half.

That’s his only chance. I know he lacked service but sometimes you have to make it happen. It’s where we’re at with our centre-forwards at the moment.

Diaz came on and showed them how it’s done. It’s a difficult chance and he took it really well, put it in the corner. I just don’t know what’s going on with the rest of the forwards.

Mo Salah looks like he’s got the weight of the world hanging over him. We need goals from our centre-forwards and there is no better time than against West Ham. A good display, I’m not saying go out and batter them, just get the three points.

We’re at home, it’s the biggest game of the season now. Go out, win it, get the three points and then it’s one less game..