West Ham United

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham manager Graham Potter has praised James Ward-Prowse for how he has settled back in at the club since returning at the start of February.

The midfielder, 30, spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Nottingham Forest but was recalled shortly after Potter succeeded Julen Lopetegui as Hammers boss.

"He's come from his loan spell where he wasn't playing so much but his level in terms of his training and how he acts every day is of a top standard," said Potter.

"That's really helpful to the team and really helpful for the environment we want to create here.

"In midfield he brings a balance, a quality, and his set-pieces are very dangerous for us. He's still getting to know how the team functions better and better but I've really enjoyed working with him.

"He's not a ranter and raver but he's a quiet leader who leads by example. Every day he gives his absolute best and trains like it's the last day of his career so he's a fantastic role model for other players.

"He brings a calmness and an experience and a humility which is really impressive."

Ward-Prowse, who will come up against his former club Southampton on Saturday, is still one short of matching David Beckham's Premier League record for goals scored directly from free-kicks.

Potter added: "James will be the first to say it's not about him and the record, although we hope that he can get it. It would be nice for us if there was a bit of football karma and he gets it on Saturday against Southampton."

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton have lost 26 of their 32 Premier League matches this season, the most they've ever lost in a league campaign in their history. Their current loss percentage of 81% is the highest by any side in a top- flight season in history.

West Ham are 17th in the Premier League and this is the lowest position in the table they'll be heading into a game as late as this (33rd game) in a season since the final day of the 2010-11 season, when they were 20th and relegated.

Guess the current West Ham player from these three clues:

• I am an England futsal international.

• I played every minute of every game during the 2023-24 Premier League season.

• I made my West Ham debut in August 2024 against Aston Villa.

Come back to this page at 17:00 BST for the answer

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Southampton at London Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Crysencio Summerville will still be out a "few weeks yet" as it has been a "complicated" issue and will "take some time". Aaron Wan-Bissaka has "needed an injection in his toe" but should still be available for the game.

• Potter said Michail Antonio is "progressing step by step" in his recovery following a car crash and they are continuing to "support him". However, he added that it is "not for me to comment" on any talks over his contract and when there is anything to announce, the club will do so.

• On Niclas Fullkrug's fitness: "He's just been out for a long time, and with a hamstring injury it's hard to replicate those 90 minutes of Premier League football. You have to build players up safely, but he's getting stronger and stronger, and that is good for us."

• On the Hammers' home form: "It's something we want to put right. We need to play well on Saturday, and we'll be trying to do that. The supporters have been brilliant since we've been here, home and away. They've got behind the team, and when we haven't been so good they have been fair on us. We understand when we haven't been winning or performing as well as we would like then there is frustration around."

• He added: "This is a difficult period for us, but when we come through this we are hoping it is a nice foundation to achieve something exciting here."

• Potter does not believe they need a "a major rebuild" in the summer: "We're not where we want to be right now. We need to improve, that is a simple thing. But, we have to make the right decisions with all the resources that we have and come together to put a team together our fans can be proud of."

• On team spirit: "It's really positive. The daily work has been of a high level since we've been here, and I'm frustrated for the players that we haven't converted that into consistent results. But a lot of what I see is really positive. I think there's a foundation there for us to go forward. But the players' attitude and spirit in training has been really good - the way they have handled themselves is first class. I've been really impressed with them."

• The West Ham boss is not expecting an easy game against already-relegated Southampton, insisting the south coast side will "be prepared, competitive and have quality players so we have to respect that".

Michail Antonio is waiting to see if he will be given a new deal by West Ham, with the forward out of contract at the end of the season. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

West Ham United want to sign 26-year-old Liverpool and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in the summer. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

James Jones
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham don't win at Anfield. We've won there just once since 1963 and only four times in 74 attempts since our first visit in 1914, so Sunday's latest defeat wouldn't have come as much of a surprise to any West Ham fan.

But for an hour of the game, we looked good. We weren't perfect by any stretch and indeed, Liverpool weren't at their mercurial, swashbuckling best, but we deserved our equaliser and arguably deserved to come away with at least a point.

For all the recent concerns about West Ham's struggles in front of goal since Graham Potter's arrival - averaging exactly a goal per game, the lowest of any permanent manager in the club's history - we registered more big chances (four) than Arne Slot's champions elect (two) in their own back yard, and we hit the bar twice. On another day, we score at least twice, probably more.

Is that a sign things are about to improve in attack? It's too early to say but it's most certainly one of the biggest positives we can take from Sunday's defeat. It's a sign that the players are improving in Potter's style and system.

He's improved us defensively since replacing Julen Lopetegui, with our average goals conceded per game slipping from exactly two to 1.23 since his appointment. Now there are signs improvements are being made at the other end of the pitch.

If we can build on that performance against Liverpool in the coming weeks, it will lay a really solid foundation for Potter's plans for the summer and next season.

As I said, it's not perfect yet, but there is lots to be positive about with West Ham under Potter. We've just got to remain patient.

Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Liverpool's Premier League game against West Ham.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Vardon: We really are making a meal of every game at the moment. Flashes of brilliance amongst long periods of dominance, infused with an inability to turn possession of the ball into sweet finishes. Slot must be stewing on the touchline as his finest ingredients are failing to complement each other, and if not for the moment Van Dijk and Robertson finally served up something palatable for the fans, it could have been an afternoon that left a very sour taste in our mouths.

Lisa: We are walking through these past few games. I want to see fire and passion from a team about to win the Premier League.

Steve: It would be nice if Liverpool had a plan B, plan C and plan D to bring a bit of calmness to the players when playing these final games. What has happened to the good football we were playing at the beginning of the season?

West Ham fans

Nick: Thought the first 35 minutes, we were playing deep and leaving big gaps between the back four and midfield, this could not cope with their wide men - pleased we were only 1-0 down. The second half was very good, the back four gave the midfield more support, giving Kudus and Bowen more of the ball, we could have scored on a number of occasions, Paqueta another level!

Matthew: Really, really unfortunate not to get a result. Thought we played very well in the second half and Paqueta was by far man of the match! Onwards and upwards.

Paul: It was a good performance really! Funny Paqueta and Kudus suddenly played well to impress Arne Slot! When at Wolves, Bournemouth, Leicester, Nottingham Forest and many other games they did nothing.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to Sunday's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Chelsea 2-2 Ipswich Town

• Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United

• Newcastle United 4-1 Manchester United

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham manager Graham Potter speaking to Sky Sports after the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool: "It's sore for sure because the players put in such a good performance, especially in the second half. We came into it at the back end of the first half and credit to Liverpool - the emotion of the day and their intensity was tough for us.

"In terms of big chances we had a few so I'm very disappointed to lose because I think we deserved something from the game.

"We did a lot well today and in terms of performance it was probably the best we've had since we've been here. In terms of balance in defence and attack - we created opportunities, we attacked Liverpool and we restricted them to not too many chances but they've got top players and we have to give them credit - they are the best team in the league."

On why the start was so challenging: "It was an emotional day and rightly so. The crowd here and Liverpool played well, they pushed us back. It wasn't easy to get control of the ball. We had to drop Mohammed Kudus a little bit deeper to help us get hold of the ball. Sometimes you have to credit the opponent, they did really well. Sometimes away from home you have to suffer a little bit and dig in.

On Kudus' performance: "We were struggling to get behind them and Mo just gave us an extra body in the centre of the pitch. I thought he played really well. It's difficult to just stand on the edge of your box and defend. We hit the bar twice, one-on-one with the keeper, there was a lot happening for us there."

On whether it feels like a step forward: "From a performance perspective it was probably our best performance since we've been here. There was a lot of strong individual performances and a good collective understanding of what we're trying to do so we have to stick with that."

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

Defeat at Anfield means West Ham are winless in their last five league matches - a longer run without victory than any they suffered under Julen Lopetegui.

That is a harsh stat considering how West Ham played on Sunday. They hit the woodwork twice and would have got at least a point if not for the brilliance of Liverpool keeper Alisson.

But they leave Anfield without a point for the 22nd time in the Premier League, and are now directly above the bottom three.

In attack they were profligate, while they could have been further behind before the break.

Left wing back Ollie Scarles - the youngest player to start a league game at Anfield for West Ham since Joe Cole in 2001 - was ripped apart by Mo Salah and was subbed off early in the second half.

While West Ham are 14 points above the drop zone with six games to go, they must be careful to avoid sleepwalking into a nightmare end to the campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham are winless in their last five Premier League matches (D2 L3), which exceeds their longest winless run in the competition under previous manager Julen Lopetegui.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

What did you make of West Ham's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies