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West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui will be down to the bare bones against Liverpool this weekend(Image: PA Media)

Julen Lopetegui insists West Ham United will not be afraid of leaders Liverpool, who he believes are 'the best team in the Premier League by far', despite a lengthy list of absentees before Sunday's showdown.

A 1-0 win at Southampton on Boxing Day extended the Hammers' unbeaten run to four matches but they could be without five players this weekend who started that fixture.

Lukasz Fabianski, Max Kilman and Carlos Soler had to be replaced due to injuries while midfield pair Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez received yellow cards, which mean they will serve a one-match suspension.

However, Lopetegui insists he will have no fear against the rampant Reds, who are now seven points clear at the summit after their 3-1 comeback win at home to Leicester City.

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"To be afraid?

We have big respect for all the teams, but we have the same respect for Southampton, for Liverpool and all of them," said the West Ham boss, who will definitely be without Michail Antonio after he underwent surgery on a lower limb fracture following a car crash earlier this month.

"We are talking about the best team in the Premier League.

We are happy to have this kind of match at home, knowing the difficulty, but in the same way we believe in our players."

Alphonse Areola, Jean-Clair Todibo and Edson Alvarez took their chances off the bench against Southampton and could start against Liverpool, who claimed a 22nd win out of 26 matches under Arne Slot with the triumph over Leicester on Boxing Day.

Lucas Paqueta will return from suspension but Lopetegui talked up the importance of being a team.

He said: "We are talking about the best team in the Premier League now by far.

It is true but I recover myself," Lopetegui said.
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