The Hammers travel to Merseyside to take on Arne Slot’s Reds in what is arguably the pick of the competition’s Third Round.
Getting the better of Slot’s in-form Liverpool is a huge ask for the struggling London club though.
Consequently, Lopetegui is set to juggle his defence, and according to the Daily Mail, will award summer-signing Todibo with his second start since joining from Nice earlier in the summer.
The Frenchman is likely to be joined at the back by either Konstantinos Mavropanos or Max Kilman.
Todibo's Lack of Game Time
West Ham’s summer signing Jean Clair Todibo is set to start in tonight’s game against Liverpool, but reports are emerging regarding why his inclusion has taken so long.
The French international and former Barcelona defender was pursued by the Hammers all summer, and we eventually beat Juventus to secure his signing. However, he has been seen less than the Loch Ness Monster since joining West Ham on a loan transfer with a view to a permanent £35M move from Nice.
Initial reports suggested that Julen Lopetegui did not consider him tough enough for the Premier League—a viewpoint confirmed to C&H by a top club source.
It is now being suggested that Todibo has been under special instruction to improve his fitness levels, prompting the question: just how unfit was he? Given how infrequently he has featured for the Hammers, one can only assume that he was less fit than the injured Edson Alvarez, who didn’t even participate in pre-season training.
Presumably, that is why Todibo looked so sluggish in his only start against Bournemouth in the previous round of the Carabao Cup. Let’s hope he’s been on the treadmill plenty and has gotten up to speed for tonight’s game at Anfield because he is far too talented to spend the season on the bench.
Lopetegui's Decisions Under Scrutiny
Early pressure on Julen Lopetegui at West Ham may be harsh but fans have voiced frustrations over his integration of new signings.
After committing £155m to sign nine players, Hammers fans were looking forward to an exciting new-look team this season.
Julen Lopetegui has struggled for performances or results so far at West Ham.
The Irons have won two, lost three and drawn one of their first six games under the Spaniard.
Lopetegui’s team has looked very vulnerable at the back, though. In fact West Ham have given up more shots than any other side – 83 in five Premier League games. That’s 20 more than the next worst.
At the other end West Ham are struggling to create quality chances too. The Hammers have the second fewest big chances created so far with just seven.
Coupled with three home league defeats on the bounce for the first time in the club’s history and Lopetegui is already under pressure.
Not only from the media but the owners and fans too.
Supporter frustration has only been heightened by Lopetegui’s use – or lack of use – of the summer signings.
Striker Niclas Fullkrug was kept on the bench for the first three Premier League matches. Much to the striker’s own frustration.
Fullkrug has since missed the Fulham and Chelsea matches through an injury sustained on international duty with Germany.
Arguably the club’s star capture of the summer, centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, has had even less game time.
Todibo has all the ingredients West Ham are sorely missing in defence.
Hammers fans were gobsmacked when UEFA put out a video montage of Todibo last week showing his array of skills and pace.
Yet he has barely kicked a ball for West Ham so far. And when the 24-year-old did start – against Bournemouth in the cup – he was taken off at half-time.
Crysencio Summerville has been restricted to a bench role too, much to the frustrations of supporters.
When he did get a start against Chelsea, Summerville was West Ham’s best player. But Lopetegui subbed him off in the second half to jeers from the Hammers faithful.
Carlos Soler arrived on deadline day and has made a couple of substitute cameos too.
Now fans will despair at Lopetegui’s response on two new West Ham stars they’re desperate to see.
The top source inside the club told exclusively told Hammers News on Sunday that West Ham’s owners are disappointed with Lopetegui’s treatment of Todibo.
The source revealed Lopetegui feels Todibo is ‘not tough enough for the Premier League at the moment’.
But West Ham fans have been arguing, justifiably, that the only way for players to adapt, get stronger and reach full match fitness is to play games.
That’s why supporters wanted the new players to be put straight in the team from the start. By now, most would be well up to speed and would know each other’s games.
Now fans will despair at Lopetegui’s new comments on the situation regarding Todibo and Soler.
Because while he did not want to give his team away for Wednesday’s game at Liverpool, Lopetegui appeared to cast doubt over whether Todibo or Soler could start.
“We’re going to try to be balanced, so we can compete at our best tomorrow,” Lopetegui said in his pre-match press conference.
“We’re focused on the game tomorrow – the first aim for us now is Anfield, and we have to be 100 per cent concentrated on that.
“All of the squad have to be ready…
“It’s true we have a lot of new players, and some who are new to England, but we are one team.
“They (Todibo and Soler) are still adapting, but we’re working for everyone to be able to contribute throughout the season.”
How Lopetegui can expect players to adapt to English football without actually playing English football is puzzling to say the least.
The board have even stated Todibo ‘deserves games’.
The Frenchman needs to start five Premier League matches to trigger his permanent move to West Ham.
So even if he does start at Liverpool it won’t count towards that.
Soler showed glimpses of his passing talent in the appearances against Chelsea and Fulham.
With Lucas Paqueta and his fellow midfielders out of form, he took has a case to be starting.
It seems Lopetegui is intent to continue drip-feeding new signings into the side, though.
Time will tell if that is the right approach.
Can Todibo Change The Narrative?
A hardly used West Ham star has been told to ‘“toughen up” if he wants to get a chance in the Premier League.
Frustratingly, West Ham have not been able to put their excellent Summer transfer window to good use as of yet. Out of their first 5 Premier League games, they have only managed to secure 4 points. While they need to improve across the pitch, it has once again been their defence that has been of real concern, despite bright starts from both Max Kilman and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Unfortunately, their backline has been non-existent at times, with a lot of that coming down to Mavropanos. As a result, fans have been crying out for new signing Jean-Clair Todibo to get his first league start for the Hammers, but Julen Lopetegui seems reluctant to give him that opportunity.
Todibo clearly has the ability, afterall he was one of Ligue 1’s best defenders, and there is a reason that both Manchester United and Juventus were so keen on signing the Frenchman. This has caused fans to speculate as to why he has not been played. Some have suggested that it could be an attitude problem, while some have claimed it’s due to his lack of a preseason. However, according to Sean Whetstone, it is more due to the fact he’s just a little short of being physically ready for English football.
Considering how they’ve started the campaign, something desperately needs to change in East London. Whether or not Todibo will be able to come in and instantly sort out the defence is unknown, but there is no harm in trying. The only way he is going to be able to adapt to the Premier League is by experiencing it first hand, hopefully this is something Lopetegui realises sooner rather than later.
