OPINION
West Ham arguably should have took all three points against Liverpool on Monday as they looked like a well-oiled machine during the 1-1 draw with the Premier League title contenders.
The Hammers had many opportunities in front of goal to put themselves ahead but their forwards just couldn’t take their chances.
While Marko Arnautovic, who was absence due to injury on Monday, seems the obvious solution to improving the Hammers’ in front of goal for their next game with Crystal Palace given he has scored eight goals this season, Manuel Pellegrini should avoid using him.
This is the case even though the Hammers have been handed a boost for their trip to Palace with Claret & Hugh reporting that the powerful forward is due to be available for selection with him fit once again.
It would be a blunder to call Arnautovic back into the team for three reasons.
Firstly the attacker seem to unsettle his side’s form in January with there being a lot of talk about whether he was going to leave, and having him on the pitch still seems like a distraction.
Secondly Arnautovic didn’t look in tip-top form against Wolves ahead of sustaining injury in that match and there’s no guarantee putting him straight back in the line-up will work despite some of his other performances this season.
Thirdly the 29-year-old forward has had niggles throughout the season and doesn’t seem to be given enough time to get over them due to the Hammers instantly calling him back as soon as possible, and it seems he’d benefit from the extra games rest.
Also when you consider that every member of the Hammers’ team that featured against Liverpool will be feeling confident after a great result, there’s no saying they don’t already have enough to beat Crystal Palace without calling on Arnautovic to aid them.
Pellegrini should therefore boldly snub the reported selection boost being handed to him, despite Arnautovic arguably being the club’s star player on paper, and take the risk that his other forwards can get the job done against Roy Hodgson’s side.