Stewart Downing: West Ham will make it difficult for Liverpool

Stewart Downing has warned Liverpool to expect a testing encounter when they come up against some familiar faces at West Ham on Sunday.

The Reds head to Upton Park looking for a victory to keep their place at the top of the Premier League table after Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing of Tottenham.

We’ll make it hard for them at our place. We fancy ourselves against anyone at home

Stewart Downing

Downing moved to east London from Anfield last summer with Andy Carroll, while Joe Cole left Merseyside for Upton Park in January 2013.

And former Liverpool midfielder Downing is backing Sam Allardyce’s men to make life difficult for Brendan Rodgers’ title chasers.

“It’s nice to play against your old teams and I’m sure Andy and Joe Cole are looking forward to it,” Downing told the West Ham’s website.

“We’re in for that top 10 spot and it’s tight, so we want to do ourselves and the other teams a favour.

“[Liverpool’s] forward line is frightening at the minute. The goals are coming from everywhere, but we’ll make it hard for them at our place.

“When I was playing for Liverpool it was always hard against West Ham at Upton Park.

“It’s going to be difficult, but a good win on Monday [at Sunderland] breeds confidence and we fancy ourselves against anyone at home.”