Graham Potter must look to bring Emerson back into his West Ham starting lineup immediately after their 2-1 defeat against Liverpool.
The Hammers were handed their 15th defeat of the season in the Premier League on Sunday, as they continue to sit just above the relegation zone.
Luis Diaz had given the Reds an early lead, but Potter’s side fought back well and challenged Liverpool throughout, eventually finding the back of the net via an Andy Robertson own goal late on.
However, they were unable to hang on to that and see out the game as Virgil van Dijk scored a last-minute winner for the Reds.
Ollie Scarles struggled against Mohamed Salah
Potter opted to give Oliver Scarles a start against Liverpool, which saw him come up against Mohamed Salah during his time on the pitch.
That proved to be a steep learning curve for the 19-year-old, and he ended up being brought off after 57 minutes as he struggled to get into the game.
Scarles only made 37 touches throughout the match while he failed to make a successful tackle as he couldn’t influence the game defensively or moving forward, constantly being tormented.
| Match Stats | Scarles |
| Ground duels won | 2/3 (67%) |
| Dribbled past | 1 |
| Defensive actions | 8 |
| Accurate passes | 19/24 (79%) |
Roy Keane highlighted how Salah gave him a tough time at Anfield as he stressed that he shouldn’t have allowed the Liverpool winger to get in behind, with little help from his teammates.
Emerson needs to bring experience back to West Ham
Scarles has proven during his appearances this season that he has a bright future in football, being someone who has the potential to be a regular in the Hammers team.
However, right now might not be the ideal time for Potter to be experimenting with youth given that they haven’t secured their Premier League status yet for next season.
West Ham sit 14 points above Ipswich Town right now, and while that does provide them with some breathing space, it will be important not to take that for granted.
That is why Potter should consider bringing Emerson back into the team for their next fixture against Southampton on Saturday (19 April).
His experience and quality from a defensive and offensive perspective make him a reliable squad member who can be counted on, and that’s what the Hammers need right now to get over the line.
