West Ham

The former Chelsea coach is currently helping Hammers chief Gianfranco Zola mastermind their survival in the top flight and is in bullish mood ahead of Monday night’s trip to Liverpool, who in their own way have flopped as badly as the east Londoners this season (Liverpool 1/3, draw 18/5, West Ham 9/1).

West Ham have not won at Anfield in almost 50 years but Clarke reckons he has seen enough over the last few weeks of the campaign to travel in good heart.

He told the club’s website: “When I first went into coaching I was challenging for trophies at the other end of the table, but there is pressure on that as well. In every football match, there is pressure involved.

“That’s why we do it and what we’re in the game for.”

The weekend has been kind to the Hammers so far after Burnley were beaten and Hull could only draw at Birmingham, so Zola and Clarke will be keen viewers as fellow strugglers Wigan entertain Arsenal on Sunday.

Barring a massive shock at the DW Stadium, a win for West Ham at Liverpool would move them up to 16th place, six points clear of the drop zone, and while that prospect might appear fanciful to the neutral, Clarke is fully behind his side (West Ham 9/2 to go down).

He added: “We’ll focus on the fixture on Monday night at Liverpool and, if we continue doing what we have been doing, we’ll be OK.

“Obviously the last couple of results were good for us and we have to build on them. The finishing line is in sight and we have to keep going.

“It’s been a difficult season right from the start, but we’re still in there fighting.

“We have to achieve the objective of staying in the Premier League and we’re all confident we can do that.”

West Ham’s mission could be boosted by events in Iceland – positive ones for a change.

After the banking crisis saw the Hammers taken over by asset management company, CB Holdings, a subsidiary of its then main creditor, the Icelandic bank Straumur, almost 12 months on the volcanic eruption has hampered Reds striker Fernando Torres’ bid to visit a Barcelona-based knee specialist.

Kop chief Rafa Benitez does not want to risk the Spain ace until he has been given the once-over, but the volcanic ash cloud has hampered the former Atletico Madrid ace’s journey to the Catalan capital.

Liverpool also look set to have to field Daniel Agger at left-back again as a temporary measure following injuries to Emiliano Insua and Fabio Aurelio.

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