Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has praised in-form Hammers star Stewart Downing and admits he did not want the midfield wideman to leave Anfield.
The 30-year-old is currently in his second season at Upton Park and has been a key figure in West Ham’s rise up the table this campaign.
Back in September, Downing produced an impressive display as the east London club beat Liverpool 3-1.
The Reds go into Saturday’s return clash in the north-west with West Ham one point and one place ahead of them, and Rodgers says Downing’s excellent performances under Sam Allardyce should come as no surprise to anyone.
Rodgers said of Downing: "Stewart was one I did not want to let go.
"It was a difficult start for him but when we worked together at the beginning in the second part of the season he was one of the regular players so he wasn't someone who I wanted to move on.
"He has done very well at West Ham. He is a really gifted player technically, he has a wonderful technique, he plays games and trains every day and is a good guy, so it's not surprising to me how well he has done."
Another Hammer who used to play on Merseyside is Andy Carroll and Rodgers was also complimentary about the big striker.
He added: "Andy is a fantastic football player. He has quality and ability around the box.
"I just felt in terms of how I play, and maybe how the team operates, that he might not have been a regular player because of the movement and the speed at which we try to work.
"But that doesn't mean he is a bad player. He is an outstanding player and when he is fit he has shown that at West Ham."
As for trying to avenge the result at Upton Park four months ago, Rodgers said: "It's a different team now and we have a different mentality.
"I think at that point in time we were struggling. We were trying to play with the same flow and the same rhythm but we just couldn't find it at that time.
“I think you see now the confidence in the team. I think we've returned to the top level."
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