West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has indicated that he is happy to face Liverpool during the early weeks of the season.

The Hammers are targeting an improved campaign having made nine summer signings, but the East London outfit will be underdogs when playing Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

However, despite facing a stern test this weekend, Pellegrini is content with getting a trip to the Merseyside giants out of the way as the earliest opportunity.

At a press conference, the Chilean told reporters: "At some moment in the season you have to play Liverpool away, so better to start with them. I know that they have very good moment with a lot of trust in what they are doing, getting to the Champions League final last season.

"In football the results can be depending just on two or three balls that change, we have a lot of trust to go there and see what we can do."

Pellegrini has replaced David Moyes in the dugout at the London Stadium.