cheikhou kouyate has warned west ham must be ready to face a scrap with liverpool for a champions league qualifying spot .
the barclays premier league champions have seen their title defence left in tatters following a run of four defeats in six matches , thrashed 4-2 at rivals united last week .
senegal midfielder kouyate expects city to produce a response , but also one from sam allardyce 's squad , who have failed to find consistency over the second half of the season to drop out of contention for the european places .