West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce has explained the mystery behind his stitches.

Big Sam, 58, is nursing four stitches in his nut and will be sporting a black eye when he leads out the Hammers at Liverpool tomorrow.

He arrived for a Press conference yesterday with a plaster over his right eye after slipping over in a 'kitchen accident'.

The former Bolton defender hopes the bruises will help put the frighteners on Liverpool.

But he admitted: "I recommend not having a marble worktop. I'd say it won hands down."