Liverpool will host West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday, look to continue their impressive start to the campaign.
Liverpool have picked up four wins and a draw from their first five league matches, and they are currently third in the league table heading into the game against West Ham United. The Reds will be looking to climb to the top of the standings with the win here.
Meanwhile, West Ham United have made an impressive start to the Premier League campaign as well picking up 10 points from their first five league matches. The Hammers are sixth in the league table and they will fancy their chances of pulling off an upset at Anfield tomorrow.
West Ham are coming into this game on the back of a defeat against Manchester City and they will look to bounce back strongly at Anfield.
Liverpool have picked up impressive results in recent weeks but they have shown vulnerability in most games. The Reds have made it a habit of conceding goals early on and it remains to be seen whether they can get over that problem.
Back at Anfield on Sunday for the visit of West Ham. 🏠#LIVWHU pic.twitter.com/NLND8wPZjj
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 22, 2023
Team News and Tactics
Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to be assessed ahead of the game, and he could be a part of the matchday squad after recovering from his hamstring problem. Meanwhile, Thiago Alcantara continues to recover from his groin injury and he is expected to miss out here.
Liverpool are likely to continue in their usual 4-3-3 formation, with Alisson Becker in goal. Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are likely to be deployed as the full-backs here, and they will look to help out creatively apart from their defensive responsibilities.
Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence. In the midfield, Curtis Jones is likely to be handed a start here alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
In the absence of a specialist defensive midfielder, all three players will be expected to work hard and protect the side defensively. Cody Gakpo is likely to lead the line here after Darwin Nunez started in the midweek. Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will start as the wingers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
West Ham United
The Hammers do not have any major injury issues ahead of this contest, and David Moyes should be able to field a full-strength lineup.
Alphonse Areola will start in goal for West Ham behind a back four of Vladimir Coufal, Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd and Emerson Palmieri. Coufal and Palmieri will look to protect the central defenders and keep players like Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah in check.
In the midfield pivot, Edson Alvarez will add defensive cover to the side alongside James Ward-Prowse who will add creativity and drive. Mohammed Kudus will be deployed as the central attacking midfielder here.
The summer signing will look to add creativity and goals to the side from the central areas. Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta could be deployed as the inverted attacking midfielders, with Michail Antonio leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson Palmieri; Alvarez, Ward-Prowse; Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta; Antonio
Key Stats
- Liverpool have won their last six home matches against West Ham United in all competitions.
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last 16 matches in the Premier League.
- 17 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between Liverpool and West Ham United.
- West Ham United have conceded at least once in each of their last six matches in all competitions.
- Jurgen Klopp has won nine of his 11 Premier League games as a manager against David Moyes (D1 L1). The only opponent he has a better record against is Eddie Howe, with 12 victories.
Key Player
Mohamed Salah
When Liverpool face West Ham, @MoSalah understands the assignment 📋 #LIVWHU pic.twitter.com/fweKQ12HgF
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 22, 2023
The 31-year-old Egyptian international started on the bench during the midweek, and he will be fresh for this game. Salah has been in impressive form, and he has picked up two goals and four assists in five league matches this season.
The Egyptian attacker has an impressive record against West Ham, and he will look to add to his tally against the Hammers tomorrow. Salah, whose future remains uncertain amid Saudi links, has 12 goal involvements in 12 appearances against West Ham, and he will look to help Liverpool create goal-scoring opportunities and find the back of the net.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United
Liverpool will be the favourites heading into this game, and they will be expected to pick up all three points here. The Reds have a much better squad on paper, and they should be able to find a way past West Ham. That said, West Ham are no pushovers and are likely to give Liverpool a run for their money.
The Reds cannot afford to be vulnerable defensively, and the Hammers have players like Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen in the final third who can take advantage of their frailties. This is likely to be a close contest, but a narrow Liverpool win is on the cards.
