West Ham United vs Liverpool FC: Probable Line-ups, Prediction, Tactics, Betting Odds and Key Stats

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool visit the London Stadium to entertain West Ham United as they continue their battle to seal a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Champions League qualification is the agenda for Klopp and after drawing at home to Southampton, the German will be looking at nothing short of three points on their first visit to the London Stadium.

That said, Liverpool’s recent history with West Ham indicates things won’t be any easier for them on Sunday. Since taking over the reigns at the club, Slaven Bilic has come away with 2 wins and a draw from his three encounters against the Reds.

The Hammers may have endured a largely mediocre season this time around but their victory over city rivals Tottenham Hotspur last week will have sounded a timely reminder to Klopp regarding their capabilities.

From genuinely looking like title contenders during the first half of the season, Liverpool stumbled their way through a tumultous period in January and February when they seemingly forgot to win a game, until they eventually managed to grind their way into the midst of a top 4 challenge.

Liverpool’s campaign hasn’t been short of drama, excitement and frustration in equal measure. Jurgen Klopp’s team have certainly lacked the exuberance, confidence and ruthlessness that marked their performances early on in the season primarily owing to their frequent injury troubles.

Team News and Tactics

West Ham United

It has been a tough transition from the Boleyn to the London Stadium but during last week’s spectacular 1-0 victory over city rivals Tottenham Hotspur, the Hammers and their loyal band of supporters showed signs of warming up to their new home.

Slaven Bilic & co will be without the services of Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate. Even star-striker Andy Carroll is a potential doubt for the Saturday clash as the manager concedes it is a case of ‘touch and go’ and the team may be forced to wait until before the game to decide regarding the player’s availability.

The Hammers are limited in attacking options with Diafra Sakho out for the season and Gokhan Tore failing to see game time since December. Manuel Lanzini has been a potent attacking threat up top but with Liverpool’s noticeable weakness in the air and set-pieces, Bilic would love to line-up Carroll against his former team.

West Ham United's Croatian manager Slaven Bilic gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at The London Stadium, in east London on May 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Ian KINGTON / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
West Ham United’s Croatian manager Slaven Bilic gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at The London Stadium, in east London on May 5, 2017. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)

The Londoners also have the services of Andre Ayew and 23-year-old Calleri up front and will hope they can cause a shaky Reds back-line considerable problems on the night.

The Hammers are a much changed outfit from their visit to Anfield in December devoid of the services of Antonio, Ogbonna, Arbeloa and Obiang, all of whom are out for the season. The club also lost out on their creative mastermind Dimitri Payet as the player forced a move back to his former club Olympique Marseille.

However despite these numerous injury worries, West Ham have managed to put out a decent run of form and, with victory on Sunday, potentially stand the chance of jumping up to 9th spot on the Premier League table.

Possible Starting XI (3-4-1-2) : Adrian; Fonte, Collins, Reid; Byram, Fernandes, Nordtveit, Cresswell; Lanzini; Ayew, Calleri.

Liverpool FC

With two games left to play, it’s surprising that Liverpool have yet failed to nail down their top four place yet. From having their Champions League firmly in their hands to throwing it away until eventually having it handed back to them, Liverpool’s challenge has been a comical case of passing the parcel.

Klopp, though, will want to have none of these nervous games as they approach their penultimate fixture in a tricky tie against West Ham. The Reds could potentially be without the services of Roberto Firmino and Lucas Leiva as they were case as fitness doubts by Jurgen Klopp.

Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana, both of whom came off the bench last week, should be expected to start in their absence. The former has scored goals and tormented West Ham in the past and it’s an experience Liverpool should look to pounce upon.

Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino (L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho during the English Premier League football match between Stoke City and Liverpool at the Bet365 Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, central England on April 8, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Lindsey PARNABY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)
Roberto Firmino has almost regularly done the job for the Reds playing his role as a centre forward and in recent weeks has begun to show signs of rust as a result of which Klopp may consider giving the player some much needed rest. (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)

The Reds’ 4-3-3 formation has been hardly enough to penetrate compact opposition in recent weeks especially with the absence of players like Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson.

Klopp has spoken about playing Coutinho in a more central role in his press conference on Friday and that could potentially mean the adopting of a 4-3-1-2 line-up with the Brazilian lining up behind Sturridge and Origi up top.

Whether England international Daniel Sturridge’s loyalties lie at Liverpool at the end of the transfer window or not, there is little questioning his striking prowess and Klopp has to optimize it at a time when goals have been in scarce supply for the Reds.

Possible Starting XI (4-4-2 Diamond) : Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Milner; Lallana, Can, Wijnaldum, Coutinho; Origi, Sturridge.

Key Stats

  • West Ham are unbeaten in five league and cup games against Liverpool, winning three of those matches. They have never gone six matches undefeated against the Reds.
  • The Hammers have won their last three home games against Liverpool.
  • The Reds have kept one clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League visits to West Ham, in a 3-0 victory in May 2009.
  • None of the last 11 Premier League meetings in east London have ended level, with West Ham winning four and Liverpool claiming seven victories since a 1-1 draw in December 2001.
  • If Liverpool win at the London Stadium, it will be the 52nd different venue where they have claimed a Premier League victory, more than any other side.

Player to watch out for

Liverpool FC: Daniel Sturridge

Liverpool's English striker Daniel Sturridge (C) vies with Hull City's Scottish defender Andrew Robertson (L) and Hull City's English defender Harry Maguire during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Hull City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on September 24, 2016. / AFP / Geoff CADDICK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read GEOFF CADDICK/AFP/Getty Images)
Sturridge may potentially bow out in the summer transfer window but he could yet have a vital say in Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions. (Photo credit should read GEOFF CADDICK/AFP/Getty Images)

Should he play, Daniel Sturridge will definitely be the man to watch out for the Reds. The 27-year-old was effective when he came off the bench for the Reds last week against a compact Southampton side and nearly managed to earn the winner for them.

With a lack of goals in the team off-late, Liverpool could use a genuine strike up-top to finish off the business at the London Stadium.

Prediction

West Ham United 0-2 Liverpool FC

Yes, it may seem like a bold prediction in hindsight keeping in mind the Reds frailties in defence and their dubious record against the Hammers, but they have occasionally shown the ability to keep things tight at the back. With Champions League qualification on their minds one would expect the players to amp it up and deliver the goods for their side.

That said, it will be no surprise if West Ham manage to give the Reds a scare they don’t need, and at this stage one they absolutely cannot afford especially when Manchester City and Arsenal are right under their skins for the top 4 places.

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