Liverpool will host West Ham United at Anfield on Sunday, looking to bounce back from the disappointing defeat against Fulham last time out.
Livdrpool are at the top of the Premier League table, and they will look to increase the gap to Arsenal after the game vs West Ham United on Sunday. It remains to be seen whether they can bounce back strongly and grind out a positive result at home.
With the Gunners closing in, Liverpool cannot afford to keep dropping points at this stage of the season despite being comfortably ahead atop the table. The Reds will be desperate to win the Premier League title, and it will be interesting to see if they can get the job done here.
Meanwhile, West Ham are coming into this game on the back of a four-match winless run in the Premier League. The East London outfit will be under pressure, and they will be desperate to bounce back.
The Hammers are 16th in the Premier League table, and they could easily be tracked into the relegation battle. Graham Potter will demand a strong showing from his player here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Arne Slot will be without Joe Gomez, who is still recovering from his hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold is sidelined with an ankle issue.
Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs West Ham United, with Alisson Becker in goal. Conor Bradley and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate will pair up alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will add defensive cover and control from the double pivot. Dominik Szoboszlai will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates as the attacking midfielder here. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo will add creativity and goals from the wide areas, with Diogo Jota leading the line for Liverpool vs West Ham.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Jota
West Ham United
Graham Potter continues to be without Michail Antonio, who is recovering from his injuries sustained in a car crash. Crysencio Summerville misses out with a hamstring issue, while Vladimir Coufal has a knock.
West Ham United will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Liverpool, with Alphonse Areola in goal. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things tight at the back and hit Liverpool on the break. Max Kilman will form the central defensive partnership alongside Konstantinos Mavropanos.
As for the midfield unit, Guido Rodriguez will start alongside Carlos Soler in the double pivot. They will look to add defensive cover and physicality to the midfield. James Ward-Prowse will start as the attacking midfielder here, and he will look to create goalscoring chances for his teammates.
Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus will add pace, flair, and goals from the wide areas. Finally, Danny Ings will lead the line for West Ham United vs Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Mavropanos, Emerson; Rodriguez, Soler; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Bowen; Ings
Key Stats
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in 22 of their last 24 matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have won their last nine home matches against West Ham in all competitions.
- 28 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams.
- West Ham are winless in the last four Premier League matches.
- Liverpool have lost three of the last four matches in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian International has 44 goal contributions in the Premier League this season, and he is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world. The veteran attacker is our key player to watch out for, and he will look to take advantage of West Ham’s defensive vulnerability. The visitors have looked quite fragile at the back in recent weeks, and they could struggle to contain the Liverpool star.
Meanwhile, Salah has not been at his best in his recent outings, and he will be desperate to get back to his best once again. After signing a new contract, he will look to make a defining contribution here. The Egyptian will look to get on the score sheet and create opportunities for his teammates. Liverpool will need Salah to step up and deliver if they want to grind out all three points.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United
Liverpool will be the favourites heading into this game, but this is going to be a close contest. Neither team will want to end up on the losing side, and Liverpool will have to be at their best to get a good result here.
The two sides have looked vulnerable defensively in recent weeks, and a high-scoring game could be on the cards. Liverpool have enough depth and quality in the attacking unit to grind out a narrow victory here. The Hard tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Arne Slot and his charges.
