Liverpool face a tough Halloween test as they welcome West Ham to Anfield in Saturday Night Football.
At least one point could temporarily send Jurgen Klopp’s Red top whilst West Ham could climb into the ten with victory, although how high they could go depends on results earlier in the weekend swinging in their favour.
Team News
Fabinho is a major doubt for Liverpool after suffering a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Midtjylland.
Joel Matip could therefore replace Fabinho in defence if he can prove his fitness in time whilst Naby Keita (fitness), Thiago Alcantara (knee) and Konstantinos Tsimikas (thigh) could also be available for selection.
Virgil Van Dijk and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both remain absent with serious knee injuries.
West Ham will be without Michail Antonio due to a hamstring injury suffered in last weekend’s draw against Manchester City, with the winger being their only absentee.
Said Benrahma meanwhile could make his Hammers debut if he can prove his fitness in time.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight meetings against West Ham (W6, D2).
- West Ham have won just one of their last five league trips to Anfield (W1, D1, L3).
- Liverpool’s Sadio Mane has scored four goals in the Reds’ last three home games against West Ham.
- Jarrod Bowen is the only West Ham player to have produced more than one through ball in their opening six matches, doing so on two occasions.
- No Premier League striker coming into this weekend has produced more passes in the opening six rounds than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who has made 256 passes in six appearances.
Prediction
If there is one thing that could stop Liverpool winning a second consecutive Premier League crown, it has to be their own defence because if Matip isn’t fit to start, I genuinely reckon that they could be in trouble against a strong West Ham side here despite their quality attack who will have to step up and be clinical if want a positive result.
West Ham were excellent against a slow Man City team in the first-half last weekend, particularly on the flanks which could be a huge opportunity if can get past Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, given how weak the central defence could be if Klopp has to hand a debut Premier League start to Rhys Williams who could find himself with an instant tricky test of his quality.
Either way, I reckon that we will see goals here because either team are the most defensively solid this season but because it is Halloween and West Ham are in good form even though Antonio will be a loss, I can see a surprise defeat coming Liverpool’s way regardless of their impressive home league form since May 2017 if the Hammers can take full advantage of a vulnerable defence.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-2 West Ham
Result: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham
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