Liverpool welcome West Ham to Anfield in a huge top of table of clash as both teams chase the title and Champions League qualification respectively.
Victory would see Liverpool reduce their deficit to league leaders – Manchester City down to just three points, whereas West Ham can go fourth with a win.
Team News
Curtis Jones is a doubt for Liverpool after suffering a knock to his thigh in Wednesday’s FA Cup win over Norwich.
Naby Keita (knock) is also considered a doubt but Joel Matip (illness), Roberto Firmino (muscle) and Thiago Alcantara (hamstring) are ruled out.
West Ham could be without Tomas Soucek after he suffered a head injury in Wednesday’s FA Cup defeat at Southampton.
Ryan Fredericks (groin), Aaron Cresswell and Mark Noble (both knocks) remain absent.
Angelo Ogbonna, Arthur Masuaku (both knee), Andriy Yarmolenko (personal) and Vladimir Coufal (hernia) remain ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool have lost just one of their last five meetings against West Ham (W4, L1).
- West Ham have claimed just one point from their last five visits to Anfield (D1, L4).
- Liverpool have scored at least twice in each of their last five meetings against West Ham.
- Six of Liverpool’s last nine league goals at home have been scored by the pairing of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who have both netted three goals in the Reds’ last two home league matches.
- David Moyes’ Hammers are looking to do the league double over Liverpool for the first time since 2015-16 season.
Prediction
Despite being taken through extra-time and penalties in Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final, Liverpool did well to avoid any hangover effects in Wednesday’s FA Cup victory over Norwich because they were clinical and looked in control for much of the match.
West Ham meanwhile know that this is a must-win match in their chase of a top four finish but they need to improve here, following a disappointing midweek loss because they just lacked the final touch up front on top of various lacklustre defensive marking moments.
On that note, I feel like this will be a home win if Liverpool are at their best and West Ham fail to improve their overall game across the pitch, otherwise I can see a tough battle here which is what West Ham need for their chances of a top four finish.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham
Result: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
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