Liverpool go host relegation-threatened West Ham United for Premier League clash at Anfield on Saturday as dem dey fight to keep hope alive for Champions League qualification. West Ham dey come for revenge after dem lose 2-0 to Liverpool for reverse fixture three months back at London Stadium.
Match Preview
Liverpool get record say dem don score more goals for 90th minute or later than any other team this season (13 – 7 for, 6 against). Nine of those goals don change outcome of games, including three winning goals. Last dramatic win na last weekend wen Alexis Mac Allister score 97th minute goal to secure 1-0 away win against Nottingham Forest, after VAR cancel im earlier goal.
Last year this time, Liverpool dey 12 points clear for top of table with 66 points before dem win title. Now dem dey sixth, 21 points worse off, level with Chelsea in fifth, just three points behind Man United for fourth after 27 games.
Reds don win last two Premier League matches 1-0 (Forest and Sunderland), dem dey aim third successive win without conceding. Liverpool don lose only once of last 19 league meetings with West Ham (W15 D3), winning seven of last eight since 3-2 defeat away in Nov 2021.
West Ham dey struggle for Premier League survival. Dem don collect 11 points from last six matches (W3 D2 L1), same as dem collect from previous 18 league games (W2 D5 L11). Five points na Feb: 2-0 win at Burnley, draw 1-1 with Man United, 0-0 with Bournemouth. Dem dey 18th, two points from safety. Most West Ham goals dey first half (59% – 19/32). Liverpool first half goals lowest this season (31% – 13/42).
History no favour West Ham for Anfield: dem don win only once of last 52 away PL games there (D12 L39), last win 3-0 in Aug 2015. Dem don also lose 26 of 29 away games against previous season PL champions.
Team News
Liverpool: Florian Wirtz dey out after back problem in warm-up. Alexander Isak (leg), Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni (knee), Wataru Endo (ankle) dey out too. Jeremie Frimpong fit return at right-back, make Dominik Szoboszlai shift midfield for creative role. Cody Gakpo dey risk lose starting spot to 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha or Federico Chiesa. Salah and Ekitike go start.
West Ham: Freddie Potts dey serve second of three-match ban. Pablo Felipe (calf) and backup goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (back) dey out. Nuno fit switch to back five, Jean-Clair Todibo fit join Konstantinos Mavropanos and Axel Disasi for centre-back. Wing-backs: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, El Hadji Malick Diouf. Midfield: Mateus Fernandes, Tomas Soucek, Soungoutou Magassa. Attack: Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen, Valentin Castellanos.
Possible Lineups
Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
West Ham United: Hermansen; Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi; Wan-Bissaka, Fernandes, Magassa, Diouf; Bowen, Summerville; Castellanos
Prediction
Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United
West Ham don improve this year and fit frustrate Liverpool. Liverpool home form mixed (W4 D3 L3), but dem still favourites. If attackers find form, Slot’s men go secure win.
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