Liverpool will be eager to take another huge step towards the Premier League title when they take on West Ham United at Anfield on April 13.
The Reds have been a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League this season and are running away with the English holy grail, leaving their hapless title challengers Arsenal in their wake.
Arne Slot’s side boast a near-spotless record in the league.
Only surprise package Nottingham Forest have managed to beat them – at Anfield nonetheless – but other than that, Liverpool have swatted aside every obstacle in their path.
Now on the cusp of a second league title in five years, Liverpool will be eager to add bottom-half strugglers West Ham to their list of casualties for the second time this season.
The last time both sides locked horns, Liverpool obliterated the Hammers in their own backyard.
The Irons have since switched managers, but that hasn’t improved their fortunes, and you wouldn’t write off the possibility of another humiliation at Anfield.
At the time of writing, Liverpool maintain a healthy 12-point lead in the standings with eight games remaining and can only be stopped by divine intervention.
Unlike their East London counterparts, who have nothing left to fight for, the Reds will be keen to wrap up the title as early as possible.
Fans will buy Liverpool vs West Ham tickets from Seatsnet.com eager to watch Slot’s side take another huge step towards glory.
Head to Head
Liverpool haven’t lost a Premier League game at Anfield against West Ham since a dramatic 3-0 loss in August 2015 that saw a goal inside the opening five minutes, eight bookings, and two players sent off.
Since then, the Reds have gone eight games unbeaten against West Ham in Merseyside, winning the last seven in a row.
West Ham’s most recent win against Liverpool came in November 2021 when an Alisson own goal coupled with a brace of assists from Jarrod Bowen inspired the Hammers to a 3-2 win in East London.
They have since gone eight games without a win against Liverpool across all competitions (D1, L7).
Liverpool dismantled West Ham 5-0 the last time both sides locked horns in the Premier League.
That win came at the London Stadium, but the Reds have also beaten West Ham at Anfield this season – another 5-1 thrashing in the third round of the EFL Cup.
Potter will be hoping for a better result when his side head to Anfield, but another Liverpool win is the more likely outcome, with Slot’s side charging towards the Premier League title.
Liverpool
Unlike many Premier League managers, Slot hasn’t had a myriad of injury problems to deal with this season, but he could be forced into a couple of changes when West Ham visit Merseyside.
Alisson returned from international duty with a concussion that kept him out of the Merseyside derby against Everton, although the Reds got the job done without their first-choice goalkeeper.
Slot will love nothing more than to have Alisson back for the West Ham game, but if the Brazilian still doesn’t get the all-clear, the ever-reliable Caoimhin Kelleher will get a rare shot between the sticks.
Right back is another area of huge concern for Slot. Vice-captain and contract rebel Trent Alexander-Arnold is out, along with Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley.
Of the injured trio, Bradley is the closest to returning to full fitness, but while Liverpool are still sweating over his health, Slot could once again turn to Curtis Jones as a makeshift right back.
Jarell Quansah is available, but Jones impressed at right back against Everton and could keep his spot against West Ham.
Barring any further injury woes, the Englishman will be joined by Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Andrew Robertson in defence.
Liverpool should remain the same across other areas of the pitch. Alexis Mac Allister should continue to anchor the midfield alongside Ryan Gravenberch.
Reds talisman Mohamed Salah will be one of the first names on the team sheet. He’d line up alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz, and Diogo Jota as Liverpool’s front four.
(4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota.
West Ham
Potter has stuck with a back three system since taking over from Julen Lopetegui as he looks to plug the gaps in West Ham’s leaky rearguard.
That has done little to stem the bleeding, but it ensures continuity until a radical squad overhaul in the summer, so the English manager should continue that trend when his side visits Anfield.
Alphonse Areola is poised to retain his place between the sticks and should be protected by a familiar back three featuring Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman, and the veteran Aaron Cresswell.
Potter has tinkered with his midfield on a couple of occasions, but Edson Alvarez will likely act as the anchor, flanked by playmaker Lucas Paqueta and the towering Tomas Soucek.
Oliver Scarles has won the heart of the manager, snatching a first-team slot from Emerson and should continue at left wing-back while Aaron Wan-Bissaka lines up on the opposite flank.
Evan Ferguson has struggled to find his feet in west London since joining on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion in January, so Hammers fans will breathe a sigh of relief that Niclas Fullkrug has returned from injury.
Ferguson might have the favour of the manager, but Fullkrug will expect to lead the line against Liverpool alongside Hammers skipper and talisman Bowen.
(3-5-2): Areola; Cresswell, Kilman, Mavropanos; Scarles, Paqueta, Alvarez, Soucek, Wan-Bissaka; Fullkrug, Bowen.
Ticket Information
Want to experience the thrill of Premier League football live? Secure your tickets through official club websites.
For great deals and a wide selection of seats, especially for Liverpool games, check out Liverpool tickets at Seatsnet.com, a reliable marketplace for finding tickets to every Premier League fixture.
How to Watch in the United Kingdom
Catch all the action of the 2024/25 Premier League season on Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Amazon Prime Video.
Sky Sports offers the most comprehensive coverage with 128 live matches, followed by TNT Sports with 52 games, and Amazon Prime Video with 20 exclusive streams.
No matter your preference, there’s a way to watch your favourite team play.
