Overjoyed by the news of Mohamed Salah‘s long-awaited contract extension, Liverpool fans descend on Anfield once again on Sunday afternoon, when West Ham United rock up for a Premier League fixture.
Both the league-leading Reds and bottom-half Irons are out to make swift returns to winning ways, after the hosts suffered a shock 3-2 loss at Fulham and Graham Potter‘s side played out a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in gameweek 31.
Match preview
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From “more out than in” to “more in than out” of Liverpool – as the Reds’ social media team highlighted in a humorous Friday morning tweet – the scintillating Salah ended months of speculation surrounding his future by agreeing a new two-year contract with the Merseyside titans.
Already boasting eight major trophies in the famous red jersey, Salah should be lifting trophy number nine and Premier League title number two come the end of the campaign, even if he and his Liverpool teammates were left shell-shocked at Craven Cottage last week.
For the first time in the Arne Slot era, Liverpool were condemned to an away defeat in the Premier League and just their second top-flight loss of the season, one that also marked their third reverse from their last four games after knockout heartbreaks against Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain.
However, Arsenal’s failure to get the better of Liverpool’s bitter rivals Everton means that the Reds still have a surely insurmountable 11-point advantage over the Gunners with just seven games remaining, meaning that just two more wins could wrap up the 2024-25 title.
While the picture from the last few weeks does not make for pleasant reading, Liverpool’s home form in the Premier League certainly does; they are on a five-game winning run in top-flight games at Anfield and are unbeaten in their last 13 since their humbling at the hands of Nottingham Forest.
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As Liverpool edge ever closer to the gold medal, West Ham United can edge ever closer to mathematical survival over the next couple of gameweeks, despite now failing to win any of their last four matches in the division following a four-goal spectacle with Bournemouth.
Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen cancelled out Evanilson‘s opener for the Cherries at the London stadium, but Bournemouth’s Brazilian marksman had the final say with the game’s fourth goal 11 minutes from time, thus denying West Ham a first top-flight success since late February.
However, with Southampton already down and the duo of Leicester City and Ipswich Town looking certain to join them, Potter’s 16th-placed side – who sit 15 points clear of the drop zone – can realistically start preparing for another year in the big time in 2025-26.
Holding one of the Premier League’s most peculiar away attacking records, the Irons have only failed to score in two of their 15 top-flight matches on the road this season, but they have only amassed a meagre 15 goals in that time, the fourth-fewest in the division.
In stark contrast, Liverpool have already put 10 goals past West Ham in a pair of EFL Cup and Premier League scraps this season, and the Reds could now become the first team in English football history to score five or more goals in three games against a single opponent in one season.
Team News
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Slot’s pre-game press conference was of course dominated by Salah reaction, but the Dutchman did deliver another piece of good news on the selection front, confirming that Alisson Becker will be fine to return in goal following a head injury.
However, Tyler Morton (shoulder), Joe Gomez (hamstring) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (ankle) are still on the treatment table, but the latter’s deputy Conor Bradley has been passed fit to start after making his comeback from a hamstring problem against Fulham.
Bradley for Curtis Jones is a simple switch that Slot will surely consider, while Salah will be desperate to celebrate his new deal by ending a four-game drought without a goal or assist in all competitions, one that would see him set a new all-time record for goal contributions in a 38-game Premier League season.
On West Ham’s side, Potter has confirmed that he expects to be working with an identical squad from the meeting with Bournemouth, although he did admit that the Hammers would have to make a late check on Fullkrug following his exploits last weekend.
The German striker did train with the team on Friday and is therefore expected to be passed fit, but Aaron Cresswell (muscle), Michail Antonio (leg) and Crysencio Summerville (thigh) remain out of contention for now.
Fullkrug would have likely been in contention to start Sunday’s game had it not been for this late doubt, so Bowen – who has been involved in six of West Ham’s last seven goals versus Liverpool – may continue in the number nine slot.
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Ward-Prowse; Kudus, Soler, Paqueta; Bowen
We say: Liverpool 2-0 West Ham United
Liverpool’s jellied legs may finally be feeling the effects of a long and gruelling season, but their UCL exit at least now allows them ample time to recover, the importance of which cannot be overstated.
Potter’s West Ham have previous when it comes to sitting in a low block, launching quick counters and stunning title-chasing teams away from home – as Arsenal fans know – but we have complete faith in the hosts to take another step towards title glory.
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