The Premier League leaders round off 2024 away to West Ham on Sunday night.
The Reds still boast a good buffer at the top and can extend their lead over second-placed Arsenal to nine points if they win in east London.
Arne Slot’s side have hardly put a foot wrong during the first half of the season and will be competing on multiple fronts down under. They were, of course, in a similar position last year before fading, so the Dutchman will be happy to oversee alternate campaign ending.
Liverpool win over Leicester on Boxing Day means they have won 13 of their first 17 league games and are on course for a season with 93 points.
Sunday’s opponents, West Ham, have settled in over the past month but have yet to inspire under Julen Lopetegui. The Hammers are unbeaten since losing to Leicester on December 5, but the jury is still out on their Spanish manager.
They have been fortunate to earn positive results in their previous two away games against Brighton and Southampton, but their progress means they will go into Sunday’s contest 13th in the table.
Here 90 minutes a guide to West Ham in relation to Liverpool.
West Ham vs Liverpool H2H record (last five matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
West Ham |
Liverpool |
|---|---|
|
Southampton 0-1 West Ham – 26.12.24 |
Liverpool 3-1 Leicester – 26.12.24 |
|
West Ham 1-1 Brighton – 21.12.24 |
Tottenham 3-6 Liverpool – 22.12.24 |
|
Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham – 16.12.24 |
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool – 18.12.24 |
|
West Ham 2-1 Wolves – 12.09.24 |
Liverpool 2-2 Fulham – 14.12.24 |
|
Leicester 3-1 West Ham – 12.03.24 |
Girona 0-1 Liverpool – 12.10.24 |
|
Earth |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
Great Britain |
Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Ultra HD |
|
United States |
fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, Telemundo |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 3 Canada |
Lukasz Fabianski has impressed of late for the Hammers, but in the win over Southampton and is expected to miss Sunday. Alphonse Areola will replace the experienced Pole.
Max Kilman was another casualty of the Boxing Day triumph, but the defender is more likely to feature despite a shoulder injury. Carlos Soler is also questionable, while midfielder duo Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez are suspended.
Michail Antonio is out for an indefinite period.
Predicted line-up for West Ham vs Liverpool (4-1-4-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez; Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus, Summerville; Full circle.
Slot confirmed that Liverpool will once again be without Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate for their final appearance of the calendar year. However, the Reds have yet to be troubled by new concerns.
The Dutchman has to be wary of exhaustion given his busy schedule, but there is unlikely to be any big changes from the Boxing Day XI.
Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the Premier League season against Leicester, while Luis Diaz could again be used in a central attacking position with Sloto keen to manage Diogo Jota’s minutes carefully. Darwin Nunez didn’t do enough to keep his starting spot.
Predicted line-up of Liverpool against West Ham (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Diaz.
The two sides met in the Carabao Cup earlier this season, with Liverpool winning 5-1 at Anfield. This should be a tighter game with West Ham hosting the last away game of 2024, but Lopetegui’s side will require the Reds to be drastically off the mark to grab a result.
The Hammers, in short, were not very good. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what they do well. Lopetegui has shown some tactical variation, but West Ham remain the weaker side without the ball and rely on the energy of Jarrod Bowen and the skill of Mohammed Kudus to inspire attack.
Their midfield is a non-entity and Liverpool should have their way with them on Sunday. However, hints of red fatigue can make this fight closer than you might imagine.
Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Liverpool
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