Liverpool will look to climb into the top four of the Premier League table, for a day at least, as they welcome relegation-threatened West Ham United to Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Liverpool have bounced back from their dramatic late loss at home to Manchester City by recording back-to-back 0-1 victories away at Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, with Alexis Mac Allister’s 97th-minute winner at the City Ground on Sunday helping land a 4/5 winner.
That result moves Arne Slot’s men level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea, and the Reds can leapfrog the Blues, for 24 hours at least, if they claim just their second Premier League victory in their last five at Anfield.
West Ham would’ve been left frustrated last weekend as they couldn’t find a breakthrough against Bournemouth, as they drew 0-0 at home to the Cherries.
Nevertheless, Nuno’s visitors have lost just one of their previous six Premier League outings (W3-D2-L1), meaning they travel to Anfield just two points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest and four behind Spurs.
How the bookies view it: Liverpool favourites
Liverpool are favourites to clinch a third consecutive win in the Premier League for the first time since the end of December, with bet365 pricing a home success at 2/5.
West Ham are 6/1 underdogs to clinch a third away Premier League win from their last four, whilst the draw is 15/4.
Head to head: Reds dominance
This is a fixture Liverpool have dominated in recent years, with the Reds winning seven of the last eight meetings with the Hammers (W7-D1-L0), losing just one of the past 19 clashes (W15-D3-L1).
West Ham have won just one of their 29 Premier League visits to Anfield (W22-D6-L1), losing each of the last eight.
Players to watch: Dom to deliver again?
Dominik Szoboszlai has arguably been Liverpool’s most consistent player this season, scoring 10 goals and providing seven assists in all competitions.
The Hungarian international has seven of those goal contributions across his previous nine matches in all competitions for Arne Slot’s side, and the 10/11 on offer at bet365 for him to Score or Assist on Saturday appeals to me.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Liverpool will still be missing Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo and Alexander Isak through injury, whilst Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz are doubts.
West Ham will be without the injured Lukasz Fabianski and Pablo Felipe, as well as the suspended Freddie Potts.
Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, MacAllister, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Salah, Ekitike
West Ham United: Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf, Soucek, Magassa, Summerville, Fernandes, Bowen, Castellanos
Anything else catch the eye?
West Ham have been in resurgent form in recent weeks, but they have a terrible record against Liverpool and especially at Anfield.
The Hammers have won on just one of their previous 52 league visits to Anfield – losing each of their previous eight – and I’m backing the Reds to continue that trend on Saturday.
Arne Slot’s hosts have kept just four clean sheets at home in the Premier League this season, so combining a home win and both teams to score pays 6/4 at bet365 – a selection that has landed in each of West Ham’s previous two trips to Anfield.
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