This should be an intriguing game between two teams with plenty to fight for. Liverpool will not have given up on the possibility of sneaking into the top four, despite their odds of being able to do that have gone to 16/1. West Ham are looking a bit better after the last couple of weeks but if they have a bad result and the teams below them get a result then they are right back in the relegation mix.
Rafa Benitez has had a torrid time this season and when you look at the investment in the squad last summer it is easy to see why. It is only now that top players Torres and Gerrard have been performing that results have picked up. It might be too little too late, and things will be that little bit more difficult now that Torres appears to be unavailable again.
Gianfranco Zola came under intense media scrutiny recently after a few very poor results, but it has to be said that after being publicly castigated by his own chairman he has come back fighting with a couple of great results which has created a little bit of breathing space for them above the relegation zone. West Ham are now four points clear of closest chasers Burnley and they will feel that a result here would push them fairly close to safety. West Ham have a couple of injury absentees, and unfortunately that includes their talismanic leader on the pitch Scott Parker, who has been so influential in recent weeks. They will benefit of Carlton Cole who appears to be returning to form at just the right time. I would love West Ham to stay in the top flight but I don’t think the result of this game is going to help them. With Liverpool so strong at home I can only see this result going one way.
Verdict: Liverpool Home Win
Odds: 3/10
Bookmaker: Sporting Bet
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