Prediction: Liverpool vs West Ham

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 8/13

Bookmaker: 888sport

After both securing opening victories in the Europa League with remarkably similar come-from-behind wins, Premier League teams Liverpool and West Ham United return to domestic action at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Liverpool triumphed over LASK Linz 3-1 in the midweek clash, while West Ham also overcame a one-goal deficit to defeat TSC Backa Topola in their European encounter.

Liverpool

Liverpool has established a pattern of coming from behind to secure victories in the early weeks of the 2023-24 season. Just as they did at Molineux the previous weekend, Jurgen Klopp’s team overcame a slow start with a flurry of second-half goals.

Florian Flecker’s remarkable strike had put the Austrian side ahead in the Group E clash, marking Liverpool’s first Europa League match in over seven years. However, the Reds turned the tide with Darwin Nunez’s penalty, Luis Diaz’s first-time finish, and Mohamed Salah’s historic goal, securing maximum points.

Salah’s 42nd goal for Liverpool in European competitions, equalling Arsenal legend Thierry Henry’s record, also made Klopp the first Liverpool manager in history to achieve 50 continental victories. The team enters the weekend with a five-game winning streak in all competitions, despite conceding the first goal in four of those matches.

Liverpool has managed to counter their opponents by responding with even more determination. They currently occupy third place in the Premier League table, just two points behind Manchester City and trailing Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference. They have found the back of the net one less time than Spurs.

Despite their recent tendency to concede the first goal, Liverpool’s unbeaten run at Anfield in the Premier League extends to 14 matches, with their last defeat at home being Leeds United’s stunning 2-1 victory in October of the previous year. They have failed to score in just one of their last 44 top-flight matches at their Merseyside fortress.

Team News

Liverpool’s victory over LASK Linz did come with a slight concern as full debutant Ryan Gravenberch had to be substituted due to apparent fatigue, notably during the second half. Jurgen Klopp is optimistic that the Dutch midfielder’s issue was merely cramps, but it is still expected that Sunday’s game will come too soon for Trent Alexander-Arnold (hamstring) and Thiago Alcantara (hip) to make their competitive returns.

Considering that Klopp made a complete lineup change for the Europa League match, it’s anticipated that he will approve a similar set of alterations for the upcoming game against West Ham. This is especially likely as both Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, who each contributed a goal and an assist, played the full 90 minutes in the match against LASK Linz.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defenders Joel Matip and Andy Robertson, midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, as well as forwards Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Salah, are all expected to return to the starting XI.

West Ham

Angelo Ogbonna may have breathed a sigh of relief at the London Stadium on Thursday night after his error allowed TSC’s Petar Stanic to give the Serbian underdogs an unexpected lead in their Europa League opener. However, West Ham managed to turn the game in their favor, with a Nemanja Petrovic own-goal followed by headers from Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek.

James Ward-Prowse played a crucial role in both set-piece goals, continuing his impressive performances for the Hammers since joining from Southampton. Despite a recent loss to Manchester City where they conceded three goals, West Ham have had a strong start to the season and currently sits in sixth place in the Premier League with 10 points. However, they have yet to keep a clean sheet this term.

West Ham have achieved maximum points on the road against Brighton & Hove Albion and Luton Town so far this season. Nonetheless, they haven’t won three consecutive Premier League away games since October 2021, and they have suffered defeats in seven of their last eight league matches against Liverpool.

Team News

Edson Alvarez missed the TSC win to prevent an early-season burnout, but the former Ajax midfielder is expected to return immediately to the starting XI for the Anfield trip.

Alvarez’s return would leave the West Ham treatment room nearly empty, but there are concerns about Aaron Cresswell, who was substituted due to a hamstring issue at halftime during the Thursday match. Jarrod Bowen, who missed the same game due to a virus, will also need to be assessed.

Manager David Moyes faces a pleasant selection dilemma in attack, particularly after Mohammed Kudus’s standout performance in the Europa League. This could lead to the Ghanaian international being chosen over Tomas Soucek if Moyes opts for a more attacking lineup.

At the back, several changes are expected, with Alphonse Areola, Vladimir Coufal, Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd, and Emerson Palmieri all set to return. Danny Ings is likely to make way for Michail Antonio at the tip of the attack.

Conclusion

Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa earlier this month, every match featuring either of these teams has seen both rivals score at least once, and in all of their matches this season, both teams have managed to find the back of the net. This trend seems set to continue on Sunday, with an entertaining match with plenty of goal-scoring opportunities apparently on the cards.

Both Klopp and Moyes will have well-rested key players available for their respective starting lineups. While it’s probable that Liverpool will concede, given their recent defensive record, they are expected to take advantage of West Ham’s ongoing defensive vulnerabilities and secure their sixth consecutive victory.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 8/13

Bookmaker: 888sport