Prediction: Liverpool vs West Ham

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 13/12

Bookmaker: BetUS

Buoyed by the announcement of Mohamed Salah’s long-anticipated contract renewal, Liverpool fans will flock to Anfield once more on Sunday afternoon as West Ham United arrive for a Premier League showdown.

Both the table-topping Reds and mid-table Irons will be eager to bounce back quickly, with the hosts reeling from a surprise 3-2 defeat at Fulham and Graham Potter’s men having drawn 2-2 with Bournemouth in gameweek 31.

Liverpool

From being “more out than in” to now “more in than out” at Liverpool – as the club’s social media team cheekily noted in a Friday morning post – Mohamed Salah has put months of uncertainty to rest by signing a new two-year deal with the Merseyside giants.

With eight major honours already to his name in Liverpool red, Salah appears on course to claim a ninth and a second Premier League title this season, despite the Reds being stunned by a 3-2 defeat at Craven Cottage last weekend.

That loss marked the first away league defeat of the Arne Slot era and just Liverpool’s second Premier League setback of the campaign, following recent disappointments in other competitions at the hands of Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain – making it three defeats in their last four outings.

Even so, with Arsenal unable to beat fierce rivals Everton, Liverpool maintain what seems to be an unassailable 11-point lead over the Gunners with only seven matches left, meaning just two more wins could seal the 2024/25 crown. Four would do it regardless of what Arsenal may do.

While recent results have been far from ideal, Liverpool’s form at Anfield remains strong. They have won five Premier League home games on the bounce and are unbeaten in their last 13 top-flight matches there since a shock defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Team News

Naturally, Salah’s contract dominated discussion at Slot’s pre-match press conference, but the Dutchman also had more positive news, confirming Alisson Becker is fit to return in goal after recovering from a head injury.

However, Tyler Morton (shoulder), Joe Gomez (hamstring), and Trent Alexander-Arnold (ankle) remain sidelined. Still, there’s a boost at right-back as Conor Bradley has been cleared to start following his return from a hamstring issue against Fulham.

A straight swap between Bradley and Curtis Jones is a likely option for Slot, while Salah, keen to mark his new contract in style, will be eager to end a four-game goal contribution drought and set a new all-time record for goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League season.

West Ham

As Liverpool inch ever closer to Premier League glory, West Ham can move a step nearer to securing their top-flight status over the coming gameweeks, despite now going four league matches without a win following a high-scoring draw with Bournemouth.

Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen responded to Evanilson’s early strike for the Cherries at the London Stadium, but the Brazilian forward had the final word with a late goal 11 minutes from time, extending West Ham’s winless Premier League run since late February.

Even so, with Southampton already relegated and both Leicester City and Ipswich Town seemingly destined to follow, Graham Potter’s 16th-placed side – 15 points clear of the drop – can realistically begin planning for another Premier League campaign in 2025/26.

Possessing one of the league’s oddest away attacking records, West Ham have scored in 13 of their 15 top-flight road games this season, yet have only managed 15 away goals overall – the fourth-lowest tally in the division.

In sharp contrast, Liverpool have already scored 10 times against the Hammers across the Premier League and EFL Cup this season, and now have the chance to become the first English club to net five or more goals against the same opponent in three matches in a single campaign.

Team News

Potter has stated that he expects to have the same squad available as the one that faced Bournemouth, though the Hammers will assess Fullkrug’s fitness closer to kickoff after his efforts last weekend.

The German forward did train with the squad on Friday and is therefore likely to be passed fit, but Aaron Cresswell (muscle), Michail Antonio (leg), and Crysencio Summerville (thigh) remain sidelined.

Had it not been for this late fitness concern, Fullkrug would have been a strong candidate to start on Sunday, but Bowen – who has had a hand in six of West Ham’s last seven goals against Liverpool and was even linked with the Merseysiders in the past – could once again lead the line.

Conclusion

Liverpool’s weary legs may be showing signs of strain after a long and taxing campaign, but their Champions League exit now provides valuable recovery time – an advantage that could prove crucial in the title run-in.

West Ham, under Potter, have a track record of deploying a deep defensive setup, breaking quickly, and upsetting title contenders on the road – as Arsenal can attest – but the hosts should still be able to take another decisive step toward Premier League glory.

The Hammers might a get a goal – Liverpool’s defence is hardly covering itself in glory these days – but that would only set up a fierce response from the league leaders and spark more goals.

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 13/12

Bookmaker: BetUS