West Ham vs Liverpool tips and predictions: Depressed Reds meet blunt Irons in the capital

Let me take you back to mid-March. Liverpool have just beaten Sparta Prague 6-1 at Anfield – their eighth win in nine games.

Everything looked perfect. Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield was heading for a fairytale ending as Liverpool set their sights on the quadruple.

The Carabao Cup was already in the bag, but with three trophies still to play for, it seemed like the script for Klopp’s Hollywood style ending had already been approved.

A few days later, a potential romantic tale began to turn into a horror movie.

A defeat to Man Utd ended Liverpool’s FA Cup hopes. A defeat to Atalanta ended their Europa League hopes. More recently, two defeats from three appear to have ended their Premier League hopes as well.

Mathematically speaking, the Reds are still contenders. Realistically speaking, they could win all their remaining games and still fall short.

Klopp’s men enter Saturday’s encounter against West Ham having picked up five straight wins over the Irons.

A sixth success is not out of the question considering the London side picked up just one win from their last eight.

Last Sunday was particularly painful as David Moyes watched his side implode in a 5-2 defeat to Crystal Palace.

There aren’t many positives we can say about the Hammers… bar one – they’re hard to beat at home.

West Ham have lost two of their last 18 matches at the London Stadium.

With the Irons determined to get themselves back in the hunt for a European spot, we’re backing Liverpool to face more frustration. Both teams to score in a 2-2 draw is the way to go.

 

Team news

West Ham head into this fixture with doubts over Jarrod Bowen, Nayef Aguerd and Konstantinos Mavropanos. Kalvin Phillips is out with a hamstring injury.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are missing Conor Bradley, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, Joel Matip and Thiago.

 

Key stats

- West Ham have lost 12 of their last 14 Premier League games against Liverpool

- Liverpool have beaten West Ham 3-1 in the PL and 5-1 in the Carabao Cup this season

- West Ham have conceded at least once in each of their last 15 games against the Reds

- Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have only won more PL games against Crystal Palace than they have against the Irons

- West Ham have lost just two of their last 18 home games (all comps)

 

Suggested bets

Match result – draw

Correct score – West Ham 2-2 Liverpool

Both teams to score