MY ACCOUNT
– West Ham are closing in on safety after three wins and two draws recently
– In-form Liverpool are back in the hunt for the European places
– Recommended bet: Draw
Two sides back in form meet at the London Stadium in midweek and it could be difficult to separate West Ham and Liverpool.
West Ham have finally started dragging themselves clear of the relegation mire thanks to a run of two wins and an impressive come-from-behind draw against Arsenal in their last three league games and their stressful campaign could yet finish on a high.
Manager David Moyes has been under intense pressure for long spells of 2022-23 but the Hammers now look set for a mid-table finish and have an excellent chance of claiming the club’s first piece of European silverware in almost 60 years.
It is the possibility of success in the Europa Conference League that could completely reshape the narrative of Moyes’ recent reign at the club but first he must dot the i’s and cross the t’s to ensure the threat of relegation is dismissed.
The arrival of Liverpool is one of their toughest remaining tests, however, with the Reds now in a late charge for European places after a season that had threatened to drift into obscurity.
Team news
Moyes’ only confirmed absentee is striker Gianluca Scamacca, who is out for the season following knee surgery.
Liverpool right-back Calvin Ramsay and midfielder Stefan Bajcetic are also out for the season with knee and groin injuries respectively, while fellow midfielder Naby Keita is also still on the sidelines.
Reds forward Roberto Firmino is making progress from a muscle injury but the trip to the London Stadium comes too soon for him.
The stats
Liverpool’s home form has remained solid during a troubled campaign, with a run of six wins and two draws from their last eight Anfield outings propelling them back into European contention.
However, Klopp’s men have won only four of 16 Premier League away games, losing eight.
While Liverpool have done well away at fellow top-six teams, winning three and losing three of six such trips, they have won only one of 10 away games at clubs currently below them, losing to Brighton, Brentford, Wolves, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.
The sole win at teams below them was an emphatic 6-1 defeat of Leeds in their most recent away game but prior to that Klopp’s men had been fortunate to grab a 0-0 draw at struggling Chelsea, they lost 4-1 at Manchester City and 1-0 at Bournemouth and also drew 0-0 at Crystal Palace.
West Ham’s league form has improved dramatically since the turn of the year. In the 17 matches before the new year, West Ham lost 10 times and averaged just 0.82 points per game.
In 2023 that rate has risen to 1.43 points per game as the Hammers have lost just four of 14 matches.
Moyes’ men have lost just one of their last seven Premier League outings at the London Stadium, scoring in each one at a rate of 1.7 goals per game.
Prediction
Liverpool are showing signs of improvement, racking up chances galore in recent outings to see them come from behind to draw 2-2 with Arsenal, thrash Leeds 6-1 and beat Nottingham Forest 3-2.
However, their frequent no-shows on the road this season makes them hard to trust, with defensive lapses often undermining their excellent attacking play.
West Ham’s own improved form in front of goal suggests that this should be another exciting clash with goals expected, but neither team has been convincing enough to demand support for all three points.
Back the draw, available at 14/5 with LiveScore Bet.
Win big with LiveScore 6!
Fancy winning up to £100,000?
Simply predict six correct scores from the weekend action for your chance to win, with consolation prizes also on offer if you go close.
Play LiveScore 6 for free this weekend (18+, UK only). Click here for details on how to get involved.
