By Karl Matchett
One final problem for 2024 stays, although; one final check of Arne Slot’s aspect – and in West Ham United that’s a a lot harder recreation than it may need appeared even a month in the past.
Skewed historical past
As soon as within the Premier League previous, this may need been seen as a reasonably close-call fixture. From 1994 to 2000, from 13 top-flight conferences the Reds received 4, 5 have been attracts and the Hammers claimed the opposite 4. Of late, that isn’t fairly the identical: of the final 17 in all competitions, Liverpool have received 14. Jürgen Klopp undoubtedly had the sting over David Moyes – in addition to Slaven Bilić and Manuel Pellegrini – and earlier this time period, Arne Slot continued the current custom with a 5-1 League Cup win over Julen Lopetegui. It was trying bleak for the Spaniard for a interval after that, however a lot has modified.
West Ham’s uptick
The aforementioned cup defeat got here in a run of 1 win in seven and Lopetegui was linked with a swift departure greater than as soon as. However a nook seems to have been turned: it’s simply two defeats in eight now and West Ham are undefeated in 4. Eight factors in that run has lifted them to thirteenth, above Manchester United and solely six factors off Newcastle in fifth – the margins stay tremendous, however they’re within the upper-mid-table group for positive.
That enchancment will give Slot pause for thought and he’ll know it is a totally different staff to the one Liverpool trounced in September. Nonetheless, his personal staff haven’t misplaced since that very same month and the league leaders have put collectively back-to-back wins round Christmas after successive attracts beforehand. In all competitions it’s 11 wins within the final 13 they usually maintain a six-point benefit on the high.
Workforce information
Goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański is out resulting from concussion protocols and Tomáš Souček is suspended. Michail Antonio is out for the foreseeable future and Max Kilman is a doubt for West Ham. For Liverpool, Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended and Ibrahima Konaté stays injured. Conor Bradley is the one different anticipated absentee for the Reds.
Key participant
Cody Gakpo’s type has been immense on the opposite flank and he’d be our selection – however there’s an quantity of rotation to contemplate and Luis Díaz didn’t play towards Leicester in order that could be one swap. It’s Curtis Jones due to this fact who may dictate Liverpool’s fortunes right here; he scored on Boxing Day and would be the No. 10 once more with Szoboszlai suspended. On a per 90 foundation Jones ranks 91st percentile for xGOT, 97th for passes, 98th for dribble success and a hundredth – the very best of all in his position – for cross accuracy. He’s the staff’s press monster, instigates play from deep and has nice motion across the field.
Prediction
Might be a little bit of a slog, given the Hammers’ current upturn and the fast turnaround between winter fixtures, however an away win all the identical: West Ham 1-2 Liverpool.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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