Liverpool vs. West Ham: Two Teams Looking for a Boost | OneFootball

Liverpool will be aiming to keep their Champions League qualification dreams alive this weekend as relegation-threatened West Ham United arrive at Anfield for a Saturday afternoon showdown.

With only 11 games remaining in their Premier League campaign, the stakes could not be higher. Arne Slot’s men are in a race against time to and the Reds head into this tie with a renewed sense of belief.

That confidence stems from a gritty performance last Sunday against another relegation candidate, Nottingham Forest. In a match that seemed destined for a draw, it was a last-gasp winner from Alexis Mac Allister that separated the sides, proving that this Liverpool team still has the stomach for a fight during the business end of the season.

Liverpool enter this clash in solid form, even if their inconsistent nature in their post-title season has left them in sixth position. Across their last five games in all competitions, they have picked up four wins. Their only defeat came against Manchester City, which is just about acceptable given City’s title chasing status.

Aside from that City loss, the defensive unit has looked steady. Slot has seen his side collect three clean sheets on the bounce, providing the platform for their current climb toward the top four.

Liverpool have won their last two Premier League matches by a 1-0 scoreline (beating Forest and Sunderland) and they head into Saturday’s clash with West Ham looking to claim a third successive victory without conceding for the first time since Slot’s first three matches in charge of the club last season.

The Merseysiders will back themselves to pick up maximum points, as they have lost just one of their last 19 top-flight meetings with the Hammers (W15 D3), winning seven of the last eight since a 3-2 away defeat in November 2021.

However, all eyes remain on Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian is currently enduring a rare nine-game goal drought, but head coach Slot remains unfazed, insisting the man who propelled Liverpool to their 20th league title will find his scoring touch again soon.

“He set his own standards and those are so, so, so high that the moment when he doesn’t score for a few games, people are immediately surprised,” Slot said. “So that is only something that’s probably the biggest compliment he can get. If we want to highlight something really positive, we try to forget one or two games. If we want to highlight something really negative, we can try to forget one or two games as well.”

Plucky West Ham Surging under Santo

West Ham arrive on Merseyside looking like a team transformed under Nuno Espírito Santo. At one stage this season, the Hammers looked dead and buried for the Championship in their mission to stay afloat, but a recent surge has given them a fighting chance.

They have had only one defeat in their last five games-  a narrow 3-2 loss at Chelsea – and have picked up impressive results elsewhere, including a 2-0 win over Burnley and a gritty draw with Manchester United. While they couldn’t find the net in their recent 0-0 draw with Bournemouth, they peppered the goal with 20 shots, suggesting the intent is there.

Nuno’s side currently sits just two points behind Nottingham Forest. Knowing that a rare win at Anfield could lift them out of the relegation zone, the visitors won’t be lacking in motivation.

“Anfield is always a tough place to go, no matter the conditions or what position Liverpool are in,” Nuno admitted. “It’s going to be a huge challenge.”

History favours the hosts, who have won their last four meetings with the East Londoners. Liverpool also have a massive motivation in front of them.

West Ham will take heart from their famous 3-0 win at Anfield in 2015, but they face a Liverpool side that has rediscovered the art of the “ugly win.” It won’t be an easy ride for either side when the 3pm kick-off gets underway, but with the Champions League and Premier League survival on the line, expect fireworks.