Liverpool vs West Ham United – Premier League Match Preview
On Sunday, 13 April, West Ham are asked to enter the lion’s den when they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool. West Ham will want to forget their earlier encounter with Liverpool, especially since they were comprehensively beaten 5-0 in December last time in the league and 5-1 before that in the EFL Cup.
Considering Liverpool’s dominant form, betting markets will heavily favour another home victory.
If you’re looking to place a bet on the game, be sure to use the best sites for football betting to get comprehensive odds and markets.
But before you start placing your wagers, dive into our match preview where we discuss tactics as well as point you in the direction of who to back!
Historical Context: A Look Back at Memorable Encounters
Liverpool absolutely dominates the head-to-head battle between these two teams. Winning eight of their last ten games and drawing the one paints a grim picture for the team from the English capital.
However, that doesn’t detract away from the competitive nature of this game. West Ham are a gritty side who know how to absorb pressure and then look to hurt teams on the counter by way of set pieces – something Arne Slot and his chargers would be aware of.
Tactical Analysis: Strategies and Game Plans
Liverpool’s Approach:
Arne Slot has come in and (with absolute and sincere respect to Jurgen Klopp) seemingly polished the style and approach of this Liverpool team. They play with the same controlled press and robust defensive system but with an added focus on rotation and positional depth.
Their pacey transitions and gritty midfield allow for talented finishers up front to put the ball in the back of the net.
West Ham’s Approach:
Graham Potter will know what his team face in Liverpool – it will just be about whether or not they can stop it. They will likely set up quite deep and look to hurt Liverpool on the counter. The only concern is that to do that, they need to be able to withstand a barrage of a wave of attack after wave of attack.
Players to Watch: Impactful Performers
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah has been absolutely vital for Liverpool this season. With all the talk around his contract early on, he has gone on to register one of his most prolific seasons, scoring goals for fun.
Another player worth mentioning for Liverpool is Virgil van Dijk. His leadership and composed approach to hard and robust defending has seen his side compete on all fronts once again.
West Ham
Jarrod Bowen has come back from injury and has once again been one of West Ham’s most pivotal attacking players. His creativity in midfield is dwarfed only by his robust defending and ability to delay the progression of their opponents.
James Ward-Prowse is another player who often controls the tempo of the game for West Ham – but he could play a pivotal role for the Hammer’s here with his ability over the dead ball.
Conclusion: A Difficult Task for West Ham
Liverpool are worthy favourites for the encounter, but West Ham are nothing if not proud. They will certainly not roll over and allow the Reds to have their own way here. Nevertheless, Liverpool are likely to be too strong here.
