West Ham United host Liverpool on Monday evening with both sides looking to pick up a vital three points as the season continues.
Last time out, the Hammers were demolished 3-0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers with the Midlands side unfortunate not to add further goals to an already impressive scoreline.
In contrast, Premier League leaders Liverpool finished a nervy 90 minutes at home to Leicester City, with the end result finishing 1-1.
Read on for West Ham United vs Liverpool live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats and TV channel info.
When is West Ham United vs Liverpool?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: London Stadium
Date: Monday, 4 February
Kick-off: 20:00 PM GMT
Match preview
The race for the Premier League title is hotting up to be one of the most nail-biting endings to a Premier League season for many years past.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool currently lead the pack, with their draw at home to Leicester ensuring they entered this weekend’s round of fixtures five points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
City fell to a shock defeat at Newcastle United, losing 2-1 and handing the Reds the opportunity to push themselves a massive seven points ahead of the Citizens.
However, after an early Sadio Mane goal, the Foxes’ defender and England hero, Harry Maguire, fired home to salvage a point for the Premier League champions of 2016.
For the Hammers, they are on a terrible run of form since they managed to defeat Unai Emery’s Arsenal early last month.
Suffering two Premier League away defeats without scoring – losing to AFC Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 and 3-0 respectively – with a shock FA Cup exit sandwiched between – where they lost 4-2 to League One side AFC Wimbledon – it hasn’t been a great couple of weeks for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
Where can I watch live?
UK residents can watch West Ham’s game against Liverpool on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, channels 401 and 402 respectively on Sky and channels 501 and 502 respectively for Virgin Media users.
Can Liverpool hold their nerve?
With Manchester City – and for more optimistic supporters, Tottenham Hotspur – breathing down their necks, the Reds will now truly show what they are made of as the season slowly heads towards its climax.
Klopp has managed to put together a superb collection of individuals who have performed both impressively and admirably since the beginning of the campaign.
The club’s front three have continued to showcase their abilities at one end of the pitch, with their defence considered the main difference between themselves this season and years prior.
However, the Reds have been in positions before where trophies have been in reach, only to lose their nerve/head/ability to play right at the last.
This is exactly the kind of fixture that could see Liverpool drop points. Also, this fixture will only become more pressurised if City are able to prevail against Arsenal this Sunday.
Even if Liverpool draw, a City win would close the gap at the top of the league to just three points.
Hammers on a European tour?
After a slow start to the campaign, Pelligrini has now transformed West Ham into a real tough outfit to beat.
That being said, their recent form would suggest otherwise, with defeats to both Bournemouth and Wolves thoroughly disappointing and deserving in equal measure.
Their lack of goals is a concern. In the space of seven days at the beginning of December, the Hammers scored three goals in three consecutive matches. They now have just seven goals in their last eight Premier League outings.
Despite their poor form, the east London side are always a team who can offer any opposition considerable threat, with the Merseysiders fully aware that they will be in for a scrap.
Sitting in 12th place, West Ham are amazingly still only four points off seventh position, with a cluster of clubs battling it out to become the best of the rest and claim a Europa League place for next season, should the outcome of the cup competitions allow it.
Head-to-head
Liverpool’s recent record against West Ham is fantastic, winning the last four matches by scoring four goals in each fixture.
Prior to that, the Hammers had a decent record – winning three and drawing twice – but overall, the Reds have got a far superior record against their London counterparts.
West Ham wins: 28 Draws: 36 Liverpool: 74
Team news
Main man Marko Arnautovic was feared unable to partake in this fixture after he picked up an injury in their defeat to Wolves. However, Pelligrini has said that there is still plenty of time for the Austrian to get himself fit before their match with Liverpool.
The same can be said for goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and defender Aaron Cresswell who picked up injuries in the week, against Wolves and in training respectively.
One man absent is new signing Samir Nasri who limped off the pitch at Bournemouth, joining long-term absentees Winston Reid, Fabian Balbuena, Manuel Lanzini, Carlos Sanchez, Jack Wilshere and Andriy Yarmolenko on the sidelines.
For the Reds, Klopp revealed that star defender Virgil van Dijk was suffering from an illness but is expected to make a return in time for Monday.
Both club captain Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum failed to train in the week so could be possible absentees from the starting line-up.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss the match but is expected to return to action from next week, while fellow English defender Joe Gomez is still expected to be out for a few more weeks.
West Ham United predicted XI: Adrian, Zabaleta, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Obiang, Rice, Anderson, Snodgrass, Antonio, Carroll
Arsenal predicted XI: Alisson, Milner, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Keita, Mane, Firmino, Salah
Squawka prediction
This fixture could really be determined by Manchester City’s performance against Arsenal the day before.
As much as Klopp will stress that his side aren’t concerned with how their title rivals perform, it is only human to feel the pressure, especially if City record a convincing win over the Gunners.
West Ham will want to put on a good show following their poor form and with the television cameras concentrating on them for the evening, they may be able to step it up a gear.
Perhaps not a Hammers win here, but quite possibly not a Liverpool one either.
West Ham 1-1 Liverpool
Betting tips & enhanced odds from Redsbet
Read West Ham v Liverpool betting tips & enhanced odds from Redsbet
Felipe Anderson to be the key player? With Marko Arnautovic possibly missing the game through injury, West Ham fans will look to Anderson to provide inspiration in the final third.
The Brazilian has enjoyed a fine debut season in England, with eight goals and two assists to his name, but will be hoping for a more productive evening against Liverpool after an anonymous display at Anfield.
All eight of Anderson’s league goals this season have been from open play, so he certainly carries the most significant threat going forward.
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