West Ham kept in pace with the Premier League leaders with a resounding three-goal victory against Hull over the weekend. They will face a tough task, though, in maintaining their European charge as they’ll next face a Liverpool squad that is in the midst of a six-game unbeaten run.
With just a point separating the two sides, expect one exciting matchup. Read on for a complete preview of this clash and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the blockbuster showdown between Chelsea and Manchester City here.
[sc:Soccer ]West Ham vs. Liverpool Betting Preview
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
When: Saturday, January 31, 10:00 AM ET
Line: West Ham at Liverpool – view all EPL lines
Betting on West Ham
West Ham moved to within four points of the Champions League places with an emphatic 3-0 victory over struggling Hull over the weekend. It was the first victory for the Hammers in five games as they jumped to seventh in the league table with 36 points.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Aside from the victory, what gives manager Sam Allardyce great pride in his side’s performance Saturday was their play on the defensive end. For the first time in nine league games, the Hammers managed to keep a clean sheet.
That will serve them in good stead when they face a Liverpool side that is brimming with confidence on the offensive end. Ever since their defeat to Manchester United, a month ago, the Reds have been on a scoring tear, netting 12 goals in their last six assignments.
Still, the Hammers will fancy their chances of beating Liverpool this coming Saturday because of the way they dismantled the 18-time English champions in their last league meeting back in September. Even though Liverpool had majority of the possession in that game, West Ham had more shots on goal (13) which enabled them to record a famous 3-1 victory.
Among the goal scorers for West Ham in that game were Winston Reid, Diafra Sakho and Morgan Amalfitano. Amalfitano was also in the scoresheet Saturday against Hull, scoring a nice chip over Allan McGregor.
He is expected to lead the West Ham attack alongside Andy Carroll who’s playing some excellent football for the Hammers this season. Carroll leads West Ham in scoring this campaign with five goals, which includes his 49th minute strike against Hull that proved to be the match-winner for the Hammers.
The Hammers are 1-2-2 in their last five away games.
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Betting on Liverpool
Liverpool remained in the hunt for a Top 4 finish and a place in next season’s Champions League with a convincing 2-0 win over Aston Villa Saturday. It was the second consecutive win for the Reds who moved to within five points of Manchester United for fourth place in the ever-tightening league table.
Fabio Borini opened the scoring for the Reds when he guided home Jordan Henderson’s delightful cross to grab his first goal of the campaign. Rickie Lambert put the outcome beyond doubt with a low shot in the 79th minute that hit the bottom corner of the net.
Key to the Reds’ resurgence lately is their improved play on the defensive end. They recorded their second consecutive clean sheet in their win against Aston Villa. After receiving a 3-0 thrashing against United at Old Trafford a month ago, the Reds have fortified their back line conceding just five goals in their last six games, helping them remain unbeaten during that stretch.
Their renewed defensive intensity was pretty much evident in their game against Villa where they limited Paul Lambert’s men to just four shots on goal. It also helped the Reds’ cause that Villa is embroiled in a scoring funk, having now played eight hours and 42 minutes of Premier League football without netting a goal.
They will have a much tougher time, though, this coming Saturday when they face one of the surprise teams in the Premier League this season in West Ham. The Hammers are sixth in the league in scoring, bagging 35 goals this campaign.
Liverpool is 2-0-3 in their last five games at home.
Writer’s Prediction
Liverpool wins, 2-1.
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