Both winning their Europa League in remarkably similar circumstances, Premier League champions Liverpool and West Ham United resume home games at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds beat LASK Linz 3-1 in midweek, while the Hammers recovered from a one-goal deficit to reach Backa Topola in Europe.
Match preview
Liverpool’s theme in the opening weeks of the 2023-24 season has been from the back and, just like last weekend at Molineux, Jurgen Klopp’s side made a slow start to the history books with second-half goals.
Florian Flecker’s superb strike put the Austrian side ahead in the Group E encounter – Liverpool’s first Europa League game in more than seven years – but Darwin Nunez’s penalty, Luis Diaz’s first goal and the signature goal of Mohamed Salah brought the Reds back to Merseyside. with maximum points. Salah’s 42nd Liverpool goal in Europe – the England international joined Arsenal icon Thierry Henry – helped Klopp become the first Reds manager in history to win 50 continental titles and his side went into the weekend in five -match winning streak. in all the competitions, although the first goal was conceded in four of them.
But fighting fire with even more fire was an improvement for Liverpool, who sit in bronze in the Premier League table, just two points behind Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur when they found the net. ever rarer than Lilywhites.
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Despite their recent desire to score the first goal, Liverpool’s Premier League unbeaten run at Anfield now stretches to 14 games since last October’s stunning 2-1 win against Leeds United, and they have failed to score in just one of their last 44. flying games. games at their Merseyside headquarters.
There should have been no more relief than Angelo Ogbonna at the London Stadium on Thursday night as a horror mistake from the centre-back allowed Backa Topola’s Petar Stanic to slot home to give the Serbian side an unlikely lead in their Europa League opener. .
However, Liverpool hit back quickly against LASK, but David Moyes’ men turned the tide against Backa Topola as Nemanja Petrovic’s own goal headed in headers from Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek, who were making their debuts in the English capital. James Ward-Prowse surprisingly scored both goals in another fine display from the former Southampton captain, who opened the scoring in last week’s Premier League clash against Manchester City before the champions struck for Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Erling. Haaland.
Despite beating the champions being the Hammers’ only blemish so far and Moyes’ side sitting a healthy sixth on 10 points, they have kept a clean sheet since the start of the season. started
The Irons have taken the highest points from Brighton and Hove Albion and Luton Town this season, but they have failed to win three Premier League away games since October 2021 and seven of their last eight league contests with Liverpool. ended in defeat.
Team news
One slightly sour note in Liverpool’s win against LASK Linz was the forced withdrawal of full debutant Ryan Gravenberch, who looked particularly exhausted as he set the pace in the second half.
Klopp hopes the Dutchman has only suffered from cramping, but Sunday’s game still comes too early for Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh) and Thiago Alcantara (hip) to be competitive. After making as many as 11 changes in the Europa League, Klopp is expected to make similar changes for the visit of West Ham, especially Diaz and Nunez, who had a goal and an assist, both in 90 minutes in Austria.
Speaking of newly signed midfielders suffering from fatigue, West Ham striker Edson Alvarez sat out the win over Backa Topola for just that reason, but the former Ajax man is expected to return to the first XI straight away.
Alvarez’s return would leave West Ham’s dressing room almost empty, but Aaron Cresswell picked up a hamstring problem at half-time on Thursday while Jarrod Bowen was out with a virus and will also be assessed.
Moyes has a major selection headache in attack after Kudus’ starring role in the Europa League, which could see the Ghana international in favor of Soucek as the Irons boss threatens a more attacking line-up.
However, there are plenty of changes at the back as Alphonse Areola, Vladimir Coufal, Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd and Emerson Palmieri are set to return, while Danny Ings makes way for Michail Antonio to lead the attack. Liverpool’s possible starting line-up:
Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, MacAllister, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Jota
Possible starting line-up for West Ham United:
areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson; Ward-Prowse, Alvarez; Bowen, Kudus, Benrahma; Anthony
We say: Liverpool 3-1 West Ham United
With the exception of Liverpool’s 3-0 win against Aston Villa earlier this month, both teams have found the back of the net in every meeting between the Reds and West Ham this season and an entertaining display with plenty of goals should be on the menu. also at Anfield.
Klopp and Moyes will each be able to call on well-rested big forwards in their starting line-up, and while Liverpool’s sheets are likely to remain black, the Merseyside giants should take advantage of the Hammers’ continued defensive frailty to claim a sixth win. . . bounces back
