Liverpool seek redemption at home after recent setbacks | OneFootball

Liverpool vs West Ham: Pressure, Purpose and a Nervous Anfield Afternoon

Title Chase Slips Into Second Gear

It is not that Liverpool are collapsing — not quite. But the once-relentless machine has developed a few curious creaks. Arne Slot, who began his reign with swagger and a calm smile, now finds himself measuring dropped points and missed opportunities with a far more familiar Premier League instrument: the nervous glance over the shoulder.

Photo: IMAGO

This Sunday’s match against West Ham at Anfield arrives coated in context. A recent league loss to Fulham, a Carabao Cup final defeat, and a Champions League exit have unceremoniously punctured Liverpool’s early-season high. Suddenly, the leaders look vulnerable. Arsenal’s result the night before could slice the gap to eight points. That’s not crisis territory — not yet — but it is enough to make the famously raucous Anfield feel a little tight in the chest.

West Ham Drift While Liverpool Hesitate

West Ham arrive offering the perfect combination of threat and frailty. They haven’t won in four, slipping quietly into mid-table obscurity with a defence more open than it should be. Yet there’s danger in those fringes. Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquetá are always capable of hurting you. Mohamed Kudus has flashes of menace. Niclas Füllkrug, having found the net against Bournemouth, may finally be fit enough to start — and suddenly this becomes a fixture with more intrigue than ease.

Photo IMAGO

Graham Potter, rarely predictable these days, knows this is an opportunity. Liverpool, despite their superior position, are wobbling. West Ham, if brave, could exploit the doubt that’s crept in — especially if Anfield starts murmuring before the hour mark.

Photo IMAGO

Team Sheets Telling the Story

Alisson Becker could return between the posts — a boost for a side still waiting for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, and Tyler Morton to recover. Conor Bradley may keep his place at right-back, while Curtis Jones, oddly repurposed last time out, should return to midfield.

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Up front, the old equation persists: Diogo Jota underperformed at Fulham, so Luis Díaz likely returns. Darwin Núñez — always somewhere between chaos and brilliance — might feature heavily, even if from the bench. Salah, goalless in two games (by his standards, a drought), will be eager to remind the league of his sharpest edges, now with a fresh new 2-year deal.

Photo: IMAGO

For West Ham, the notable absences remain: Cresswell, Summerville, and Antonio are out. But the visitors still have enough to disrupt, particularly if Füllkrug leads the line with intent.

Photo IMAGO

Prediction: Reds to Recalibrate at Home

Slot isn’t the shouting type. But after last week’s defeat — his first league loss away from home — he will have raised the tone. Expect Liverpool to respond, not with fireworks, but with focus. Salah’s hunger, combined with the platform of Anfield, should prove enough to tame a West Ham side still searching for consistency.

This won’t be vintage Liverpool. But it doesn’t need to be. It just needs to be enough.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 West Ham

Match Details📅 Date: Sunday, 13 April 2025⏰ Kick-off: 2pm BST🏟️ Venue: Anfield, Liverpool📺 TV Coverage: Sky Sports / TNT Sports📱 Streaming: Sky Go and Discovery+📺 Highlights: Match of the Day 2 on BBC One, 10:30pm BST

Head-to-Head RecordLiverpool wins: 85Draws: 38West Ham wins: 29

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