West Ham United v Liverpool: Predictions & odds

The game kicks off at 1415 BST at the London Stadium, live on Sky Sports 1.

West Ham United v Liverpool: Our prediction  

The Hammers did their part the previous Friday night with an energetic display to save their own skins and place a large banana-shaped one under the title hopes of arch-rivals Tottenham.

All concerned can now breathe a sigh of relief with one eye on making some improvements for next season ahead of their two final games.

How motivated players will be in their quest to climb from 12th place to the giddy heights of eighth after such a monumental effort has to be questioned as manager Slaven Bilic makes all the tried and tested noises at this time of year about pushing on and climbing as high as possible.

There will be some opportunities for fresh faces with captain Mark Noble (hernia) and Cheik Kouyate (wrist) both booked in for surgery now they are safe while West Ham’s propensity to swing wildly from one game to the next in terms of performance, I have to be against them on this occasion.    

It is up to Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool side then to take advantage when it comes to any lack of focus from the hosts and they are probably justified being chalked up as odds-on favourites.

I make that statement even on the back of a dire 0-0 draw at home to Southampton last week where they looked utterly devoid of ideas as they attempted to break down a resilient Saints backline.  

“We have always found solutions,” said Klopp as he takes on a team that has improved drastically in defence and can boast four straight clean sheets. 

The German’s problem-solving better liven up quickly though as a familiar late Arsenal rally has them all of a sudden back in contention for the top four at the time of writing and both Manchester clubs involved, though City more so than United. 

They could be under further pressure come kick-off if earlier results over the weekend don’t go in their favour and while they seem stuck in a bit of a rut at Anfield, three victories on the trot at Stoke, West Brom and Watford clearly bodes well. 

It is probably time to give up on ex-Red Andy Carroll for the season as he remains injured and although Jonathan Calleri delivered his best display by some way against Spurs in a West Ham shirt, the home side hardly scream torrents of goals at the moment.

There is an element of risk backing Liverpool if they fail to snap out of the funk but it is now or never and a small investment on them to prevail to nil has some appeal. 

Prediction: West Ham 0-2 Liverpool

West Ham United v Liverpool: Team news

West Ham will be without eight first-team players when they host Liverpool.

Skipper Mark Noble (hernia) and fellow midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate (wrist) will sit out the last two games after undergoing surgery on long-standing injuries.

Andy Carroll (groin), Michail Antonio (hamstring), Pedro Obiang (ankle), Diafra Sakho (back), Angelo Ogbonna (knee) and Arthur Masuaku (foot) remain sidelined.

Midfielder Adam Lallana and striker Daniel Sturridge are both in contention to start for Liverpool.

The pair have made a couple of substitute appearances each since returning from injury but with Jurgen Klopp's side struggling to break down sides now may be the time for them to be brought back.

Forward Roberto Firmino and midfielder Lucas Leiva are doubts with muscle injuries. 

Teams

West Ham (from): Adrian, Randolph, Byram, Fonte, Reid, Collins, Cresswell, Fernandes, Nordtveit, Rice, Makasi, Snodgrass, Samuelsen, Feghouli, Lanzini, Ayew, Fletcher, Calleri, Holland. 

Liverpool (from): Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Milner, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Firmino, Sturridge, Coutinho, Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Klavan, Moreno, Lucas, Grujic, Origi, Woodburn, Wilson. 

West Ham United v Liverpool: Manager quotes 

Slaven Bilic (West Ham United)

On Andy Carroll: "It is not a subject for now, but Andy is kind of a player that has such a big impact on our game that we won't give up on him.

"Especially now as this has nothing to do with lifestyle or not being committed enough.

"He works really hard, it was bad luck and, as I said, I will never give up on him.

"On the other hand it is no good having a player whose name you put down first, second or third and can't rely on him." 

On Mark Noble: "Mark has had a hernia in the last couple of months, he didn't want to talk about it as he is a great captain and wanted to help the team.

"He played through the pain and with that pain and it became a bit worse.

"It's not because we are safe now and he doesn't want to play, I wanted him to play one more game. But the surgeon said he should get it done.

"He played against Spurs last week - one of our key players, a skipper playing - and that meant a lot to the team.

"Kouyate has a wrist problem, he played through a lot of pain with injections. He was supposed to do that operation earlier.

"We made a plan for him to play as much as possible, but it became worse." 

Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

Asked how ready Daniel Sturridge is to be picked from the start, Klopp said: "Ready. That is good.

"So far it's been difficult because you can't start a player then have to think after 40 minutes 'so we have to change?'

"I was happy to have the opportunity to bring him on the pitch. Top players so they have impact.

"Now the situation is different again. It's another week we've had him training and so far so good, so hopefully we have a few options."

On his impact against Southampton, where he almost created a goal for himself out of nothing, Klopp added: "That is Daniel. If he had not been fit it would not have been possible. That is unfortunately how it is.

"Even Daniel Sturridge cannot perform (when he is) like this so he needs a physical situation.

"Daniel is a wonderful option to have but it is all about being fit or not.

"It is not the name we bring on the pitch, it is the player, the human being, in this specific shape.

"When he was fit he was always a real, real, real option for us. And it is again now like this.

"It is really good timing."  

On injury news: "We are struggling a little bit with Roberto again and Lucas Leiva this week.

"After the (Southampton) game they felt something, we have to wait and see what they can do there.

"For a few weeks we have had to manage Roberto's intensity in training. He feels another muscle a little bit.

"Roberto is a real mentality player, he wants always to be involved and we need to make decisions for him.

"We left him out of training and have to wait and give him as much time as possible. Both him and Lucas played 90 minutes.

"We asked a few times 'Are you okay?' and they said 'Yes', then after the game they felt it.

"Lucas felt two different muscles after the game. He could be back in training today and Roberto tomorrow if possible." 

On the gap to Chelsea: "You have to look at the games we played against Chelsea.

"We were not worse than 14 points that is for sure but they are experienced, cold as ice and they get the points. They play very serious and finish when they have to finish.

"We all know the gap is not that big but the gap was big enough.

"Chelsea deserved the title but I've said already they had most luck with injuries. Diego Costa? Did he miss one game? Eden Hazard one game? Pedro could play, Willian could play, their defensive line could play.

"You need this luck and then you go through. I don't say we could have gone through but the gap could have been closer.

"It's not just about Chelsea. You saw how we played against Tottenham. But we will all have a different season next year." 

On Sadio Mane: "A player like Sadio with the impact he had on our game, each team would miss it. You really can not compare.

"What if Chelsea play all or a lot of the season without Eden Hazard? It makes a difference.

"To say actually you should have (bought) another player like him? It is not that easy, I would say.

"It is good we have him and we have not done that bad. A few weeks ago we spoke about how good we did without him." 

On the rest of the season: "Everything is still in our hands.

"It shows a lot of things are not that bad even if not everything is how we wanted.

"When we talk about our games it seems they are the most difficult even when some say they the most easy.

"All the teams have to play tough games and no-one wins all of them. Now we have to win ours and it will be fine.

"This is a little bit our situation. We think we have to win all the time because the rest win. The rest do not win all the time but we always feel under pressure.

"A week ago we thought we had to win all three. Now we know a draw and a win could be enough depending on other results.

"That is the situation so let's feel the opportunity together."  

West Ham United v Liverpool: Opta facts

West Ham have won their last two home Premier League meetings with Liverpool, their best run since winning three in a row between 1997 and 1999.

The Reds have kept one clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League visits to West Ham, a 3-0 victory in May 2009.

None of the last 11 Premier League meetings between these sides at West Ham have ended as a draw, with the Hammers winning four and Liverpool seven since a 1-1 draw in December 2001.

In all competitions, the Reds are winless in their last five games against West Ham, their worst run since February 1965 (also five without a win); they’ve never gone six without a win against them.

If Liverpool win at the London Stadium, it will be the 52nd different ground at which they’ve won a Premier League game, more than any other side (Arsenal and Manchester United next on 50).

The Reds have won their last three away games in the Premier League – they last had a longer run in April 2014 (six games).

The Hammers have kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets at the London Stadium for the first time – they last kept four in a row at home in February 2010.

Six of West Ham’s seven Premier League home wins this season have been against sides currently in the bottom half of the table – the only exception was their last home game against Spurs (1-0).

Liverpool have won three of their four Premier League games in London this season, drawing the other. The last time they remained unbeaten in the capital across an entire league season was in 1988-89.

Manuel Lanzini has found the net in five of his last eight Premier League home games.

West Ham United v Liverpool: Sky Bet odds  

West Ham are Sky Bet’s 18/5 outsiders to win with Liverpool are the odds-on favourites at 7/10 and the draw is 14/5. All four of Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi are priced at 9/2 at the head of a wide-open first goalscorer market, with Andy Carroll seen as the biggest threat for the home side at 13/2. Liverpool are 3/1 to finish outside of the top four and West Ham out to 4/1 to make it into the top half.  

Click for Sky Bet's West Ham United v Liverpool odds!