West Ham United vs Liverpool: Match Preview | Premier League 2023/24 

Ashu Ranjeet
By Ashu Ranjeet
6 Min Read

This Saturday, West Ham United hosts Liverpool at the London Stadium in an exciting Premier League clash.

West Ham vs Liverpool: Match Preview

West Ham United falter in Europe, as Liverpool lose title momentum

 

The Hammer’s recent performances have been disappointing, raising concerns about their chances of securing European qualification. They sit in eighth place in the league standings after a disheartening 5-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace. This loss is part of a lackluster run that includes an exit from the Europa League quarterfinals against Xabi Alonso’s sensational Leverkusen side.

Meanwhile, the Reds are in third place, having endured two consecutive league defeats. Their recent struggles were highlighted by a shocking 2-0 loss to their neighbors Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, which came on the heels of a 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace. These setbacks have disrupted their ambitions of winning the Premier League title in what would be a fitting farewell to their manager, Jurgen Klopp.

Battle for Redemption in London

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With all three vital points on the line in the English capital, both West Ham and Liverpool are keen to bounce back from their recent poor results. This fixture is crucial for both sides as they strive to meet their respective targets by the end of the Premier League 2023–24 season.

When and where?

Date: Sunday, April 27, 2024.
Time: 12:30 p.m. BST
Venue: London Stadium

Match Officials

Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Assistants: Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn.
Fourth official: Josh Smith.
VAR: Tim Robinson.
Assistant VAR: Wade Smith.

Team news

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The hosts hope for the return of their key attacker, Jarrod Bowen, who missed their last league match against Crystal Palace due to a back problem. Additionally, doubts surround the availability of the defensive duo Konstantinos Mavropanos and Nayef Aguerd, both nursing ankle injuries. Their status requires further assessment ahead of the crucial clash.

In the visitors’ camp, injury woes will rule out the likes of Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip, and Ben Doak from making the trip to London Stadium. Cody Gakpo is expected to rejoin the team sheet after missing the previous game due to family reasons, with no further absences expected.

Pre-Match Tactical Analysis

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David Moyes’s West Ham are eager to rebound after a sorrowful home defeat to a fellow London club, where they conceded five goals—marking their second consecutive league loss. They have managed only a single win in their last five league fixtures, with three defeats and a draw. Nevertheless, this early kick-off contest provides an opportunity for the Irons to win back their fans with a statement performance against Liverpool, who are experiencing similar challenges.

The home side is expected to make several changes to their lineup, opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation. First-choice goalkeeper Alphonse Areola is slated to return, replacing Lukasz Fabianski. The back four will likely include Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma as the center-back pairing.

The rest of the starting eleven is expected to remain the same, with Edson Alvarez and Tomas Soucek continuing as the double pivot. The attacking trio will feature Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta on the wings, with James Ward-Prowse in the middle. Up front, Michail Antonio will take up the role of sole striker.

Despite the situation, the Merseyside outfit holds the upper hand in this matchup, maintaining an excellent record against the Hammers in their previous 14 Premier League meetings. Liverpool has secured victory in twelve of these encounters, while West Ham has managed only two wins. Moreover, the two earlier meetings this season favored the Reds, who secured a 3-1 victory in the league and a 5-1 triumph in the Carabao Cup.

Against Everton, Jurgen Klopp’s side had a sloppy start in the derby, and a shaky defense led them to concede two goals. A lack of clinical finishing in the final third ensured they gave away three points to their local rivals. They are now eager to address these issues to keep even the slightest hopes of winning the title alive, although it now seems like a far-fetched dream.

Klopp is expected to make significant changes to the starting eleven, adopting a 4-3-3 formation following the Derby loss. Alisson Becker will remain the goalkeeper. In defense, young center-half Jarell Quansah is anticipated to replace the underperforming Frenchman, Ibrahim Konate, and will line up alongside Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Andrew Robertson.

In midfield, Japan international Wataru Endo will join Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. The attacking trio will feature Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz on the wings, with Cody Gakpo expected to take the place of Darwin Nunez as the central striker.

 

Predicted Lineups

West Ham predicted lineup vs Liverpool: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta; Antonio.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs Fulham: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold; Quansah; Van Dijk; Robertson; Szoboszlai; Endo; Mac Allister; Salah; Nunez; Diaz.

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