Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
West Ham United narrowly won against Southampton (1:0) on Boxing Day, but their opponents were not particularly strong. Facing Liverpool this weekend will be a significantly tougher challenge for them, and they need to perform exceptionally well to avoid being overwhelmed.
West Ham United
Even in this win, the underdogs posed significant challenges for West Ham: 18 (5) shots and an xGA of 1.40. Yet, Southampton failed to convert those chances, which reflects their own issues. Lukasz Fabianski deserves praise for making crucial saves before his injury 36 minutes in. However, these are victories against mid-tier clubs. We've already witnessed how West Ham United fares against top teams: a 1:3 loss to Manchester City, 0:3 to Chelsea, and 2:5 to Arsenal.
Liverpool
There was also a 1:5 defeat to Liverpool in the League Cup, where West Ham were reduced to ten men when the outcome was already clear (0:3). At the moment, Liverpool are also in fine form. In their last two matches, they've netted nine goals—6:3 against Tottenham Hotspur and 3:1 against Leicester City. The top scorer in these games has been Mohamed Salah, with three goals, bringing his tally to 16 in 17 appearances.
West Ham United vs Liverpool Prediction
Beating Liverpool seems unlikely. The result should become clear long before the final whistle, with the visitors expected to win by at least a two-goal margin.
