Premier League: Liverpool continue quadruple quest with visit of West Ham

Reds looking for high five

Liverpool host West Ham on Saturday with the aim of extending their winning run in the league to five games. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in midweek with a 2-1 win over Norwich, but now turn their attention back to chasing Manchester City in the Premier League.

They are hot favourites to get the win at Anfield, priced at 1.34. West Ham, who have faded in recent weeks, can be backed at 11, while the draw is on offer at 5.5.

Liverpool on the chase

It has been a productive week for Liverpool. Not only have they picked up the first silverware of the season in the form of the League Cup following a dramatic win on penalties over Chelsea at Wembley, they followed that up with success over Norwich with a much-changed side. 

Victory over the Blues was gruelling both mentally and physically, and that was reflected as Klopp changed all 11 members of his starting eleven for the match with Norwich on Wednesday. Takumi Minamino’s double ensured that it was a move that paid off.

Now Liverpool can cut the gap to Man City at the top of the table to just three points, which would pile the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side ahead of their Sunday derby match with Manchester United.

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk will be hoping to lift more silverware this season, after last weekend's EFL Cup success

Hammers looking for Reds double

West Ham, meanwhile, are embroiled in the race for a top-four spot but are increasingly looking like outsiders to secure an unlikely Champions League qualification. David Moyes’ men, after all, have not performed well in recent weeks, with only two wins in their last six. The Hammers are now given just a 3.7% chance of finishing in the top four.

They do, however, have the memory of a thrilling 3-2 success over Liverpool in November to reflect upon. It showed their capacity to overcome even the top sides, though their best wins this season have come at home.

On the road against teams presently in the top eight, they have failed to gain even a point from four matches. It is a record that does not bode well for a trip to England’s most in-form and, arguably, most confident side.

Liverpool dominance to continue

Liverpool have won their last eight Premier League home matches and have done so with some style. Seven of these victories have been by two goals or more, including a 4-0 success against a Champions League challenger in the form of Arsenal. Indeed, the aggregate score in these games is 26-2. 

History also strongly favours the home side. They have lost only one of their last 48 home matches against West Ham, winning 35 of these. 

Liverpool lost both their home matches last March, but expect them to kick off with a comfortable win this time around that will heap the pressure on their Manchester rivals.

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