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Liverpool cannot afford any more slip-ups at the top as they travel to face West Ham in the 11th game-week of the Premier League. Both teams are in a good vein of form as they lock horns in a high voltage fixture on Sunday.
West Ham United have been in impressive form of late, demonstrating their might with some superb displays on the pitch. Their massive 4-1 win against Aston Villa in their last Premier League match was a testament to their superiority. David Moyes' men, as a result, are currently fourth in the Premier League with 20 points.
Liverpool drew 2-2 against Brighton in their previous league game, which leaves them in second place with 22 points. Their thumping wins against Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are an indication of how good they have been so far this campaign. Jurgen Klopp's men are now unbeaten in 25 games across all competitions.
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Given all of this, let's look at what this game potentially holds for both teams.
PL 2021-22: West Ham vs. Liverpool predictions
#5 West Ham to be offensive in their approach
Under the tutelage of David Moyes, West Ham are playing some attractive, eye-catching football and delivering positive results. They are offensive in their approach and are not afraid to take the fight to their opponents. The Hammers have won four and lost one of their last five Premier League matches.
David Moyes' men have been scoring for fun in the English top flight so far this campaign. With the presence of talented footballers like Pablo Fornals, Michail Antonio, Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen, West Ham have shown terrific chemistry and effectiveness upfront.
It is highly likely that they will again take on the offensive approach when they host Liverpool this weekend.
#4 Liverpool will struggle to dominate midfield
Injuries have been a major concern for Jurgen Klopp even in this campaign. The German coach is enduring a bit of a midfield crisis at the moment. James Milner, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot will miss the tie due to injuries. Meanwhile Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are yet to be fully match fit.
West Ham also possess a balanced midfield with Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek operating as defensive midfielders. They have been excellent at their job which has given the likes of Fornals and Bowen the license to play free-flowing football and initiate attacks.
With major absentees in midfield, our guess is that Liverpool will struggle to dominate the midfield battle.
#3 Michail Antonio to have an impact
Michail Antonio has been one of the players to watch out for in this season of the Premier League. The centre-forward has been ripping teams apart with his decisive strike in front of goal, proving himself a threat to be reckoned with.
Antonio has scored six goals and provided three assists in the Premier League. The 31-year-old has been involved in nine out of 20 goals scored by the Hammers so far in the English top flight. The statistics are a testament to Antonio's brilliance and how crucial he is for West Ham.
With the midfielders and wingers in such fine form, Antonio is bound to get the service he needs to be effective in front of goal. He has all the ammunition to make life difficult for Liverpool defenders and our guess is that he will have an impact on the game.
#2 Mohamed Salah to find the net
The easiest prediction of the lot is that Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah will find a way to score. The Egyptian maestro has made a habit of being prolific for the Reds as only a few defenders have managed to keep him quiet.
Salah has been in a league of his own, racking up 15 goals and six assists across all competitions this campaign. Ten of his goals and all six assists have come in the English top flight. This proves why he is the best in the Premier league, if not the world, by some margin.
There is no doubt that Salah is the most important player for Liverpool. Opponents can hope and pray that the 29-year-old does not perform to his full potential, which will make him truly unstoppable.
West Ham will definitely go the extra mile and try their best to stop Salah. But considering his form, our guess is Salah will find the net.
#1 Liverpool to emerge victorious in a thriller
An away trip to face West Ham is a difficult place for any opponents and will prove to be a stern test for Liverpool. Both teams are known for their offensive approach, which makes it all the more exciting for the fans.
The Reds are the leading scorers in the Premier League with 29 goals in 10 matches while West Ham have scored 20. Jurgen Klopp's men will miss their key players, especially Roberto Firmino up front. Yet they are likely to have no problem scoring goals, as evident with their exploits against Atletico Madrid.
Considering Liverpool's sensational away form and West Ham's poor record against the Reds, we are predicting a win for the Merseyside team.
