Liverpool took full advantage of Chelsea’s shock loss to Fulham earlier that day, solidifying their lead at the top of the Premier League table. Despite conceding an early goal to Jordan Ayew, the Reds responded with Cody Gakpo’s stunning equalizer before halftime.
Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah then sealed the comeback, with Salah’s trademark curler marking his 100th Premier League home goal—making him the fourth-fastest player to reach that milestone.
With 11 wins from their last 13 matches across all competitions, Liverpool remain relentless under Arne Slot. They’ve yet to lose an away game this season, extending their unbeaten streak to 13 matches while scoring in every outing. However, their defensive vulnerabilities away from home have been exposed lately, conceding at least two goals in each of their last four Premier League road games, including a thrilling 6-3 win over Tottenham before Christmas.
West Ham, led by Julen Lopetegui, are closing out 2024 on a strong note. Thursday’s win at Southampton stretched their unbeaten run to four league matches, earning eight points from the last 12 available. That form has lifted the Hammers to 13th in the table, closer to the top five than the relegation zone, and eased pressure on Lopetegui.
Offensively, West Ham have been consistent, scoring in each of their last seven Premier League games. They’ve also been solid at home, losing just once in their last six league matches at the London Stadium. Notably, their clash with Liverpool at the same venue last season ended in a 2-2 draw, remembered for a heated touchline exchange between Jürgen Klopp and Salah.
While West Ham can take confidence from that draw, Liverpool have dominated this fixture in recent years. The Reds have won six of their last seven meetings with the Hammers, including a commanding 5-1 victory in September’s EFL Cup opener and a similar scoreline in last year’s road to Wembley glory.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Liverpool head into their match against West Ham with no changes on the injury front. Manager Arne Slot confirmed in his pre-match press conference that both Ibrahima Konate (knee) and Conor Bradley (hamstring) remain sidelined. However, the defensive pair could make their return in Liverpool’s first game of 2025 against Manchester United.The Reds will also be without Dominik Szoboszlai, who is suspended after picking up his fifth Premier League yellow card of the season in the victory over Leicester. Szoboszlai’s absence likely means Curtis Jones will retain his place in midfield, as he was already preferred over the Hungarian in the Boxing Day lineup. Meanwhile, both Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz are pushing for spots in the attack, potentially replacing the out-of-form Darwin Nunez.
While Liverpool’s squad is largely intact, West Ham face a growing injury crisis following their win over Southampton. The victory was marred by a serious injury to Lukasz Fabianski, who was stretchered off with a head injury and is now undergoing concussion protocol. Additionally, Max Kilman exited early with a shoulder issue, and Carlos Soler was withdrawn at halftime due to a knee injury.
The Hammers’ midfield woes don’t end there, as Guido Rodriguez and Tomas Soucek are both suspended. However, Lucas Paqueta is back from his own suspension and is set to step in, with Edson Alvarez also likely to return. Up front, Michail Antonio remains unavailable as he continues to recover from injuries sustained in a road accident.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
West Ham United possible starting lineup:Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Emerson; Alvarez; Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus, Summerville; Fullkrug
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Jota
EXPERT PREDICTION
West Ham 1-2 Liverpool
That said, the injury-hit Hammers are vulnerable to being picked apart by the league leaders. With Liverpool able to call on fresh, rested stars like Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz in attack, it’s hard to see them ending the year with anything but a win.
