Match Preview: Liverpool Aim to Close Gap on Top Five as West Ham United Fight for Survival
A win would move Liverpool just three points behind Aston Villa in third place...
Liverpool’s season has dipped between promise and frustration, and yet here we are, staring at another opportunity to reshape the Premier League table. A dramatic 97th minute winner at Nottingham Forest kept the chase alive, even if the performance raised more questions than it answered. Now, with West Ham United arriving at Anfield and rivals starting to slip up, a win is crucial.
But this won’t be a routine fixture. Not in the context of where Liverpool sit, and certainly not given the form of West Ham United.
West Ham United’s False Position in the Premier League
West Ham United may be 17th in the Premier League table, but that position tells only part of the story. Eleven points from their last six league matches paints a very different picture from the side that stumbled through the early months of the campaign. They look organised, committed, and far harder to break down.
The shift has been subtle but significant. A new centre back partnership of Mavropanos and Disasi has brought stability and clean sheets have replaced chaotic defending. Instead of shipping goals in clusters, West Ham United have made games tight, tense and uncomfortable. That defensive structure has given them belief, and belief is dangerous when relegation is on the line.
Liverpool will not be facing a timid side hoping to survive. They will face a team fighting for every ball, one that senses survival is possible.
There is also individual quality to consider. Jarrod Bowen remains a constant threat, capable of conjuring something from nothing. Crysencio Summerville has rediscovered sharpness in recent weeks and has haunted Liverpool in the past. Add renewed energy in midfield, and West Ham United suddenly look like a side who could cause problems.
Liverpool’s Right Back Dilemma Under Arne Slot
Team selection will shape this match. With Florian Wirtz sidelined through injury, creativity in midfield becomes a concern. That feeds directly into Arne Slot’s ongoing right back puzzle.
Joe Gomez offers defensive assurance. Curtis Jones provides control and composure in possession. Dominik Szoboszlai brings athleticism and attacking thrust if used in a hybrid role. Jeremie Frimpong, returning from injury, delivers pace and directness few defenders relish.
At Anfield, instinct says Liverpool will control the game. That may tempt Slot towards a more adventurous option, someone who can drift into midfield and overload central areas. With Wirtz absent, that extra technical security could prove decisive.
But the danger is real. West Ham United will look to spring forward quickly, targeting space in transition. Bowen, in particular, thrives in those moments. Liverpool’s defensive line must be alert, and the right back selection cannot ignore that balance between risk and responsibility.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk (C), Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo.
Wide Areas Could Decide Liverpool vs West Ham United
Much has been made of Liverpool’s inconsistency in wide positions. Mohamed Salah’s output has really suffered this season, whilst Cody Gakpo continues to frustrate. Young Rio Ngumoha has offered spark from the bench, fearless and direct, but starting a Premier League match carries a different weight.
Slot must judge whether impact from the bench outweighs potential from the start. Ngumoha’s energy against tired legs is potent.
Against West Ham United’s industrious full backs, Liverpool’s wingers must do more than attack. They must track runners, prevent overloads, and maintain compactness. It is not glamorous work, but it is necessary.
If Liverpool dominate territory, the wide men will have opportunities. West Ham United’s recent solidity suggests chances will not come easily, so patience will be essential. Quick circulation, switches of play, and movement between the lines must stretch a compact defence.
An early goal would change the complexion entirely. Without it, tension may seep into the stands. Liverpool have made life hard for themselves in similar fixtures this season and they cannot afford to repeat that mistake.
Premier League Pressure and Champions League Stakes
The broader Premier League context sharpens everything. Aston Villa’s defeat has opened a door and Chelsea face a difficult Arsenal test.
If Liverpool win, they close the gap to third and potentially climb above rivals before the weekend concludes.
Three points against West Ham United would not guarantee anything, but it would reinforce a pattern. Grind out results when performances are imperfect and maintain contact with the top four.
My expectation is a tight contest, one where Liverpool’s superior quality eventually tells. West Ham United will compete, defend deep and threaten on occasion. But over ninety minutes, Liverpool should find a way.
Prediction: Liverpool 2–1 West Ham United.