Overview
Liverpool's matches in the Premier League this season witnessed 13 goals scored from the 90th minute onwards (7 goals, 6 goals conceded) - more than any other team. 9 of those goals changed the game, with The Kop scoring 3 decisive goals (2 draws, 4 losses).
The most dramatic victory came last weekend, when Alexis Mac Allister scored in the 90+7 minute to help Arne Slot's team defeat Nottingham Forest 1-0 away from home. Previously, the Argentine midfielder was denied a goal by VAR in a match where the home team dominated most of the time.
At the same time last year, Liverpool led the table with 66 points and left their opponent 12 points behind before winning the championship. Currently, they are ranked sixth after 27 rounds, 21 points behind the leading team, equal points with Chelsea and 3 points behind Manchester United in the top 4 race.
Liverpool have won the last 2 matches with a score of 1-0 (Forest and Sunderland) and are aiming for a third consecutive win without conceding a goal - something they have not done since Slot led the team for the first 3 matches last season.
Head-to-head statistics support the Anfield home team. They have only lost one in their last 19 Premier League encounters with West Ham United (15 wins, 3 draws), winning 7/8 matches since the 2-3 defeat in November 2021.
West Ham's position after 14 years in the Premier League is being threatened, but 11 points in the last 6 matches (3 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss) have rekindled hopes of relegation. In February alone, they had a 2-0 victory over Burnley and two draws with Man United and Bournemouth.
However, West Ham still ranks 18th and is 2 points behind the safe group. A quick start against Liverpool could be key, because 59% of their goals this season were scored in the first half (19/32) - the highest in the league. Conversely, Liverpool has the lowest scoring rate in the first half (31% - 13/42).
However, history does not favor The Hammers at Anfield. They have only won 1/52 of their most recent away matches in the Premier League against Liverpool (12 draws, 39 losses), winning 3-0 in 2015 under Slaven Bilic.
In addition, West Ham has lost 26/29 away matches against the reigning Premier League champions. Coach Nuno Espirito Santo has also lost to Liverpool 8 times in the Premier League - more than any other opponent - making this weekend's away trip a huge challenge.
Personnel situation
Midfielder Florian Wirtz had to withdraw from Liverpool's starting lineup before the match against Nottingham Forest due to a back problem during warm-up. The board of directors confirmed that he will be absent from the reception of West Ham United, along with Alexander Isak (leg), Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni (knee) and Wataru Endo (ankle).
Good news for The Kop is that Jeremie Frimpong has recovered from a hamstring injury and is ready to play right-back, thereby allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to push higher in the role of attacking midfielder to compensate for Wirtz's absence.
Cody Gakpo has declined in form and may lose a starting spot to 17-year-old talent Rio Ngumoha or Federico Chiesa. In attack, Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike are likely to still start, although Salah has been goalless for 9 consecutive Premier League matches and Ekitike has not scored in 7/8 recent appearances.
For West Ham, Freddie Potts continues to serve a suspension, while Pablo Felipe (calf) and Lukasz Fabianski (back) are still injured.
Santo may switch to a 5-defender formation, with Jean-Clair Todibo playing alongside Konstantinos Mavropanos and Axel Disasi in the center of the defense. The two wings are likely to be played by Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Expected lineup:
Alisson, Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Ekitike.
West Ham: Hermansen, Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi, Wan-Bissaka, Fernandes, Magassa, Diouf, Bowen, Summerville, Castellanos.
The match between Liverpool and West Ham takes place at 10:00 PM on February 28th (Vietnam time).
