West Ham vs Liverpool: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this weekend’s Premier League fixture at Upton Park

Oliver Warren
Saturday 20 September 2014 13:51 BST
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It seems as though Sam Allardyce’s West Ham side are beginning to shake their tag as a boring route one team, completing 387 passes against Hull on Monday night - their highest tally in a Premier League away game since 2010.

This match also saw Ecuador striker Enner Valencia net a screamer on his Hammers league debut. The major coup of Alex Song can be expected to shore up an unusually leaky West Ham defence, which has failed to keep a clean sheet this season.

Liverpool will be hoping for a more assured performance than they delivered on their return to the Champions League on Tuesday.

Brendan Rodgers will be pleased with Mario Balotelli’s first goal in Liverpool colours, as an injury to Daniel Sturridge leaves them short of firepower – highlighted by their home defeat to Aston Villa, where they failed to score and registered just one shot on target.

KICK OFF: Saturday, 5.30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

West Ham 1 (Demel) Liverpool 2 (Gerrard x2), Premier League, April 2014

Liverpool 4 (Demel O.G, Sakho, Suarez x2) West Ham 1 (Skrtel O.G), Premier League, December 2013

Liverpool 0 West Ham 0, Premier League, April 2013

STATS…

Liverpool have won 16 of their last 22 encounters with West Ham.

Steven Gerrard has netted nine goals against the Hammers.

West Ham have drawn just one of their previous 19 games, having won eight and lost 10.

ODDS…

West Ham to win: 4.50

Liverpool to win: 1.75

Draw: 3.75

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 5.30pm, with highlights on BBC1 at 10.20pm.

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