Liverpool Vs West Ham

The mood around Anfield is soaring with elation as Mohamed Salah’s long-anticipated contract extension has finally been confirmed, sending Liverpool fans into joyous celebrations. Their excitement is set to spill into the stands once again this Sunday afternoon as Liverpool prepare to welcome West Ham United for another important Premier League encounter. Both teams find themselves eager to bounce back following underwhelming results in the previous round of fixtures—Liverpool unexpectedly fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Fulham, while West Ham settled for a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth, continuing their inconsistent run of form.

Salah’s contract renewal arrives as a significant boost at a crucial stage of the season, ending months of speculation surrounding his future. For a long time, rumors suggested the Egyptian star might be on his way out of Merseyside, but Friday morning brought confirmation that he would be staying put. In a humorous and cheeky post, Liverpool's social media team highlighted the shift in narrative, stating that Salah was now "more in than out" of the club. The two-year extension ensures that one of Liverpool's most iconic modern players will remain part of Arne Slot’s project as the club continues its charge for silverware.

With eight major trophies already to his name in the famous red shirt, Salah is on the verge of adding a ninth piece of silverware to his Liverpool legacy. This season’s Premier League title is within touching distance, and despite the setback at Craven Cottage last week, the Reds are still comfortably ahead of their closest competitors. Liverpool’s defeat to Fulham marked their first Premier League away loss under Arne Slot and just their second league defeat of the 2024-25 campaign. It also continued a recent trend of disappointing results, following earlier eliminations from cup competitions at the hands of Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain. Those three losses in four matches have undoubtedly tested the team’s resilience.

Yet, the misstep in West London was softened by results elsewhere—most notably Arsenal's failure to overcome Everton, which kept Liverpool's commanding lead intact. Holding an 11-point advantage over the North London side with only seven matches left in the season, Liverpool find themselves in a commanding position. Two more wins could be enough to mathematically clinch the Premier League title and secure a second championship triumph in the Salah era. That would mark an extraordinary achievement for Arne Slot in his first season at the helm, particularly given the high expectations that come with managing a club of Liverpool’s stature.

Despite recent slip-ups, Liverpool's home form remains nothing short of exceptional. The Anfield faithful have watched their team collect five consecutive league victories on their own turf, where they are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League fixtures. The last time they suffered a home league defeat was against Nottingham Forest, and since then, the Reds have turned their fortress into an intimidating venue once more. Such consistency at home has been vital in maintaining their lead at the top, especially as other title challengers have faltered during critical stretches of the campaign.

Meanwhile, West Ham United arrive at Anfield with different goals in mind. The East London side, currently sitting in 16th place, are aiming to secure their Premier League survival and end the season on a stable note. While they have not won any of their last four league matches, their draw against Bournemouth at least halted a mini-losing streak. The recent 2-2 draw was an entertaining affair at the London Stadium, featuring goals from Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen to overturn an early strike from Evanilson. However, Bournemouth’s Brazilian striker had the final say, scoring the decisive goal late in the game to deny West Ham a much-needed win.

That result leaves Graham Potter's team with a winless run stretching back to late February. Nevertheless, the Hammers are still relatively secure in the table, holding a substantial 15-point cushion above the relegation zone. Southampton have already been mathematically relegated, and the likes of Leicester City and Ipswich Town appear destined to follow, which means West Ham can realistically begin preparations for another campaign in the Premier League. Their current standing provides a safety net that few below them can claim, and as the season winds down, every point gained will serve to further solidify their place in the top flight.

One of the quirks of West Ham’s season has been their away performances, especially in the attacking department. Despite scoring in 13 of their 15 away matches in the Premier League this season, their goal tally on the road stands at a modest 15 goals—ranking among the lowest in the division. This odd statistic highlights their ability to consistently find the net but struggle to do so with frequency or impact. It’s a puzzling trend that has contributed to their inability to turn performances into wins, especially away from home.

This challenge becomes even more daunting when placed against the backdrop of their record against Liverpool this season. The two sides have already met twice—once in the Premier League and once in the EFL Cup—and both encounters ended in emphatic victories for the Reds. Liverpool netted a combined total of 10 goals across those two matches, ruthlessly exposing West Ham's defensive vulnerabilities. Such dominance has not only given the Reds the psychological edge heading into this fixture but also put them on the verge of achieving a historic feat. If Liverpool score five or more goals again against the Hammers, they would become the first team in English football history to do so three times against the same opponent in a single season.

While Graham Potter continues to work on improving the team’s defensive structure and general consistency, the gap in quality between the two sides is significant. Liverpool have demonstrated their attacking firepower and midfield control throughout the campaign, with Salah, Darwin Núñez, and Cody Gakpo among the standout performers. Slot’s tactical approach has revitalized Liverpool’s transitional play, pressing intensity, and ability to break teams down. Even when injuries or squad rotations have come into play, the overall system has remained effective in delivering results.

In contrast, West Ham have had a disjointed campaign under Potter, who was appointed with the aim of building a long-term project. While there have been glimpses of promise—particularly in the form of Jarrod Bowen’s consistent performances and the emergence of younger talents—their lack of cohesion at times has hindered progress. The defensive unit, often overworked and exposed in open play, has failed to offer the sort of resistance necessary to compete with the Premier League’s top teams. Against a team like Liverpool, who thrive on exploiting gaps and maintaining high attacking pressure, West Ham’s backline is likely to be thoroughly tested once again.

One possible area of optimism for West Ham lies in set pieces, an area where they’ve occasionally found joy throughout the season. If they can win free kicks or corners in advanced positions, they may be able to trouble Liverpool’s defense, which has shown rare lapses in concentration in recent weeks. However, they will need to be clinical with the few chances they manage to carve out, as Liverpool rarely allow sustained periods of pressure from visiting sides at Anfield.

The Anfield atmosphere itself is likely to be electric, especially following the Salah contract news, which will surely lift the spirits of the home support even further. The Egyptian forward remains a beloved figure on Merseyside, and his continued commitment to the club has reinforced a sense of belief that this team, under Arne Slot, is building towards something truly special once again. That connection between the players and the fans is something that could prove decisive in the final stretch of the title race.

Looking ahead, Liverpool’s focus will not just be on securing three points against West Ham, but also on maintaining their rhythm and confidence ahead of the season’s closing fixtures. Any slip-ups now could give hope to Arsenal or any other distant challenger, and Arne Slot will be keen to ensure that complacency does not creep in. With potential celebrations on the horizon, the squad will aim to take care of business efficiently and decisively, putting on a performance that reflects their quality and ambition.

For West Ham, this match presents more of a free hit than a must-win. With survival nearly assured, Potter can use this opportunity to test his players against elite opposition and gain valuable insights for next season. While the odds are firmly stacked against them, the Hammers could still play the role of spoilers and earn some unexpected plaudits if they manage to frustrate or contain their high-flying hosts.

Ultimately, the stage is set for another memorable afternoon at Anfield. Liverpool, driven by the energy of their fans and the renewed commitment of their star forward, will seek to take another decisive step towards the Premier League title. West Ham, though likely to be on the back foot, will aim to offer resistance and perhaps write a different narrative than the one expected. But with Liverpool’s attacking might, formidable home form, and a point to prove after their recent slip-up, the script appears poised to favor the Reds once more as they march towards domestic glory.