Football
West Ham vs Liverpool Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction – Dec 29, 2024
West Ham will be hoping to end the year on a high note when they face Liverpool in the Premier League. Arne Slot’s side will make the trip to London on Sunday, and with three points once again up for grabs, the Reds will be looking to extend their lead at the summit. SportsBoom offers up the latest insights, football betting site odds and our own West Ham vs Liverpool prediction!
Arne Slot//Getty Images
Pre-game odds and win probability: Liverpool Lead the Betting Boards
Home: 5/1 (6.0) – 16%
Draw: 39/10 (4.9) – 19%
Away: 12/25 (1.48) – 65%
Head-To-Head Record
Last five meetings (Premier League)
27/04/2024: West Ham 2-2 Liverpool
24/09/2023: Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
26/04/2023: West Ham 1-2 Liverpool
19/10/2022: Liverpool 1 -0 West Ham
05/03/2022: Liverpool 1 -0 West Ham
West Ham Current Form - LLWDD
At the risk of sounding incredibly harsh, outside of Jarrod Bowen, West Ham have been inconsistent at best and simply horrible at worst. Julen Lopetegui seems to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and his team just seems permanently jaded and lethargic.
Now, of course, West Ham are without Michail Antonio. He is an incredible miss and the edge he brings to any team he plays in cannot be understated. This is sport though, and when one player's misfortune is often another’s opportunity.
Niclas Fullkrug was hyped by many pundits before the season started, but the Hammers haven’t managed to extract maximum playing time from the striker. He will surely justify all of the talk around him soon enough…
Key Players to Watch
- Jarrod Bowen: He has without question been the best player for West Ham all season this year. His movement is so smart, but it’s his ball manipulation which allows West Ham to eke out chances high up on the pitch and in front of goal.
- Mohammed Kudus: Often a player who doesn’t receive too many plaudits from the media, Kudus has been a reliable option for Julen Lopetegui. His simple, and yet tremendously aggressive, approach is appreciated by all at the London Stadium, but in every successful team, you need a player happy to play the simple role and do the clean-up job…kudus to him!
- Lukasz Fabianski: An incredibly experienced keeper who on many occasions this season has kept West Ham in the game, calm under pressure and another player happy to play the simple role, Fabianski could be vital should the Hammers wish to avoid a relegation scrap this season.
West Ham Team News
Michail Antonio (broken leg) is the only player sidelined for West Ham here.
Liverpool Current Form - WWWDW
A lot has been made already about Mohamed Salah this season, but the Egyptian simply cannot be stopped. He is once again playing in the form of his life, breaking records for fun and absolutely shredding opposing defences on the counter as soon as they surrender space.
Liverpool have been in sublime form pretty much all season, they sit at the summit of the league in a season where consistency has been as scarce as anything.
Yes, they have achieved some incredible results in all competitions. Yes, they have had special players do special things on occasion. However, their draw with Fulham remains one of the most impressive moments of the first half of the season.
Playing with 10 men and dominating a game against a capable opponent is simply incredible. It will take something of the highest order to beat this Liverpool team.
Key Players to Watch
- Mohamed Salah: So, at the risk of sounding like a stuck record, Mohamed Salah is certainly a player to watch! He is absolutely ripping up trees in the league, he is a handful for any defensive outfit, and he will be incredibly important to Liverpool this season.
- Ryan Gravenberch: A player who just keeps on impressing. His movement is what sets him apart from midfielders this season. He may not have the creativity of the very best, but his role is different. His interceptions, clever passes and reading of the game is often the reason his team win the ball so high up on the pitch.
- Andy Robertson: After serving his red card suspension, Robertson returned when Liverpool thrashed Tottenham Hotspur. The stacked fixture list allowed for a rather swift return, and the Scot has once again employed his energetic and pacey runs down the left Liverpool flank…there isn’t anyone associated with the Reds not overjoyed to welcome him back!
Liverpool Team News
Conor Bradley (thigh injury) and Ibrahima Konate (knee injury) are both not available to Arne Slot for this encounter.
Predicted Line-Up
West Ham: 4-2-3-1
Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Alvarez, Soucek, Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus, Fullkrug
Liverpool: 4-2-3-1
Alisson, Robertson, Van Dijk, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz.
Suggested Bets
Our suggested bets for all of your Premier League betting needs!
Liverpool to Win: The manner in which Liverpool is currently going about their business is simply ruthless. They are beginning to look like a championship-winning side underpinned by wonderful footballing quality. They win this for us. 12/25 (1.48) with Betway.
Over 2.5 Goals: We think this game has plenty of goals in it. Three of the last five encounters between these two clubs have seen over 2.5 goals land and we think this one does too. 4/10 (1.4) with BetWinner and Betway.
Liverpool + Over 2.5 Goals: Combining the likelihood of a high-scoring affair, without putting too much trust in the inconsistent hosts, delivers enough value for us to enjoy. Back the Reds to claim all three points as well as over 2.5 goals at 8/10 (1.8) with N1Bet
Value Bets
Half-time/Full-time + Over 1.5 Goals: Back the Reds to be leading at the break and then go on to win a game which sees over 1.5 goals land as well. 57/50 (2.7) with BetWinner.
Mohamed Salah (Anytime Goal Scorer: A banker for all our betting slips, back the Egyptian King to find the back of the net once again here. 28/10 (3.8) with 1xBet.
Liverpool to Score in Both halves: Yes, we really are being rather bullish with all our bets hinging on Arne Slot’s side – but back the Reds to score in both halves at generous odds. 9/10 (1.9) with Pinnacle and Pin Up.
Prediction: Liverpool + Over 2.5 Goals
Liverpool is playing with balance and confidence. A strong defensive system and a devasting amount of talent going forward. The away win is a confident selection, but we need some extra value from our football betting sites! Make it a combination play of the Liverpool win and over 2.5 goals at the London Stadium.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.
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