There aren't many to choose from but Liverpool's first setback in their title pursuit came at the London Stadium in early November, when West Ham pulled off the EPL betting upset in a 3-2 victory.
Since then, they've won 12 of 15 games in the league and pulled themselves back into Man City's view at the top of the table, against all likelihood. While Liverpool have since surged, West Ham have continued along in the steady fashion that has marked the club over the past two years, as they remain firmly in the Top 4 mix.
West Ham proved to be too tough for Liverpool to break down in November, but will history repeat? Read on for our Liverpool vs. West Ham picks and predictions.
Liverpool vs West Ham match odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Liverpool vs West Ham betting tips
Predictions made on 3/3/2022 at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Liverpool vs West Ham game info
• Location: Anfield, Liverpool, England
• Date: Saturday, March 5, 2022
• Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC, DAZN
Liverpool vs West Ham betting preview
Weather
It's expected to be a sunny day in Liverpool on Sunday, with no rain and little wind in the forecast. Temperatures at kickoff are expected to be around 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Injuries
Liverpool: Thiago CM (Questionable), Curtis Jones CM (Questionable), Roberto Firmino ST (Out).
West Ham: Tomas Soucek CM (Questionable), Vladimir Coufal RB (Out), Ryan Fredericks LB (Out), Angelo Ogbonna CB (Out), Andriy Yarmolenko AM (Out).
Liverpool vs West Ham predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Side analysis
As we said in the lede, there aren't many setbacks to point to in Liverpool's season. That's because, quite simply, they are on pace to be one of the best teams, statistically, in Premier League history — regardless of whether it's crowned with a title or not.
With added depth, Diogo Jota's continued ascension, and Mohamed Salah grasping the title of world's best player with both hands, Liverpool's attack has gone to a different level this season. They're averaging an absurd 2.69 goals and 2.56 expected goals per game, with the closeness of the two metrics highlighting their goals return is very much not a matter of luck.
What else isn't a product of luck? Their defensive record rising to elite heights as well. Liverpool's title-winning campaign two years ago featured centerback Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Allison emerging as, arguably, the world's best in their position. That is quickly becoming relevant again and the balance that gives Liverpool makes them nearly unbeatable, with league-highs in goal difference (+50) and xG difference (+41.8).
That unbeatable appearance is certainly true at Anfield, where Liverpool haven't lost and have dropped just six points in 13 games. Picking a side when Liverpool is involved is quickly becoming an exercise in repetition. They are simply a juggernaut, one of the best teams in Premier League history going punch-for-punch with another in Man City. They'll keep pace and keep swinging with a win on Saturday.
Prediction: Liverpool (-333)
Over/Under analysis
We've saved West Ham's involvement in this match for this analysis because they could be in a world of trouble here. As such, we like the Over in a game in which Liverpool could very well clear the total on their own.
Not only are Liverpool better than ever in attack — certainly better than in November when they put two past West Ham — but West Ham's defense is in a bit of a crisis.
In the center, Angelo Ogbonna remains out with a long-term knee injury suffered in the reverse fixture, while Craig Dawson is fresh off one of the worst games of his career in a midweek cup defeat to Southampton.
Worse still is that both starting fullbacks, Vladimir Coufal and Ryan Fredricks, are sidelined. That is a nightmare scenario in any match but it couldn't be coming at a worse time. Liverpool create so much from wide positions, with fullbacks Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold taking such advanced positions, as well as in the half-spaces as Salah and Luis Diaz drift inward.
This is a Liverpool attack nearly averaging three goals and xG per game this season, and have scored 20 times in seven matches since the calendar turned to 2022. It could get ugly for West Ham at Anfield on Saturday.
Prediction: Over 3 (-132)
Best bet
With all due respect to Kylian Mbappe, who is having the season of his life for star-studded PSG, there isn't an argument to be made at the moment: Mohamed Salah is the best player in the world.
Salah had grabbed hold of that title before the new year, as he scored 23 goals in 26 games, and then he reaffirmed the notion in his return from the African Cup of Nations, with four goals since.
In any game, regardless of opponent, Salah is a great bet to score right now but this matchup, in particular, is appealing. Not only are West Ham badly depleted on the flanks, as highlighted above, but Salah loves this fixture. In nine games against West Ham as a Liverpool player, Salah has scored nine times and only gone scoreless twice. He failed to score in Liverpool's defeat in London earlier this season, so we can feel confident he will right that in the rematch.
Pick: Mohamed Salah anytime goal (-140)
