Liverpool bid to take a step closer to the Premier League title when they welcome West Ham United to Anfield on Sunday (2pm BST).
The Reds have started to stutter in the business end of the campaign. In all competitions, they have lost three of their past four games including a 3-2 defeat by Fulham last weekend.
But Arne Slot’s side still have a sizeable gap at the summit of the table. Eleven points separate Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal with seven games remaining. The Reds require 11 more points to add a 20th English championship to the Anfield trophy cabinet.
Liverpool face a West Ham side who have continued to have their issues despite replacing Julen Lopetegui with Graham Potter as manager. While the Hammers earned a 2-2 draw against AFC Bournemouth in their previous game, they have not won in four. In addition, the Reds romped to a 5-0 triumph when the two sides met at the London Stadium at the end of December.
“Slot will want to see improvements after the Fulham loss, with the Reds ruing defensive errors and conceding three goals in 14 first-half minutes,” said the Liverpool boss said: “It wasn’t 45 minutes of disaster but the errors we made I think are something we are not used to, and that’s something different than playing poorly, in my opinion.
“One of the reasons why we are in the position we are in is we don’t make a lot of mistakes and if we do players try to make up for them. Now, this is also what we tried to do with the second goal but, unfortunately, instead of the ball being deflected [and] going behind, it went into the goal. This can happen, especially if you play a good team like Fulham. If you make mistakes, they have the quality to punish us.”
Liverpool cannot afford to be complacent, though, and require a triumph to edge themselves towards the silverware. Ahead of the West Ham game, here’s a look at the current injury news for both sides.
Liverpool team news
Joe Gomez – out
The versatile defender continues his rehabilitation from hamstring surgery. There are hopes that Gomez will be back by the end of the season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – out
The Liverpool vice-captain is still sidelined because of an ankle injury. It has been suggested that Alexander-Arnold could be back by the end of April.
Alisson Becker – minor doubt
The No.1 goalkeeper has missed the past two games. Alisson suffered a head collision while on Brazil duty last month and while he has returned to training, he still is to pass concussion protocol tests. Slot said after the Fulham loss: Yes, he did [not pass the concussion protocol]. There’s a week to go [until the next match] so that gives us a bit of time. But you know as Liverpool we always follow the protocol in moments like this when it’s a concussion. If you haven’t ticked all the boxes, he can’t be in goal. He wants it a lot but the protocol is the protocol.”
West Ham team news
Michail Antonio – out
The striker is still recovering after being in a serious car accident in December.
Crysencio Summerville – out
The winger, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool in the past, has been unavailable since January because of a hamstring injury.
Aaron Cresswell – doubt
The Liverpool-born full-back was unavailable against Bournemouth and could again be on the sidelines.