After achieving their first win in the Champions League for 5 years, Liverpool will be hoping to bounce back to Premier League life with a win over West Ham United on Saturday. Despite losing 1-0 to Aston Villa in their most recent league fixture, the Liverpool squad will travel to London with the intention of wreaking havoc at Upton Park.
Liverpool have a decent record against the Hammers, having won 16 of their last 22 fixtures, with the captain Steven Gerrard contributing 9 goals.
The last time West Ham defeated Liverpool was back in 2011, in which Scott Parker, Demba Ba and Carlton Cole netted for those in burgundy and blue, whereas Glen Johnson was the only goal scorer for the Reds, leaving the final score at 3-1. This result was quite a triumph for the Hammers, as they were currently in a relegation battle, whilst Liverpool were sitting in 6th place.
The two clubs then met again in 2012, with Liverpool squeezing out a 2-3 win, despite West Ham perhaps having the home-advantage. Glen Johnson and Joe Cole managed to net for the Reds, and an own goal from James Collins allowed them to return to Merseyside with a win, with Mark Noble’s penalty and Steven Gerrard’s own goal providing the Hammers with something, but not quite enough for them to take the draw.
The next result between the two sides was a 0-0 draw at Anfield in the Premier League in 2013. Liverpool were unlucky not to score, with 57% overall possession, 19 shots with 12 on target and 12 corners. West Ham on the other hand, managed 43% possession, 10 shots, 4 on target, and only 2 corners. Liverpool could have won the game if Daniel Sturridge’s goal hadn’t have been ruled offside, something which was questioned by the manager, Brendan Rodgers.
The Hammers then returned to Liverpool later that year, and unfortunately went home empty handed after a 4-1 ‘hammering’ at Anfield. Mamadou Sakho managed to net his first goal for the Reds, with Luis Suarez scoring twice, and an own goal Guy Demel meant Liverpool were safe and sound. West Ham’s goal also came from an own goal, from defender Martin Skrtel, which meant that unfortunately for Liverpool, the clean sheet they had hoped for was out of the window.
The most recent fixture between the two sides was back in April of 2014, in which Liverpool managed to clinch a 1-2 win at Upton Park. Guy Demel netted for the Hammers, but Steven Gerrard’s penalty-taking was as on-point as ever, and the skipper converting two from the spot allowed Liverpool two walk away victorious.
After losing star-striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona this Summer, Liverpool will be hoping that new signing Mario Balotelli will be able to start making a real name for himself as a Liverpool player, preferably with his performances as opposed to his behaviour. All eyes will be on the Italian, as Daniel Sturridge is still currently recovering from a thigh injury which he sustained during international duty with the England squad.