Liverpool vs West Ham United
When West Ham arrive at Anfield on Monday night they need to find something special and a new inner strength, either that or they are going to get hammered.
Arguably Liverpool don’t need the points as much as their visitors. They start the weekend 22 points clear of Manchester City at the top of the league, while the Hammers are fighting for their lives in a six-team relegation battle.
The Premier League champions-elect just want to get the job done to win their first top-flight title in 30 years, as soon as possible.
And the SBOBET odds for this game tell us all we need to know. The Reds are at 1.18 to win with West Ham out there at 13.50 and the draw is 6.60. But there will be 11 players on each side, and at 8pm UK time the score will be 0-0.
West Ham cannot afford to treat this as a free hit.
Talking Points
Red backlash may be coming
Defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League tie was a shock to Liverpool. After Saul Niguez scored an early opener for Los Rojiblancos, they simply shut the Reds out. Jurgen Klopp’s side didn’t register a single shot on target.
I’m not sure that experience will help the Hammers at all, and I expect something of a backlash.
Klopp does have once selection issue to manage with the news that Captain Jordan Henderson could be out for three weeks with a hamstring injury, and that could mean a start for Naby Keita.
How can West Ham stop the rot?
So with Liverpool smarting from a rare defeat, West Ham fans might want to look away when the Iron arrives at Anfield.
Damage limitation was clearly the objective when David Moyes took the Hammers to the Etihad last Sunday. He dropped top scorer Sebastien Haller and was evidently pleased to escape with a 2-0 defeat.
Fans at the London Stadium are frustrated. After spending big last summer they expected to be pushing for a Europa League spot and they miss their old home at Upton Park badly.
But they are in a real battle. After visiting Anfield, Moyes must prepare his side for another set of difficult fixtures, starting with a clash against in-form Southampton, and then four games against teams chasing Europe such as Arsenal, Wolves, Spurs and Chelsea.
Young England midfield man Declan Rice was a lone shining light at the Etihad and his form will be vital while the Hammers latest big-money signing in Jarred Bowen made an appearance.
Goal difference could well be crucial when the final deeds in the relegation battle are done in May. Even though Norwich City are fighting for their lives, it looks like five teams are at risk of landing in the other two places at the bottom of the Premier League.
Only three points separate 19th placed Watford from 15th placed Brighton. And while the Seagulls have a better goal difference, only two goals separate Watford, West Ham, Aston Villa and Bournemouth.
The very latest Premier League 2020 betting odds have the Hammers in the bottom three, at odds of 2.10 to go down, with Bournemouth at 2.20.
This is a real and present danger and West Ham’s fans will be nervously watching the Premier League 2020 updates, hoping particularly that Burnley can beat Bournemouth.
Southampton can hammer Aston Villa and Manchester United can see off Watford. If any of the fancied sides slip up against the strugglers, then West Ham’s task gets even harder.
History
The head-to-heads don’t look too bad for the underdogs. West Ham have won ten of the 50 meetings in the Premier League era, with Liverpool winning 29 and there have been 11 draws.
But the clashes at Anfield over the last two seasons have handed big wins to Liverpool, 4-0 and 4-1, and most neutrals will expect something similar on Monday.
The Hammers have gone seven games without a win.
Betting Tip
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Liverpool vs West Ham United | Liverpool Asian Handicap -2.00 @ 1.87 |
| February 24, 04:00(GMT+8) |
Arsenal fans are the only group to see their team go through an entire Premier League season unbeaten and they will be cheering on every club which plays Liverpool over the next 12 games.
But they won’t expect West Ham to be the one!
If you do think Moyes can successfully limit the damage again, then the alternative bet is the Hammers +2.00, which is available at 2.06.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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