West Ham have had a dismal season; they are 18th in the Premier League and two points away from safety, despite a net spend of around £135m in the last 18 months.
However, they are starting to turn things around and it is their record in the first half of matches that Liverpool will take note of when they meet.
A game of two halves
West Ham have scored nine goals in the first 15 minutes of Premier League matches this season, more than any other team.
However, they have conceded 31 goals in the second half of league games this season – the most of any top team along with Leeds.
Only 31 percent of the Reds’ goals this season have come in the first half, compared to West Ham’s 59 percent.
West Ham have dropped more points by gaining positions (20) this season than any other team in the Premier League.
When asked about Liverpool’s slow start, Arne Slot said: It is never our approach.
“We have often seen when we play at Anfield, for example, that the approach is of the other team [is the reason.]
If I had to play at Anfield when I was at Feyenoord or another club – I never played here – I would 100 percent have said to my players: ‘Try to slow the game down in the first fifteen to twenty minutes because you don’t want the fans to get behind the team.
“So take your time for throw-ins; take your time for set pieces. Do everything you can to slow it down, to calm the fans down.”
“And that’s what I think other teams are trying to do as well, which is totally fair.”
West Ham’s record at Anfield
Liverpool may be far from their best, but the Reds are still averaging three goals per game in their last ten games at Anfield in all competitions.
This does not bode well for West Ham, who have won one of their last 58 Anfield visits in all competitions.
Their only win at Anfield since 1963 came in August 2015, thanks to goals from Manuel Lanzini, Mark Noble and Diafra Sakho in a 3-0 victory – that is their only away win over Liverpool in their last 52 league attempts.
The Hammers have lost each of their last ten visits in the league and cup, and they have collected 10 points from the last possible 117 at Anfield in the league.
West Ham have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 19 league matches against Liverpool since the 2-0 win at Upton Park in January 2016.
This season’s scorers (incl. Community Shield)
Liverpool: Ekitike 15, Szoboszlai 10 (4), Gakpo 7, Salah 7, Wirtz 6, Gravenberch 4, Mac Allister 4, Van Dijk 4, Chiesa 3, Isak 3, Frimpong 2, Konate 2, Jones 1, Kerkez 1, Ngumoha 1, Robertson 1, own goals 2
Westham: Bowen 8, Summerville 6, Paqueta 5, Wilson 5, Soucek 4, Mateus Fernandes 3, Castellanos 2, Magassa 1, Walker-Peters 1, own goals 2
*Statistics courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea (@ged0407).
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