The pundits have been having their say ahead of today's big Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at the London Stadium
Chris Sutton believes it could be another tough day for Liverpool at West Ham United
Chris Sutton believes it could be another tough day for Liverpool at West Ham United
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Liverpool face a massive match at West Ham United in the Premier League today (2.05pm kick-off). The Reds will go into it having lost three games on the run during which time they have conceded 10 goals and scored just one.
The losing run means Arne Slot's struggling side have gone down to defeat in nine of their past 12 outings in all competitions. It's a wretched sequence of results that has, in all probability, put paid to their hopes of defending the Premier League title and put their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages via a top-eight finish in jeopardy.
Under-fire Liverpool head coach Slot and his under-performing players could desperately do with showing the undoubted quality they possess this afternoon. But can they get a result at an improving West Ham side who are unbeaten in three games?
The pundits have been having their say...
Chris Sutton
The former Blackburn Rovers and Celtic striker, writing in his BBC Sport column, said: "Liverpool's run of defeats cannot go on indefinitely, but what is there to suggest it will end on Sunday against the Hammers?
"I had this problem with predicting Manchester City last season when they lost a lot of games but I kept thinking they would turn it around.
"But you get to a stage where you have to just go with your gut, forget what a good team Liverpool used to be, and instead make a prediction based on the way they are playing at the moment.
"There has definitely been an upturn in form from West Ham under Nuno Espirito Santo, and I can't see Liverpool keeping a clean sheet."
Prediction: West Ham United 2 Liverpool 1
Alan Shearer
The Newcastle United legend, who won the Premier League with Blackburn alongside strike-partner Sutton, wrote in his Betfair column: "I haven't got a clue what to expect from Liverpool. Well, I should do, actually, because they're going to concede goals, and the worrying thing is the manner of their defeats. It gives me no confidence to say that they could go to West Ham and win.
"West Ham went 2-0 up at Bournemouth and threw the two-goal lead away. They got a point in the end, but they got battered in the second half at Bournemouth.
"I'm not confident, but I'll go for Liverpool away a win."
Prediction: Liverpool win
Paul Merson
The Arsenal great, writing in his Sportskeeda column, said: "If Liverpool had scored first against Nottingham Forest, they would have won that game easily. West Ham score first here and Liverpool could crumble again like last weekend. This is literally a first goal wins game in my opinion.
"When Liverpool were at their best, they used to press so high. They don't do that anymore. I saw (Mohamed) Salah (against PSV Eindhoven) and for one of the PSV goals, someone just skipped past him and he was still walking back. That would have never happened two or three years ago.
"We're at the end of November and I don't think Arne Slot knows his best team yet. He has to figure that out quickly. When he bought all these players, he must have had a vision in mind. It is time to deliver now. I believe Slot should be given time though. You can't win the league every year. It's not like he's entitled to win the league just because he won it last time around.
"I don't want to use this as an excuse, but we should also take into consideration what happened with Diogo Jota. I just feel that must have had a big effect on these players. When you see someone like Virgil van Dijk struggling, you start to think if the problem is more than just football.
"Like I said before, whoever scores first, the referee can just blow the whistle and call them winners! Backing Liverpool since they have the better players all over the pitch."
Prediction: West Ham United 1 Liverpool 2
Harry Redknapp
The former Tottenham Hotspur boss wrote in his BetVictor column: "I know Nuno will be disappointed to lose a two-goal lead to Bournemouth but that’s still seven points from nine, he’s clearly making an impact.
"(Liverpool) Where do I start? I can’t believe what I’ve been watching! I know everyone keeps going on about how bad Liverpool have been at the back, but they’ve hardly been great going forward.
"West Ham will clearly fancy their chances here and I can see them getting a point."
Prediction: West Ham United 1 Liverpool 1