Liverpool have got into a habit of starting games slowly this season, and West Ham‘s record means this is a problem to be wary of at Anfield.
West Ham have had a dismal season; they sit 18th in the Premier League and two points from safety despite having a net spend of about £135 million over the last 18 months.
They are beginning to turn things around, though, and it is their record in the first half of games that Liverpool will take note of heading into their meeting.
A game of two halves
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 17, 2026: Liverpool's substitute Federico Chiesa receives final instructions from head coach Arne Slot during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Burnley FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
West Ham have scored nine goals in the opening 15 minutes of Premier League games 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-flight team along with Leeds.
Only 31 percent of the Reds’ league goals this season have come in the first half compared to West Ham’s 59 percent.
West Ham have dropped more points from winning positions this season (20) than any other team in the Premier League.
Asked about Liverpool’s slow starts, Arne Slot said: It’s never down to our approach.
“We’ve seen many times when we play, for example, at Anfield, that the approach 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 have 100 percent told my players, ‘Try to slow the game in the first 15 to 20 minutes, because you don’t want the fans to go behind the team.
“‘So take your time on throw-ins; take your time on set-pieces. Do all the things to slow it down, to calm the fans down.’
“And that’s what I think I see other teams trying to do as well, which is completely fair.”
West Ham’s record at Anfield
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield on April 13, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool may be far from their best, but the Reds have still averaged three goals per game in the last 10 matches at Anfield in all competitions.
This doesn’t bode well for West Ham, who have won one of the 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 10 visits in league and cup, and they have picked up 10 points from the last possible 117 at Anfield in the league.
West Ham not kept a clean sheet in any of the last 19 league encounters with Liverpool since a 2-0 win at Upton Park in January 2016.
This season’s scorers (inc. Community Shield)
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 22, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates with team-mate Andy Robertson (L) and Ibrahima Konaté (R) after scoring the winning goal in the 97th minute during the FA Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at the City Ground. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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
West Ham: Bowen 8, Summerville 6, Paqueta 5, Wilson 5, Soucek 4, Mateus Fernandes 3, Castellanos 2, Magassa 1, Walker-Peters 1, own goals 2
* Stats courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea (@ged0407).