All of the game focus ahead of this Premier League encounter has been on West Ham’s lowly eighteenth position and how poor their recent record has been against Liverpool. Described as West Ham’s ‘bogey team’, the Hammers have just one win in the league within most supporters’ living memory and and have picked up a meagre total 10 points from the last possible 115 on offer at Anfield in the league.
Which doesn’t bode well. However, Arne Slot is well aware his Liverpool have their troubles defensively. According to Reds’ supporters, Liverpool have got into a nasty habit of starting slowly this season, which is an area which Nuno’s team will look to exploit.
Setting up his Hammers side defensively and looking to nick a late goal surely won’t cut it: The statistics highlighted by their own fan site this is thisisanfield.com suggests this afternoon’s encounter is likely to be anything other than boring:
“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.”
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So clearly the Hammers’ recent spate of early goals and quick starts needs to be replicated if they are to stand any chance of a points raid at the home of the Champions.
Axel Disasi joins West Ham from Chelsea on loan
Transformed West Ham’s defence and clean sheet stats: Axel Disasi will be tested this afternoon
Even with the stiffer resistance provided by Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi, fans are likely in for an anxious last twenty minutes as the clock ticks down. As ESPN point out, Liverpool’s games this season have been filled with late drama:
“Seven of Liverpool’s 27 league games in 2025-26 have featured a winning goal after the 90th minute, the most by any side in a single season in the competition’s history. Four of those goals have come against Slot’s men, showing how much jeopardy lies in regularly playing out such close encounters”
Let’s just hope the Hammers’ defence got the memo and Nuno makes the right changes this week!