Having looked early doors like they were in for another season near the foot of the table, West Ham United have evolved into one of the more difficult teams to beat in the Premier League. Under the guidance of Gianfranco Zola, they have risen to seventh in the standings, a point ahead of Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham in the race for a Europa League place.
However, the Hammers have lost on two of their last four outings and have scored more than one goal in only one of their last 12 games. On the upside, last weekend's win at Stoke City has boosted their continental ambitions, and they have conceded only five goals in their last nine games.
The Irons will have to be on top of their game to keep out a rampant Liverpool side who has been finding the net for fun of late. And while the Londoners downed the Reds in the corresponding fixture last season, and kept them goalless at Anfield this term, Zola knows his side will be up against it this weekend.
The Italian said on Thursday, "In my opinion they are a team you'd rather play at their home than away as if you look at their record away it must be one of the best in the Premier League. So it is a really tough match for us but my players are determined to beat one of the really top sides."
Indeed, Liverpool's record on the road this season is second only to Chelsea's, as they have won 11, drawn four and lost two - their only defeats of the campaign thus far, somewhat ironically. Rafael Benitez's men have triumphed in seven of eight league games since their shock loss at Middlesbrough, a run which has seen them storm back into title contention.
The Merseyside giants sit three points adrift of Manchester United, the league leaders, and must win all of their remaining three games to have a realistic chance of winning their first championship since 1990. Victory at Upton Park will put them top of the table, with Sunday's Mancunian derby to determine whether they stay there.
Although they haven't won in their last two meetings with West Ham, they bring brilliant form into this clash. They could easily have ended up with seven or eight goals against Newcastle United last weekend, and their determination to hang in the title race until the bitter end is palpable.
Steven Gerrard said this week, "I honestly believe that this team will win the Premier League. I believe I'll get my hands on it. If I said, 'I don't think we're going to win it', what would be the point of carrying on?"
FORM GUIDE
West Ham United
May 02 Stoke City 0-1 West Ham
Apr 25 West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
Apr 18 Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham
Apr 11 Tottenham 1-0 West Ham
Apr 04 West Ham 2-0 Sunderland
Liverpool
May 03 Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle
Apr 25 Hull City 1-3 Liverpool
Apr 21 Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal
Apr 14 Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool (Champions League)
Apr 11 Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn
TEAM NEWS
West Ham United
Star striker Carlton Cole is expected to remain on the sidelines as he nears a return from groin trouble; Scott Parker is likewise afflicted, while James Collins and Kieron Dyer have calf and hamstring problems respectively.
Savio Nsereko should make the matchday squad after shaking of an illness, while Jack Collison is also in the mix after a spell out with a knee injury. Dean Ashton, Valon Berhami and Danny Gabbidon are all out for the season.
Probable XI: Green - Neill, Upson, Tomkins, Ilunga - Collison, Kovac, Noble, Stanislas - Tristan, Di Michele
Liverpool
Fernando Torres will reclaim his starting spot after missing the Newcastle game with a reoccurrence of his hamstring problem, and Javier Mascherano has overcome a minor niggle.
Xabi Alonso might not be so lucky, though. The Basque was mowed down by Joey Barton last weekend and will have a late fitness test on his foot, with Lucas Leiva on standby.
Probable XI: Reina - Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Insua - Mascherano, Alonso - Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun - Torres
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Ham United
The Irons were forced to work hard to hold off Stoke, with goalkeeper Robert Green and centre-back Matthew Upson putting in very solid shifts. The pair will have to be on their toes again this weekend against the Reds' in-form attack.
Liverpool
Who else but Steven Gerrard? The skipper is enjoying another fine season and has once again broken the 20-goal mark in all competitions. Will be eager to find the net in London after somehow failing to score against Newcastle last weekend.
However, the Hammers have lost on two of their last four outings and have scored more than one goal in only one of their last 12 games. On the upside, last weekend's win at Stoke City has boosted their continental ambitions, and they have conceded only five goals in their last nine games.
The Irons will have to be on top of their game to keep out a rampant Liverpool side who has been finding the net for fun of late. And while the Londoners downed the Reds in the corresponding fixture last season, and kept them goalless at Anfield this term, Zola knows his side will be up against it this weekend.
The Italian said on Thursday, "In my opinion they are a team you'd rather play at their home than away as if you look at their record away it must be one of the best in the Premier League. So it is a really tough match for us but my players are determined to beat one of the really top sides."
Indeed, Liverpool's record on the road this season is second only to Chelsea's, as they have won 11, drawn four and lost two - their only defeats of the campaign thus far, somewhat ironically. Rafael Benitez's men have triumphed in seven of eight league games since their shock loss at Middlesbrough, a run which has seen them storm back into title contention.
The Merseyside giants sit three points adrift of Manchester United, the league leaders, and must win all of their remaining three games to have a realistic chance of winning their first championship since 1990. Victory at Upton Park will put them top of the table, with Sunday's Mancunian derby to determine whether they stay there.
Although they haven't won in their last two meetings with West Ham, they bring brilliant form into this clash. They could easily have ended up with seven or eight goals against Newcastle United last weekend, and their determination to hang in the title race until the bitter end is palpable.
Steven Gerrard said this week, "I honestly believe that this team will win the Premier League. I believe I'll get my hands on it. If I said, 'I don't think we're going to win it', what would be the point of carrying on?"
FORM GUIDE
West Ham United
May 02 Stoke City 0-1 West Ham
Apr 25 West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
Apr 18 Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham
Apr 11 Tottenham 1-0 West Ham
Apr 04 West Ham 2-0 Sunderland
Liverpool
May 03 Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle
Apr 25 Hull City 1-3 Liverpool
Apr 21 Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal
Apr 14 Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool (Champions League)
Apr 11 Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn
TEAM NEWS
West Ham United
Star striker Carlton Cole is expected to remain on the sidelines as he nears a return from groin trouble; Scott Parker is likewise afflicted, while James Collins and Kieron Dyer have calf and hamstring problems respectively.
Savio Nsereko should make the matchday squad after shaking of an illness, while Jack Collison is also in the mix after a spell out with a knee injury. Dean Ashton, Valon Berhami and Danny Gabbidon are all out for the season.
Probable XI: Green - Neill, Upson, Tomkins, Ilunga - Collison, Kovac, Noble, Stanislas - Tristan, Di Michele
Liverpool
Fernando Torres will reclaim his starting spot after missing the Newcastle game with a reoccurrence of his hamstring problem, and Javier Mascherano has overcome a minor niggle.
Xabi Alonso might not be so lucky, though. The Basque was mowed down by Joey Barton last weekend and will have a late fitness test on his foot, with Lucas Leiva on standby.
Probable XI: Reina - Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Insua - Mascherano, Alonso - Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun - Torres
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Ham United
The Irons were forced to work hard to hold off Stoke, with goalkeeper Robert Green and centre-back Matthew Upson putting in very solid shifts. The pair will have to be on their toes again this weekend against the Reds' in-form attack.
Liverpool
Who else but Steven Gerrard? The skipper is enjoying another fine season and has once again broken the 20-goal mark in all competitions. Will be eager to find the net in London after somehow failing to score against Newcastle last weekend.
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