Liverpool host West Ham United on Sunday afternoon in the early kick-off game, with more than just pride at stake for both sides. Brendan Rodgers' men are chasing Chelsea in fifth place, desperate for at least UEFA Europa League football next season. And if that proves a bridge too far - the west London club are seven points clear with a game in hand - then the Reds' fans will at least want to finish the season ahead of local rivals Everton; the Toffees are a more manageable three points away, albeit also with a game in hand.

Steven Gerrard
Reuters

Sam Allardyce has done brilliantly to guide the Hammers to 12th in their first season back in the Premier League but the ex-Bolton boss will be aware that with relegation only six points away (Wigan Athletic, in 18th, have 30 points to West Ham's 36), safety is still a few games away.

The reverse fixture finished 2-3 to the Merseyside club, with Glen Johnson, Joe Cole and Jonjo Shelvey outscoring Mark Noble and a Steven Gerrard own goal.

Where to Watch

Kick-off is set for 1.30pm BST. Catch highlights on Match of the Day 2 on BBC One and BBC One HD at 10.25pm BST.

Overview

Liverpool come into this game after a 2-1 win at Villa Park last weekend and on the back of a run of five wins in the last six games; the one blip was the poor defeat to Southampton. Rodgers will be keen for his players to keep up this form in the final few games of the season, particularly since the Anfield club, like Arsenal, have nothing but the league to concentrate on, unlike Chelsea and Tottenham, both of whom have Europa League duties in midweek.

The Reds have won eight of 15 games at home this season, with 30 goals scored and only 14 conceded. That translates into a return of 27 points, which is actually not very impressive; even West Brom, in eighth, have a better home score.

The good news, though, is only Manchester City and Chelsea have conceded fewer goals at home this season, meaning the Hammers will be hard-pressed to score at Anfield. Allardyce's men have, in any case, only nine goals from 15 games on the road.

All signs point to a clean sheet and three points for Liverpool.

Mohamed Diame (R)
Reuters

West Ham were on a poor run of form going into last weekend's game against West Brom but managed a surprising 3-1 home win. The architect of that win, though, was England striker Andy Carroll... and the ex-Newcastle United man cannot play this game as he is on loan from Liverpool. The win against the Baggies aside, West Ham have lost five of the last seven league games.

Team Form

Liverpool

  • Last Five (all matches, most recent first): W L W W W
  • Last Match: Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

West Ham United

  • Last Five (all matches, most recent first): W L W L L
  • Last Match: West Ham United 3 - 1 West Bromwich Albion
Philippe Coutinho
Reuters

Team News

Rodgers has a near full-strength squad available, less the long-term injuries to Joe Allen, Fabio Borini (both shoulder) and Martin Kelly (knee). And with no midweek game to worry about, expect a fully first-choice Liverpool team.

Probable Line-Up: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Gerrard, Lucas; Coutinho, Henderson, Downing; Suarez

Mark Noble (shoulder) and George McCartney (knee) are out for the season. The Hammers do have another ex-Liverpool player in their ranks in playmaker Joe Cole but since he transferred to Upton Park rather than arrive as a loan signing, he is available. The former Chelsea man scored against the Hammers in the fixture at Upton Park and will be eager to complete a double, of sorts, in this match.

Probable Line-Up: Jaaskelainen; Demel, Reid, Collins, O'Brien; Diame, O'Neil; Jarvis, Nolan, Vaz Te; Cole

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