Saturday 31 January 2015 12:24, UK
Liverpool are set to welcome back England striker Daniel Sturridge for the visit of West Ham.
It's a welcome boost for manager Brendan Rodgers as his side look to bounce back from their Capital One Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Chelsea.
Liverpool, who are unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches, have been in excellent form of late and will be looking to avoid a second defeat to West Ham this season.
If history is anything to go by West Ham face a tough task trying to get anything from their trip to Liverpool, having not won away in the league at Anfield since 1963, losing 30 and drawing 11 of their subsequent 41 visits since.
Sam Allardyce's men have scored just seven goals in their last 29 away matches against Liverpool, failing to score on 23 occasions, but this season West Ham are a different proposition.
The Hammers currently sit one point above Liverpool in the league and will be hoping for a repeat of their 3-1 win at Upton Park back earlier in the season.
Team news
Sturridge is likely to make his first appearance in five months at Anfield on Saturday.
The 25-year-old, who has not played for the Reds since August due to thigh problems, is in "top-class condition" according to Rodgers, who will decide whether to start the former Chelsea forward or name him on the bench.
Liverpool will also assess defender Mamadou Sakho, who suffered a back injury during the Capital One Cup semi-final.
Sky sources understand 16-year-old centre half Reece Oxford is in West Ham squad to face Liverpool. If he features for the hammers tomorrow at Anfield he will be the youngest player in Premier League history and the club’s youngest ever player.
Oxford recently signed his first professional contract. On Wednesday, West Ham Academy manager Terry Westley admitted Oxford was interesting Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal and described the England U17 captain as one of the best young central defenders in Europe.
Allardyce is hoping a number of his West Ham players can recover from minor knocks in time for the trip to Liverpool.
The Hammers are looking for a Premier League double over Rodgers' side but could be without a host of first-team regulars with Carl Jenkinson, James Tomkins and Alex Song all suffering with unspecified problems.
Joey O'Brien (hamstring) and James Collins (groin) could add to Allardyce's defensive woes but Senegal's exit from the African Cup of Nations may see Cheikhou Kouyate return in midfield.
Opta stats
West Ham United have scored more headed goals than any other team in the top division (14).
36 points after 22 matches is West Ham’s best ever points haul in the Premier League era.
Allardyce’s team have been very efficient just after half-time, scoring more goals (10) in the 15 minutes after the break than any other side in the division.
Glen Johnson has scored three goals and has one assist in his last six Premier League appearances against his former club.
Raheem Sterling now has as many Premier League assists as he managed last season (five).
Morgan Amalfitano has scored three goals from just four shots on target in the Premier League this season.
Merson's prediction
This is a tricky one because you have two teams that have been playing really good football. I saw Liverpool play Chelsea the other night and they were by far the team playing better football, but they are really missing Sturridge. I know they'd like to ease him back in but they need a goalscorer now.
West Ham have really impressed me this season, but I just think they will lose out at Anfield.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1
Betting
West Ham are 9/2 shots with Sky Bet to complete a rare Premier League double over Liverpool. The Hammers have a shocking record at Anfield and as a result Liverpool are 8/13 favourites to maintain their improved form and claim all three points. Sterling is 7/4 to net in a win for the hosts but Andy Carroll is certain to prove popular on his return to his former stamping ground and is 7/1 to net first and 12/5 to net in 90 minutes. The Reds remain odds-on to secure a top six finish this term with the Hammers 5/1 shots.
Soccer Saturday Price Boost: Liverpool, Manchester United and Stoke all to win - was 5/2, NOW 7/2
