When an unsettled traditional club fighting relegation meets a top team in one of its worst slumps in decades, the stage is set for an unusually tense duel. West Ham United, in 17th place in the Premier League with only 11 points from twelve games and a vulnerable defense, is fighting for every point, with Leeds, level on points, breathing down its neck. Liverpool, under Arne Slot, are in 12th place, eleven points behind the leaders and with nine defeats in their last twelve competitive games, further hampered by defensive instability, unproductive new signings and injury worries. Nevertheless, the recent head-to-head record between the two teams remains clear: in the last five meetings, Liverpool have won four times, with West Ham only managing a 2-2 draw in April 2024. In addition, there have always been at least three goals scored, and in four games there have been at least four. The 5-0 defeat in London in December 2024 was particularly bitter for the Hammers and underlines how precarious their position is against a struggling but still individually strong opponent.
- Venue: London Stadium, London
- Date and time: November 30, 2025, 3:05 p.m.
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 13)
From a betting perspective, this match initially looks like a clear game for goals. West Ham have conceded goals in each of their last five league games, while at the same time more than 2.5 goals have been scored in all of these encounters because the Hammers regularly score up front but remain vulnerable at the back. This is reflected in the head-to-head record: in the last five matches between West Ham and Liverpool, there have been at least three goals each time, and in four games there have been at least four, with Liverpool always scoring. West Ham has scored in each of the last three matches, but has often faded after the break, with Liverpool winning the second half in four consecutive encounters and West Ham conceding goals after the break in all five games. In terms of results, Liverpool are historically in a much better position despite being in 12th place and having defensive problems, with four wins in the last five direct encounters. West Ham have been waiting for a win for over two years, which statistically supports betting options such as X2, provided that Slots’ team is still rated slightly higher despite the crisis.
West Ham form & record check
West Ham are deep in the relegation battle, sitting in 17th place with only 11 points from twelve games and with Leeds level on points directly behind them, the situation is clear. The latest results confirm this picture, especially the continuing defensive weakness under coach Nuno Espírito Santo. In their last five league games, the Hammers have conceded goals in every game, with more than 2.5 goals scored in each. West Ham scores regularly, but lacks stability in their own penalty area almost throughout. The 2-2 draw at Bournemouth is a case in point: after taking a 2-0 lead, an early, rather cautious substitution, with Souček coming on for Wilson in the 52nd minute, allowed Bournemouth to equalize within twelve minutes. Previously, two encouraging home wins, 3-2 against Burnley and 3-1 against Newcastle, had provided some short-term breathing space, but even there, there were clear signs of instability in defense. The two defeats before that, 0-2 against Brentford and 1-2 at Leeds, had started the downward spiral and increased the pressure. Without significant improvements in their defensive work, the relegation battle remains acute. What is needed are clearer defensive training priorities, such as better closing down the center and more stable set-piece defense, a better balance between risk and compactness, and a critical review of personnel and system, such as a return to a more reliable back four or a more defensively strong midfield.
West Ham are likely to start again in Nuno Espírito Santo’s preferred 3-4-3 formation. Alphonse Areola will be in goal, while Łukasz Fabiański remains sidelined with ongoing back problems. The back three is likely to consist of Emerson, with Kilman as an alternative, Todibo, and Igor Julio. The wingbacks are expected to provide width, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right and Armand Laurienté or Diouf on the left, with Diouf more likely to start according to predictions. In central midfield, Mamady Magassa and Guido Rodríguez will anchor the center and drive the game forward. In the attacking trio, Dominic Wilson is set to start as center forward, flanked by Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquetá, who are expected to provide creativity and depth. Wilson is coming in with confidence, having recently scored twice against Bournemouth, while James Ward-Prowse has been left out under Nuno and has yet to see any playing time.
Liverpool Form & Record Check
Liverpool is currently experiencing one of its worst slumps in form in decades, with the team sitting in 12th place, eleven points behind the leaders and having lost nine of its last twelve competitive games. Defensively, the team looks disoriented, with 10 goals conceded in three games and 20 goals conceded after 12 Premier League games speaking for themselves. In attack, the expensive new signings are failing to make an impact, with Isak and Wirtz still waiting for their first goal and having contributed just one assist between them. Added to this are a lack of consistency, recurring positioning problems, for example with Konaté, and personnel concerns, including Frimpong, Bradley, and Bajčetić, which are putting additional strain on an already shaky defense. Tactically, it is noticeable that there is a lack of coordination in transition situations, the compactness between midfield and defense often breaks down, the wings are poorly covered when attacking, and several players in creative and finishing roles do not yet seem to be really gelling.
In the short term, Liverpool should prioritize defensive stability, with more compact midfield pressing, clearer communication in positioning, and less risky passes in front of their own penalty area. A temporary adjustment to the formation, such as a 4-2-3-1 with two strong ball-oriented defensive midfielders for protection, could help, as could a clearer distribution of roles in attack, with one of the new signings acting as a target player or an experienced winger or assertive striker coming to the fore. In the medium term, Isak and Wirtz need targeted individual training to better integrate them into the team’s play, as well as psychological support and motivation to stabilize the squad, and a well-thought-out load management plan to avoid further muscle injuries. Conscious rotation and clear plans for the return of players such as Frimpong and Bradley are also important. If Konaté continues to show form and positional problems, it would make sense to pragmatically fall back on alternatives. Contract issues should be dealt with internally, but sporting decisions cannot wait. On the transfer market during the winter break, only targeted reinforcements would make sense, either a defensively stable center back or defensive midfielder, or an attacker who guarantees immediate goal production. Coach Arne Slot is under pressure in all of this, and what is needed is constructive public communication, clear performance targets, and visible tactical adjustments. A quick return to title-winning form is rather unrealistic; what seems realistic for now is stabilizing the defense, better organizing the team, and gradually reigniting the offensive strength. If these core problems are ignored, the club risks falling significantly behind its own expectations of a top-flight position. If the measures are effective, at least a comeback into the upper regions of the table is possible, even if this does not guarantee the title.
Liverpool are expected to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, but the exact line-up for individual positions is still open. No name has been confirmed in goal, but Gomez is likely to start at right-back, alongside two center-backs whose names have not been clearly announced in advance, and Kerkez at left-back. In front of them, Endo and Mac Allister will form the double six, with Endo playing a more balanced and defensive role and Mac Allister stronger in build-up play and as a link between the lines. In the attacking trio, Salah will start on the right as usual despite his dip in form, Isak is expected to play as the central striker, and the position on the left is open due to the absences of Frimpong and Bradley. These injuries on the wings will probably force Arne Slot to make slight adjustments in terms of width and transition play, with the possibility of slightly deeper pressing or a more compact defensive line to conceal the recent defensive problems. Isak will be the focus of attention, as he is expected to be more assertive and clinical in the penalty area, while Salah will continue to be the main point of contact for dangerous attacking moves.
West Ham – Liverpool Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The recent record clearly favors Liverpool, with four wins for the Reds and one draw, 2-2 in April 2024, in the last five direct duels. West Ham has been waiting for a win against Liverpool for over two years. The flood of goals in these games is striking, with at least three goals scored in all five encounters, at least four in four games, and Liverpool scoring every time. Particularly painful from the Londoners’ point of view was the 5-0 defeat in December 2024, the only one of these games in which the hosts failed to score. Other notable results include the 5-1 defeat in the League Cup in September 2024 and the 2-1 defeat in April 2025. A clear pattern emerges after the break, with Liverpool often dominating the second half and winning the second 45 minutes in four consecutive matches, while West Ham conceded goals after the break in all five games. West Ham still scores regularly, netting a goal in each of the last three meetings, but their defense has never been enough to stop Liverpool, which also points to fitness or tactical problems in the closing stages.
