Prediction & odds for the game: Liverpool (1/6) v West Ham (14/1)
When: Monday, 24rd February 2020 @ 8pm K.O
Where: Anfield
Liverpool will attempt to take one step closer towards winning the Premier League title when they host West Ham United on Monday Night Football.
Liverpool
Liverpool are strolling towards their first league title since 1990 and they’re doing so in style. They have yet to lose in the Premier League this season, they’re on track to break the all-time points record in PL history, and they’re the reigning Champions of Europe. Their main concern now will be whether or not they can avoid being complacent, because while one loss won’t kill them, they’ll be starting to dream about going the whole season unbeaten ala Arsenal’s Invincibles.
A draw against Shrewsbury Town with the kids out in force was a bit of a knock for some fans, but those same kids managed to win the replay 1-0. They were able to sandwich two league wins between those games, 2-0 against West Ham and 4-0 against Southampton. They also narrowly edged out Norwich 1-0, before being brought back down to earth courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie.
West Ham
The hiring of David Moyes for a second tenure as West Ham United manager shocked and confused the masses, and so far, it’s an appointment that hasn’t really paid off. Despite having one of the most attractive looking squads outside of the top six, this team just cannot function as a unit. They’re one of the favourites to go down and if they do so, the volume of players that’ll leave could set them back years. Either way, they have their backs against the wall and they need to start fighting back.
It’s been all doom and gloom for West Ham who just can’t seem to string two passes together right now. They let a two-goal lead slip against Brighton to draw 3-3 and drew 1-1 with Everton, but aside from that, there hasn’t been much of a reason to smile. They were battered 4-1 by Leicester, knocked out of the FA Cup by West Bromwich Albion and beaten by title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City.
Conclusion
There’s no real argument to be made for West Ham winning this game other than the Premier League producing one of the all-time great anomalies in the history of the top flight. Liverpool will control the game in midfield, exploit West Ham at will and probably use this game as target practice. We actually think the Hammers will drop deep and hold Liverpool to a fairly respectable scoreline, but Jurgen Klopp’s men will still be able to secure the win with relative ease.
With a respectable scoreline comes very few goals, which is why we’re backing the under 2.5 goals market.
Verdict: Back the home win at odds of 1/6 and the under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 11/5. (All odds are taken from bet365).
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