Liverpool vs West Ham Prediction: Salah to celebrate new deal with opening effort

Liverpool suffered just their second Premier League defeat of the season - and first away from home - last weekend as they lost 3-2 at Fulham, but with an 11-point gap to Arsenal and just seven rounds of fixtures remaining, the title appears a formality for Arne Slot's side.

On Sunday (14:00, Sky Sports Main Event), West Ham United, winless in their last four games, provide the opposition at Anfield. Below are my Liverpool vs West Ham predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Slot has confirmed Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is ready to return to action after two games out. The Brazilian suffered a head injury on international duty last month and subsequently observed concussion protocols that forced him to miss the 1-0 Merseyside derby victory over Everton and last Sunday's defeat at Craven Cottage.

The 32-year-old will replace Caoimhin Kelleher in goal and could be joined in the starting XI by Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley, who made his return from a seven-game injury absence by coming off the bench and setting up Luis Diaz's consolation strike against Fulham. Curtis Jones, who has started Liverpool's last two games at right-back, is set to drop out of the line-up for Bradley.

Diaz looks set for a return to Slot's starting XI, with either Cody Gakpo or Diogo Jota making way. Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott are also vying for starts after appearing as second-half substitutes in west London, but the trio may have to settle for the bench again.

Football Odds

Trent Alexander-Arnold (ankle), Tyler Morton (shoulder) and Joe Gomez (hamstring) remain in the Reds' treatment room.

Mohamed Salah, whose new two-year deal at Liverpool was announced on Friday, will be looking to get back in the goals after four games without one at club level.

West Ham head coach Graham Potter hasn't reported any major changes to his squad from last Saturday's 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth. German striker Niclas Fullkrug scored seven minutes after coming on against the Cherries and looks set to receive more minutes at Anfield.

Potter said: "We're just making sure he's OK after the weekend. He's trained today [Friday] so hopefully there's no reaction and he'll be in the squad."

Crysencio Summerville (hamstring) and Aaron Creswell (muscle) remain sidelined for the visitors, who have been without Michail Antonio since the Jamaica international's car accident in December, and the 35-year-old won't play again this season.

Liverpool vs West Ham Odds

Liverpool are 3/10 to return to winning ways this weekend, implying a 76.9% probability, while West Ham are 9/1, or a 10% chance, to beat the Reds for the first time since November 2021.

The draw is priced at 5/1, both teams to score at 10/11, and over 2.5 total goals at 1/2.

Salah (8/11) heads the anytime goalscorer market, followed by Nunez and Jota (both 7/5), with Irons skipper Jarrod Bowen (100/30) first up for the visitors.

Match Result & Total Goals Over/Under 3.5 - Liverpool & Under 3.5 Goals @ 6/5

I'm fully expecting Liverpool to bounce back from last weekend's disappointment at Craven Cottage by taking all three points against West Ham on Sunday.

Fulham away always felt like a tricky fixture that could see the Reds drop points, and so it proved as the Cottagers impressed on home soil.

Liverpool's performance left a lot to be desired, but on Sunday, they're back at home, where they have won their last five league games.

West Ham have already visited Anfield this season, suffering a 5-1 thrashing in the Carabao Cup fourth round last September, and they were also well beaten at the London Stadium in December (0-5).

The last five head-to-heads have produced at least four goals, with Liverpool winning four of those games, but under Potter, the Irons don't give too many goals away.

West Ham haven't conceded more than twice in any of their 12 matches under the Englishman's stewardship, and eight of their last 10 contests have seen gone under 3.5 goals.

There have been three goals or fewer scored in all six of Potter's away games as Hammers head coach, and I expect that trend to continue at Anfield.

Three of Liverpool's last four league outings in L4 have seen three or fewer strikes, and in their 3-1 victory over Southampton on March 8, Salah only scored his second - and the Reds' third - in the 88th minute.

I'm not ruling out an away goal on Sunday, but I'd be surprised if they got more than one. I think the visitors will be happy just to keep the score down in the end, so 2-0 or 2-1 appear the most likely scoreline. As a result, I'm taking on a home win and under 3.5 goals at 6/5.

First Goalscorer - Mohamed Salah (LIV) @ 11/4

Salah ended months of uncertainty over his future by putting pen to paper on a new deal at Liverpool earlier this week, and the Egyptian will be desperate to celebrate the contract in style on Sunday.

The Premier League's leading marksman this season with 27 goals, Salah has endured somewhat of a drought recently, failing to fire in four consecutive games for the Reds since bagging a brace against Southampton on March 8.

However, with little left to play for this season, West Ham look like ideal opponents to face on Sunday, and the Irons have already been breached twice by Salah in 2024/25 - once in the Carabao Cup at Anfield and once in the Premier League at the London Stadium.

The 32-year-old should feel freed by the inking of a new deal with Liverpool, and with a jubilant Anfield crowd willing him on this weekend, I don't think it will take long for Salah to get on the scoresheet, so 11/4 for the first goal may be worth a punt.

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