Liverpool vs West Ham Prediction, Odds & Betting Tips | Premier League – 28 February 2026

Match Overview: Reds Chase Champions League Football

When Liverpool host West Ham United at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, the stakes could not be clearer for Arne Slot's side. The Reds sit sixth in the Premier League with 38 points from 24 games, level on points with both Manchester United and Chelsea in a fierce battle for Champions League qualification. Every dropped point at this stage of the season could prove decisive, and Liverpool know they must take full advantage of hosting a relegation-threatened West Ham side that sits precariously in 18th place with just 20 points.

Liverpool head into this fixture on the back of a dramatic 1–0 victory at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, where Alexis Mac Allister's late winner rescued three crucial points. However, the performance was far from convincing, and the pre-match withdrawal of Florian Wirtz due to a warm-up injury has raised fresh concerns about the squad's fitness ahead of this crucial home fixture. Slot confirmed post-match: "We tried it in the warm-up and he wasn't able to play. The good thing is there is a week to go until the next game." Whether Wirtz will be passed fit for West Ham remains to be seen, but his absence would be a significant blow to Liverpool's creativity.

For West Ham, this trip to Anfield represents a chance to pull off a shock result that could breathe new life into their survival fight. The Hammers have been in dismal form, winning just five of their 24 league games this season, and currently sit third from bottom — just two points above the relegation zone. However, they showed glimpses of resilience in last week's 0–0 draw at Bournemouth, where Jarrod Bowen registered nine crosses and six corners despite failing to find the back of the net. If West Ham can frustrate Liverpool and nick a goal on the counter, an upset is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Premier League Table (Before MD28)

Liverpool's position in sixth — level on points with Manchester United (38) and Chelsea (38) — makes this fixture absolutely crucial. A win would keep them in the Champions League hunt, while a defeat or draw could see them slip further behind. West Ham's predicament is even more desperate: third from bottom with 20 points, level with Leeds United in 19th, and just two points above the automatic relegation places. Every point is precious for both sides, but for vastly different reasons.

Recent Form Guide

🔴 Liverpool – Last 5 Premier League Matches

Liverpool's domestic form has been inconsistent but ultimately productive in recent weeks. The 1–0 victory at Nottingham Forest on February 23 was far from convincing, but Mac Allister's late winner kept their Champions League hopes alive. Before that, Liverpool drew 0–0 at Brighton, beat Fulham 3–0 at home, drew 1–1 at Arsenal in a crucial top-six clash, and suffered a disappointing 0–2 defeat at home to Manchester City. Slot's side have won just two of their last five league games, highlighting the inconsistency that has plagued their season. The key positive is that Liverpool remain unbeaten at Anfield in their last six Premier League matches, a fortress mentality they will need to maintain against West Ham.

⚒️ West Ham United – Last 5 Premier League Matches

West Ham's recent form makes for grim reading. Their last five league outings include a 0–0 draw at Bournemouth (where they registered zero shots on target), followed by three consecutive defeats: 0–1 at home to Crystal Palace, 1–3 away at Brentford, and 0–2 at Everton. Before that, they managed another goalless draw — this time at home to Southampton. West Ham have scored just two goals in their last seven league games and have failed to win any of their last eight Premier League matches (D2 L6). The Hammers are in freefall, and their survival hopes rest on finding form quickly.

Team News & Injury Report

🔴 Liverpool – Injury & Availability List

Liverpool's injury crisis continues to test Slot's squad depth. Florian Wirtz is the headline concern heading into this fixture. The German midfielder withdrew from the starting XI at Nottingham Forest with what Slot described as a back problem picked up in the warm-up. The good news is that Liverpool have a full week to assess his fitness, and Slot's comments suggested optimism that Wirtz could return for the West Ham match. If Wirtz is ruled out, Curtis Jones would likely start in the No.10 role.

Alexander Isak — Liverpool's record signing — suffered a broken leg (fibula fracture) after scoring in the 2-1 win at Tottenham before Christmas. Slot confirmed Isak has returned to light training in his running shoes but is still weeks away from a return. The Swedish striker is not expected back until mid-April at the earliest.

Conor Bradley underwent surgery on ruptured knee ligaments after being taken off injured during the 1-1 draw at Arsenal in January. Liverpool confirmed Bradley faces a season-ending injury and will not return until summer 2026. The good news for Slot is that Jeremie Frimpong — another right-back option — is close to a return. Slot said ahead of the Forest match: "We hope [Frimpong] will be involved next week if things go as planned." If Frimpong is passed fit, it would ease Liverpool's defensive crisis.

⚒️ West Ham United – Injury & Availability List

West Ham head to Anfield with a largely fit squad — a rare luxury for a club that has battled injury problems throughout the season. Jarrod Bowen leads the attack with 8 goals and 2 assists in the league, while Lucas Paquetá provides creativity from midfield. The lack of major injury concerns means manager Julen Lopetegui has no excuses if the Hammers fail to put up a fight at Anfield.

Predicted Lineups

Slot faces a key decision on whether to start Florian Wirtz if the German is passed fit. Wirtz has been Liverpool's most creative spark since the turn of the year, and his absence at Forest was keenly felt. If Wirtz is unavailable, Curtis Jones would retain his place in the No.10 role. At right-back, Jeremie Frimpong is being targeted for a return, which would allow Cody Gakpo to move back into a more natural attacking position. Hugo Ekitike will lead the line in Isak's absence — the Frenchman has grown into the role since his summer arrival and offers pace, pressing and intelligent movement.

For West Ham, Lopetegui will set up to be compact and difficult to break down, looking to frustrate Liverpool and hit them on the counter. Jarrod Bowen is the Hammers' biggest attacking threat, with his pace and directness causing problems for any defence. Mohammed Kudus provides creativity in the No.10 role, while Niclas Füllkrug offers a physical presence up front. The key for West Ham is whether they can withstand Liverpool's pressure in the first 30 minutes without conceding.

Head-to-Head Record

Liverpool have dominated this fixture historically, winning 31 of the 47 recent Premier League meetings between the two sides. West Ham's six victories have come at memorable moments, but the overall H2H record heavily favours the Reds. The most recent meeting was a 2-0 Liverpool victory on November 30, 2025, with the Reds controlling the match from start to finish at Anfield. Liverpool have won their last four home league games against West Ham and have not lost at Anfield to the Hammers since 2016 — a remarkable run that underlines the difficulty of the task facing Lopetegui's side.

Key Battles to Watch

Tactical Analysis & Match Verdict

Liverpool's approach under Slot has been built around controlling possession, pressing high up the pitch, and exploiting wide areas with the pace of Salah and Díaz. At Anfield, the Reds will expect to dominate the ball and pin West Ham back in their own half for long periods. The key question is whether Liverpool can convert their territorial dominance into goals — a problem that has plagued them throughout this inconsistent season.

West Ham will set up in a compact 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 block, looking to absorb Liverpool's pressure and hit them on the counter through Bowen's pace and Kudus's creativity. Lopetegui knows his side cannot go toe-to-toe with Liverpool at Anfield and will prioritize defensive solidity above all else. If West Ham can frustrate Liverpool in the first half and keep the scoreline at 0–0, they have the quality to nick a goal on the break.

The Wirtz situation is critical. If the German is passed fit and starts, Liverpool gain a creative dimension that could unlock West Ham's defence. Without him, Liverpool become more predictable and easier to defend against. The absence of Isak also removes Liverpool's most clinical finisher, placing greater responsibility on Ekitike and Salah to convert chances.

West Ham's biggest challenge is their complete lack of attacking threat in recent weeks — zero shots on target against Bournemouth tells you everything you need to know about their current form. Liverpool's home record against West Ham is dominant, and the Reds desperately need three points to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Expect Liverpool to control this game and secure a professional, if not spectacular, victory.

Our verdict: Liverpool win 2–1. Home advantage, superior quality and West Ham's woeful form make this a must-win for the Reds. West Ham will score — they always seem to find a way at Anfield — but Liverpool's attacking firepower should prove decisive. The Wirtz fitness situation could swing the scoreline either way, but we back Liverpool to get the job done.

Our Expert Prediction

We predict Liverpool 2–1 West Ham. Home advantage and the desperate need for Champions League points should drive Liverpool to victory. West Ham will defend deep and make life difficult, but Liverpool's quality in attack should create enough chances to win. Expect a tense, nervy encounter with both teams scoring. Over 2.5 goals at ~1.70 odds offers solid value, given Liverpool's attacking intent and West Ham's ability to score on the break.

Top 6 Betting Tips: Liverpool vs West Ham

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