The Christmas schedule of the 2024/25 Premier League season is in full swing. In the previous round of the Premier League, there were many upsets, with four of the BIG6 giants experiencing setbacks. Only Liverpool and Arsenal managed to secure victories, indicating a significant change in the league's landscape this season. Despite undergoing a coaching change, Liverpool has maintained a super-stable state and emerged as the top contender for the title. On December 30th at 1:15 AM Beijing time, Liverpool will face West Ham United away in the 19th round of the Premier League, with coach Slott aiming to lead Liverpool to their second Premier League trophy in club history.
Last season, Liverpool experienced a collapse following Klopp's public announcement of his departure, only managing to win the League Cup while missing out on the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup titles. This summer, Liverpool welcomed Dutch coach Slott, who did not opt for major adjustments to the squad but instead chose to retain the main lineup left by Klopp. This continuity in tactics has made Liverpool the most stable team in the Premier League this season, demonstrating Slott's wise decision-making.
Liverpool has recently gone unbeaten in 23 consecutive matches across all competitions, achieving an impressive record of 20 wins and 3 draws. They have won all six matches in the Champions League, topping the group, advanced to the quarter-finals of the League Cup with three consecutive victories, and remained unbeaten in 13 rounds of the Premier League. Currently, they sit atop the league table with 42 points from 13 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss. With one less match played, they lead Arsenal by 6 points and have extended their lead over reigning champions Manchester City to 14 points. As the season approaches its halfway point, Liverpool's lead appears unshakable.
West Ham United, on the other hand, faced the pain of a coaching change this summer. After Moyes' departure, Spanish coach Lopetegui took over, but the team's performance has not improved. They have recently achieved 2 wins and 2 draws, showing some recovery. They currently sit 13th in the league table with 23 points from 6 wins, 5 draws, and 7 losses, level with Tottenham, leading Manchester United by 1 point, and trailing the European competition zone by 6 points. The pressure on Lopetegui remains significant.
Looking at the offensive statistics of both teams, Liverpool has scored a total of 63 goals across various fronts, making them the strongest attacking team in the Premier League. Their defense ranks second, with excellent performances at both ends of the pitch. Eleven players in the team have scored goals, with Salah, Diaz, and Jota, the new Red Arrows trio, scoring double-digit goals in various competitions. Salah leads the team with 19 goals and 15 assists.
In contrast, West Ham United has only scored 23 goals and conceded 30, ranking 14th in goal-scoring and 15th in defense. Ten players in the team have scored goals, with Bowen being the top scorer with 6 goals and 4 assists in various competitions. Antonio, Soller, Kilman, and Fabianski are unavailable due to injuries. Liverpool, however, has seen most of their injured players return, with only Konate and Bradley on the defensive line still sidelined.
From the head-to-head record between the two teams, Liverpool has dominated with 8 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in the last 10 encounters. The last time West Ham United defeated Liverpool was in November 2021, when they narrowly won 3-2 at home. In this season's English League Cup, Liverpool thrashed West Ham United 5-1 at home to advance. It can be said that Liverpool's strength and form far surpass those of West Ham United, making it very likely for them to win this round. If Liverpool secures all three points, they will further solidify their top position and potentially increase the gap with Manchester City to 17 points, firmly grasping the initiative in the title race.