West Ham United vs Liverpool — Match Preview
A Sunday afternoon showdown with massive implications awaits at the London Stadium as West Ham United host a Liverpool side in full-blown crisis mode. The narrative has flipped dramatically for these two clubs. The Hammers, under Nuno Espírito Santo, have found stability, going unbeaten in their last three games to climb to 17th.
For Arne Slot’s Liverpool, the situation is dire. Sitting 12th in the table and fresh off a humiliating 4-1 Champions League defeat to PSV, the Reds have lost 9 of their last 12 matches in all competitions. With the “worst run of form in 70 years” hanging over them, this trip to East London is no longer just a fixture—it is a battle for Slot’s survival. Can West Ham pile more misery on the crumbling giants, or will Liverpool finally show some fight?
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: West Ham United vs Liverpool
- Competition: Premier League (Matchweek 13)
- Venue: London Stadium, London (Capacity: 62,500)
- Date: Sunday, 30 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 14:05 GMT / 15:05 CET / 19:35 IST
- Referee: Darren England
- VAR: Paul Tierney (Expected)
- TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League
- TV Channel (USA): NBCSN, Peacock Premium
- TV Channel (India): Star Sports Select 1, Disney+ Hotstar
- Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), Peacock (USA), JioStar (India)
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
West Ham United:
- Position: 17th in Premier League (11 Points).
- Form: Stabilizing. After a rocky start, they are unbeaten in 3 (W-W-D), including a gutsy 2-2 draw away at Bournemouth and a 3-1 win over Newcastle.
- Current Challenge: Turning home form into a fortress. Beating a “Big 6” side (even a wounded one) would put significant daylight between them and the relegation zone.
Liverpool:
- Position: 12th in Premier League (18 Points).
- Form: Catastrophic. Three consecutive heavy defeats (0-3 vs City, 0-3 vs Forest, 1-4 vs PSV). The defense is leaking goals at a historic rate.
- Current Challenge: Stopping the rot. The confidence is shattered, and with key injuries at right-back and in midfield, Slot is forced to field a patchwork XI.
West Ham United vs Liverpool — What’s at Stake
For West Ham United:
- Survival Momentum: A win could vault them as high as 13th, dragging them out of the relegation scrap and validating Nuno’s tactical tweaks.
For Liverpool:
- Managerial Survival: The pressure on Arne Slot is immense. Another heavy defeat could force the board’s hand. They need a win simply to breathe.
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Team Form
West Ham United (Last 5 Matches):
- D vs Bournemouth (2-2)
- W vs Burnley (3-2)
- W vs Newcastle (3-1)
- L vs Leeds United (1-2)
- L vs Brentford (0-2)
Liverpool (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs PSV Eindhoven (1-4 – CL)
- L vs Nottingham Forest (0-3)
- L vs Manchester City (0-3)
- W vs Real Madrid (1-0 – CL)
- W vs Aston Villa (2-0)
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Team News
West Ham United:
- Lucas Paquetá: Available. The Brazilian playmaker returns from suspension and is expected to slot straight back into the starting XI.
- Callum Wilson: Available. The veteran striker has scored in back-to-back games and looks revitalized.
- Injury List: Ollie Scarles (Shoulder) and Lewis Orford are out. Lukasz Fabianski is questionable with a back issue, so Areola continues in goal.
Liverpool:
- Right-Back Crisis: With Trent Alexander-Arnold (gone), Conor Bradley (Muscle), and Jeremie Frimpong (Hamstring) all unavailable, Slot has a massive headache. Joe Gomez or even Dominik Szoboszlai may have to fill in.
- Florian Wirtz: Out (Muscle Injury – listed as “Will not play”). His creativity will be sorely missed.
- Alisson Becker: Expected to return in goal after illness/injury, replacing Kelleher/Jaros who struggled mid-week.
- Hugo Ekitike: Questionable. Picked up a knock vs PSV, so Alexander Isak is likely to lead the line.
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Head to Head
- 13 Apr 2025: Liverpool 2–1 West Ham (PL)
- 29 Dec 2024: West Ham 0–5 Liverpool (PL)
- 26 Sep 2024: Liverpool 5–1 West Ham (EFL)
- 27 Apr 2024: West Ham 2–2 Liverpool (PL)
- 21 Dec 2023: Liverpool 5–1 West Ham (EFL)
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Predicted Lineups
West Ham United (4-2-3-1):
Nuno is likely to stick with the 4-2-3-1 that has brought recent stability, with Todibo and Kilman forming a solid partnership.
- GK: Alphonse Areola
- RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
- CB: Jean-Clair Todibo
- CB: Max Kilman (C)
- LB: El Hadji Malick Diouf
- CDM: Freddie Potts
- CDM: Mateus Fernandes
- RW: Jarrod Bowen
- CAM: Lucas Paquetá
- LW: Crysencio Summerville
- ST: Callum Wilson
Liverpool (4-3-3):
Slot forces a reshuffle. Gomez is the logical choice at RB if fit; otherwise, it’s a square peg in a round hole.
- GK: Alisson Becker
- RB: Joe Gomez
- CB: Ibrahima Konaté
- CB: Virgil van Dijk (C)
- LB: Milos Kerkez
- CM: Ryan Gravenberch
- CM: Alexis Mac Allister
- CM: Curtis Jones (Replacing the injured Wirtz/Bajcetic)
- RW: Mohamed Salah
- ST: Alexander Isak
- LW: Cody Gakpo
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Impact Bench Options
West Ham United:
- Michail Antonio: If West Ham need chaos in the final 20 minutes, Antonio’s physicality against a tired Van Dijk is a proven weapon.
- Luis Guilherme: The young Brazilian winger offers blistering pace on the counter.
Liverpool:
- Federico Chiesa: If the game is tight, his direct running could be vital off the bench.
- Wataru Endo: May be needed to shore up the midfield if West Ham’s physicality takes over.
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Tactical Outlook
West Ham United:
- Playing Style: Counter-Punching. Nuno will happily surrender possession (expect <40%) and invite Liverpool onto them. With Wan-Bissaka locking down the right, they will look to release Bowen and Summerville quickly into the spaces left by Liverpool’s advancing full-backs.
- Strength: Set Pieces. West Ham are physically imposing (Kilman, Todibo, Soucek off bench). Liverpool have been vulnerable aerially during this losing streak.
Liverpool:
- Playing Style: Fragile Possession. Liverpool will try to control the game, but their confidence is shot. Without Wirtz to link play centrally, they might become predictable, relying on Salah and Gakpo for individual brilliance.
- Weakness: The High Line. It has been suicidal recently. Callum Wilson loves playing on the shoulder of the last defender, and if Liverpool don’t pressure the ball carrier, West Ham will punish them over the top.
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Callum Wilson vs. Virgil van Dijk | Movement vs. Aura: Wilson is in form and will test Van Dijk’s recovery pace constantly. Van Dijk looks tired. | West Ham |
| Jarrod Bowen vs. Milos Kerkez | 1v1 Duel: Kerkez loves to attack, which is dangerous against Bowen. If Kerkez gets caught upfield, Bowen scores. | West Ham |
| Lucas Paquetá vs. Ryan Gravenberch | Brazilian Magic vs. Dutch Control: Paquetá returning gives West Ham a creative spark Gravenberch must extinguish. | Tie |
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Spotlight Players
Lucas Paquetá (West Ham):
Returning fresh from suspension, Paquetá is the X-factor. His ability to hold the ball and find killer passes for Bowen/Wilson could be the difference against a Liverpool midfield lacking bite.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool):
The Egyptian King has a phenomenal record against West Ham (13 goals). If anyone can drag Liverpool out of this crisis, it is him. He needs to target the space behind Diouf/Wan-Bissaka.
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Fan Reactions
West Ham Fans:
“They’ve lost 9 of 12? We have to smash them. No excuses.”
“Paquetá back, Wilson scoring… 3-1 to the Irons!”
Liverpool Fans:
“If we lose to West Ham, Slot has to go. It’s that simple.”
“No right-back, no Wirtz, no confidence. I’m terrified.”
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Match-Defining Factors
- The First Goal: Liverpool’s heads drop instantly when they concede right now. If West Ham score first, the “Crisis” narrative will suffocate the Reds.
- Set Pieces: West Ham are giants; Liverpool look small and disorganized at corners. This is a clear route to goal for the hosts.
- Alisson’s Return: Having a world-class keeper back is huge, but can he fix a broken defensive structure on his own?
West Ham United vs Liverpool — Prediction
Score Prediction: West Ham United 2–2 Liverpool
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Draw or West Ham Double Chance.
- Both Teams to Score: YES (Liverpool can’t defend; West Ham have firepower).
- Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals.
Analysis: It is impossible to back Liverpool with any confidence given their historic slump. West Ham are finding their groove and have the weapons (Bowen, Paquetá) to hurt this fragile Reds defense. However, Liverpool’s attack (Salah/Isak) still has enough quality to snatch a point. Expect a chaotic, high-scoring draw that does little to ease the pressure on Arne Slot.
West Ham United vs Liverpool — FAQs
When is the West Ham vs Liverpool match?
The match kicks off on Sunday, 30 November 2025, at 14:05 GMT (19:35 IST).
Is Florian Wirtz playing?
No, Florian Wirtz is out with a muscle injury.
Who is West Ham’s manager?
Nuno Espírito Santo is the current manager of West Ham.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can watch live on Star Sports Select 1 and stream on Disney+ Hotstar.
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