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| Liverpool's title dreams could become history if they don't get maximum victory at the London Stadium on Saturday. (Photo credit: GOAL) |
All isn’t well at West Ham; crashing out of Europe wasn’t the end of the world for the reigning Conference League champions, but results on the domestic front must worry most fans.
The Hammers have won only one of their previous five games in all competitions, but the scandalous derby loss to Crystal Palace last weekend ranks as the biggest hammer blow, alongside another derby loss at home to Fulham either side of the Europa League loss to Bayern Leverkusen.
It’s a dire time for Liverpool, too. The Kops are now the least favorite to win the title after back-to-back losses in the league to Crystal Palace and Everton. The Merseyside derby loss last weekend at Goodison Park was the first time in fourteen years that Liverpool would lose to the Toffees away from home.
It’s the game of their lives, according to Jurgen Klopp. He believes only a crisis in the Arsenal and Manchester City camps would give his team a real chance, but he won’t give up just yet. He needs the boys to show up at West Ham.
Where did things go wrong for the Reds? You can point at injuries and fatigue, but it rains everywhere. All the sides in the league have had to deal with injuries, suspensions, and form issues, but being able to dig deep to bring out something special on days like this is where you underline your title ambitions.
What is in it for the Hammers? They want to return to Europe via the league; it is possible as things stand, but they must do it the hard way. A win against the Kops will take them up to 51 points above Newcastle, but Eddie Howe’s side will have two games in hand.
Jurgen Klopp will not be the manager in the Liverpool dugout next season; Arne Slot is being prepared to step into his shoes; the Feyernood head coach is interested and excited about the opportunity; and things are about to get edgy for Liverpool fans.
Liverpool can still win the title, but while they sit three points off the Gunners in the top spot and two behind the Citizens, who have a game in hand, the fact that Arsenal must negotiate with Tottenham and Manchester United should give some hope to the Kops.