Liverpool to keep title charge motoring
Liverpool head into the weekend's Premier League action in the knowledge that they could gain further ground on title rivals Manchester City, with the latter contesting the derby with Manchester United the day afterwards. West Ham United are the visitors to Anfield on Saturday, and David Moyes' men are starting to falter at precisely the wrong point in the season. Read our preview here:
Matip top player
Reds centre back Joël Matip continues to be precisely the kind of player required to partner the more heralded, silky Virgil van Dijk. Having overcome a combination of injuries and previously more fierce competition for that berth, the Cameroonian international is set to appear in his greatest number of matches since moving to Merseyside six years ago. Having the beating of Michail Antonio in the air will be his biggest test against the visitors.
This Lanz is our Lanz
Saïd Benrahma has looked off-form for a number of weeks now, and whilst he's far from alone in that regard for the Irons, Manuel Lanzini is a ready-made replacement in area where Moyes has more options than up top, for example. With the hosts set to name a relatively defensive minded midfield unit, his ability to find space in big games will go a long way to giving them an outlet to beat the counter-press.
Betting tip
Jürgen Klopp will be cognisant that West Ham, regardless of their current results, have already defied the odds plenty of times this season to take points off more fancied opposition. Realistically, Liverpool need to win almost all of their remaining league matches to overhaul City, and betway have odds of 2.75 for a vital victory on Saturday with both teams scoring.
