Liverpool Prepares For West Ham Clash Amid Salah's Recent Performance Slump

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Liverpool's season under Arne Slot has been impressive, with the team on the brink of securing the Premier League title. However, recent setbacks have dampened spirits. A penalty shoot-out loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and a disappointing EFL Cup final defeat to Newcastle United were significant blows. Additionally, speculation about Trent Alexander-Arnold's potential move to Real Madrid has added to the uncertainty.

Liverpool's upcoming match against West Ham at Anfield is crucial. The Reds need just 11 more points to clinch the title. Historically, Liverpool has dominated West Ham at home, losing only once in their last 57 encounters across all competitions. They have won 42 of these matches, drawing 14 times, and are currently on a nine-game winning streak against the Hammers.

The Opta supercomputer gives Liverpool a strong chance of victory, with a 67.5% win probability. In simulations, West Ham emerged victorious in only 14.7% of scenarios, with 17.8% ending in draws. Since their double over Liverpool in the 2015-16 season, West Ham has struggled against them in the Premier League.

Mohamed Salah's form mirrors Liverpool's recent challenges. Despite being a frontrunner for the Premier League Player of the Season award with 44 goal involvements this campaign, Salah hasn't scored or assisted in his last four matches. This drought includes losses to PSG and Newcastle and a narrow win over Everton.

Salah's performance metrics have dipped significantly during this period. His shots per game have decreased from 3.62 to 1.39, while his expected goals (xG) have dropped from 0.72 to 0.25 per match. The absence of Alexander-Arnold might be affecting Salah's output, as Curtis Jones struggled to connect with him against Fulham.

West Ham's Challenges Under Potter

Graham Potter took charge of West Ham in January with hopes of revitalising their playstyle after Julen Lopetegui's uninspiring tenure. Despite aiming for an attacking approach similar to his time at Brighton, Potter's West Ham has seen declines in key offensive metrics compared to Lopetegui’s era.

Under Potter, West Ham averages fewer goals and shots per game than before. Injuries to Michail Antonio and Crysencio Summerville have limited options upfront, while Mohammed Kudus and Evan Ferguson are enduring goal droughts.

Players to Watch: Luis Diaz and Jarrod Bowen

Luis Diaz has been pivotal for Liverpool recently, contributing directly to goals in each of his last four league appearances. His current form marks a significant improvement from earlier performances this season.

For West Ham, Jarrod Bowen remains crucial against Liverpool. He has been involved in six of their last seven goals against the Reds across all competitions since last season.

As Liverpool prepares for Sunday's clash at Anfield against an out-of-form West Ham side, they aim not only for victory but also for history by potentially scoring five or more goals against them thrice this season—a feat never achieved by any English top-flight team before within one campaign.