Liverpool vs West Ham Prediction: The Reds need to respond from derby draw

If you’ve just played out a dull 0-0 against one of your biggest rivals at home in the Premier League, what is the best thing that can happen? You get another home game three days later to give yourselves the opportunity to make amends in front of a home crowd.

That is what Liverpool will be looking to do on Wednesday night (20:00) when they take on West Ham United in their Carabao Cup quarter-final. Jurgen Klopp’s side didn’t do a good job of trying to retain the title last season as they crashed out in the fourth round to another one of their rivals, Manchester City.

West Ham head into this game off the back of a comfortable 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the league, and they are back in the last eight of this competition for the first time in two years.

Match Odds

There is very little value to be had in backing Liverpool to win in 90 minutes at 2/5. A draw could be tempting when you consider that both managers are likely to make changes to their squads from the weekend. This is on offer at 4/1. If you fancy the Hammers to ride the wave of their victory at the weekend, they are priced at 6/1 to win in normal time.

Both teams to score here is marketed at 8/13, if you are uncertain on backing a result. Over 2.5 goals is at the short price of 2/5.

Team News

Klopp usually likes to make changes for cup games, but he might be limited as to how many he can make due to injuries. Thiago Alcantara (hip), Stefan Bajcetic (calf) and Alexis Mac Allister limits his midfield options. Ryan Gravenberch being forced off at the weekend hasn’t helped either. Joel Matip (ACL), Andrew Robertson (shoulder) and Diogo Jota (muscular) are also in the medical bay.

West Ham’s sole injury problem remains to be Jamaican forward Michail Antonio, who is still out of action with a knee issue.

Liverpool and both teams to score @ 6/4

Seeing as you can’t get good odds in just backing Liverpool to win in 90 minutes, we have had to seek value elsewhere. West Ham have had a knack of scoring goals this term and we think choosing Liverpool to win and both teams to score could be a shrewd selection for this match.

Klopp’s chances of rotating his side have been hindered by his team’s injury crisis, but we are still likely to see some of his first-team stars feature at Anfield. Due to their disappointing display against Manchester United on Sunday, Klopp will drill into his players about how much they will need to deliver a glitzy performance against the Hammers, and rediscover their creative spark that was nonexistent over the weekend.

David Moyes is likely to involve quite a few of his best players in midweek because a cup run will buy him some more favour with the West Ham owners, after receiving more criticism from supporters at times this term, despite last year’s Europa Conference League triumph.

He and his players are going to be well up for this, and with the form that attackers Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus are in, they can certainly hurt the hosts. But if Liverpool turn up, their quality should shine through.

Mohammed Kudus to score anytime (in 90 minutes) @ 16/5

We are that confident that the Hammers can get on the scoresheet in this one, particularly with the form that their attackers have been. When West Ham were able to acquire the services of Ghanaian Kudus in the summer, it was rightly seen as one of the best bits of business in the summer.

The former Ajax man looks to have settled in east London with nine goals across all competitions. He has already netted in the Carabao Cup, which came in the 3-1 victory over Arsenal in the previous round.

Kudus has three goals in his last two appearances across the Europa League and Premier League so he will travel to Merseyside in high spirits. Everything he touches seems to turn to gold at this moment in time and we expect this to continue at Anfield. And when you look at the value of all potential goalscorers for this match, no one offers the most value currently than this man, who is in great form.