Liverpool head into their League Cup third-round tie in opposition to West Ham in nice type, having conceded simply twice of their six outings this season.
The Hammers come to Anfield having crushed Bournemouth 1-0 within the second spherical, due to a fortuitous late aim from Jarrod Bowen.
And, with simply 4 factors from their opening 5 Premier League matches, Liverpool are agency favourites, particularly given they’ve gained their final eight house video games in opposition to West Ham.
A historical past within the League Cup
Liverpool gained their first League Cup in 1981, beating West Ham in a last replay at Villa Park after they’d drawn 1-1 at Wembley, with Alan Kennedy scoring on 118 minutes just for Hammers right-back Ray Stewart to equalise from the penalty spot on the loss of life.
West Ham led after 10 minutes of the replay, Paul Goddard scoring, however then went behind earlier than half-hour had gone as Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen scored to win 2-1.
Ian Rush made solely his second Liverpool look of 660 that evening.
The groups met within the quarter-finals of this competitors final season with Liverpool successful 5-1 at Anfield. The targets got here from Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Mo Salah and a Curtis Jones brace.
That assembly was the primary between the golf equipment within the League Cup since 1988 and the attendance for the West Ham conflict final season is Anfield’s largest ever within the competitors.
That variety of 57,332 could possibly be crushed this time round.
Enjoying the Hammers at house
The Reds have gained every of the final eight at house to West Ham in all competitions; the membership document is 9, set between 1967 to 1973.
Liverpool have misplaced solely one of many final 56 house video games in opposition to West Ham since September 1963. In that sequence they’ve gained 41, drawn 14 and misplaced one.
The Reds have stored 34 clear sheets within the final 51 encounters at Anfield in all competitions.
Joe Gomez may play the 250th recreation of his membership profession in all competitions. Caoimhin Kelleher and he are essentially the most seasoned present League Cup gamers on the membership, every with 15 appearances.
Curtis Jones, of the current squad, has scored essentially the most targets on this competitors (5), whereas Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo each have 4.
Liverpool have conceded two targets of their final seven matches in all competitions – the six performed this season and the ultimate recreation of final time period at house to Wolves.
Eight of Liverpool’s 13 targets this marketing campaign have been scored earlier than half time and all of Luis Diaz’s 5 have come earlier than the interval, whereas every of Mo Salah’s three have come within the second half.
This season’s scorers
Liverpool: Diaz 5, Salah 3, Jota 1, Konate 1, Nunez 1, Szoboszlai 1, Van Dijk 1
West Ham: Bowen 2, Ings 1, Paqueta 1, Soucek 1, personal targets 1
* Stats courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea (@ged0407).