After beating Crystal Palace 3-2 on Tuesday night, West Ham United welcome the reigning Premier League Champions, Liverpool, to the London Stadium on Sunday evening. 

The Hammers will be looking to continue their perfect, unbeaten run in 2021, while Liverpool are in search of only their second Premier League win since before Christmas. 

Following another Man of the Match performance, Tomas Soucek was once again a standout player for West Ham United as they beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in the Premier League. 

Soucek headed home from close range, meeting Michail Antonio's cross to level the scoring at Selhurst Park, after Wilfried Zaha put the hosts ahead.

Just before the half-time whistle, the Czech got his second of the game to put the Hammers ahead before the break. 

A Craig Dawson header in the second half put David Moyes' side further ahead as his team dominated in the London derby. 

In the last kick of the game, Michy Batshuayi got a goal back for Palace, but it wasn't enough. Despite having 17 attempts on goal, West Ham walked away with only a 3-2 win, moving the Hammers up to 4th in the Premier League.

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On Thursday night, Liverpool beat Spurs 3-1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to claim the Red's first Premier League win in the New Year. 

Son Heung-min thought he put the hosts 1-0 up in the opening minutes but the goal was ruled out for offside. 

On the stroke of half-time, Roberto Firmino poked in from close range to put Liverpool ahead and give the Reds their first league goal in 2021.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg levelled the scoring at the start of the second half, with a beautiful strike of the ball, but it was cancelled out by a Trent Alexander-Arnold shot that hit the back of the net to put Liverpool in front once again.

Sadio Mane's goal in the 67th minute pushed Liverpool even further ahead, which was the last goal of game, ending 3-1. 

  • Team news

West Ham United

Arthur Masuaku will be missed again as he starts his recovery after completing a successful knee operation. 

After signing on Friday night on loan from Manchester United, Jesse Lingard, could also feature but is most likely to start on the bench. 

Liverpool

Diogo Jota, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk all remain out with knee injuries. 

With muscle injuries, Fabinho and Naby Keita is also set to miss the game this weekend. 

Joel Matip is out with an ankle injury. 

  • Predicted lineups

West Ham United: Fabianski; Coufal, Ogbonna, Dawson, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals; Antonio.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Henderson, Robertson; Thiago, Wijnaldum, Milner; Salah, Firmino, Mane. 

  • Ones to watch

West Ham United - Michail Antonio

The striker is set to start his fourth Premier League game in a row. Antonio has scored twice in three games - two of them being the decisive goal to win two games.

Antonio has now scored five times so far this season, starting ten games, and is West Ham's second top goalscorer in the league. 

The Englishmen goes forward with a threat and links perfectly with Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma.

Despite his injuries, Antonio is the only recognised striker at the club. He certainly will have a big effect on the game this weekend. 

Liverpool - Mohamed Salah

The Egyptian has started 17 games so far this season and has scored 13 goals with three assists.

The main attacking threat for the Reds, alongside Sadio Mane, is yet to score in the Premier League in 2021, however, he scored a brace in the Manchester United defeat in the FA Cup Fourth Round last week. 

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  • Previous meeting

Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United (21/10/2020)

  • Where to watch

UK residents will be able to watch the game live on Sky Sports on Sunday, 31st January 2021, from 16:00 PM with the game kicking off at 16:30 PM.

  • Prediction 

West Ham United 2-1 Liverpool

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