West Ham look to exploit UCL collapse and push Liverpool deeper into crisis

Liverpool travel to West Ham United on Sunday knowing that another defeat could drag them even deeper into crisis.

Manager Arne Slot’s side have recently suffered heavy league defeats against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and a 4-1 collapse to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

They have now lost three straight games by three goals or more for the first time in 72 years and enter the weekend looking like a side that cannot find a foothold in either confidence or structure.

Their league position reflects the scale of the damage, as they sit closer to the relegation zone than to the top of the table. They have conceded at least two goals in each of their last four away league matches.

West Ham will feel they could be the side that push Liverpool even further into unwanted territory, especially with the uplift since Nuno Espirito Santo replaced Graham Potter in September.

The home side have taken seven points from their last three league matches and climbed out of the relegation zone.

Their November form included back-to-back home wins over Newcastle United and Burnley, before a spirited 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.

West Ham are just above the bottom three on goal difference, but their improvement has transformed the mood at the London Stadium.

Liverpool’s recent record in London offers little comfort, as they have lost their last five Premier League away games in the capital and continue to concede soft goals in decisive stages of matches.

Slot insists that the players must take responsibility for changing the pattern of performances, but it would be a brave move to back them to halt their slump.

Liverpool have lost nine of their past 12 matches in all competitions and look short of conviction, composure and solutions when matches begin to swing against them.

By contrast, West Ham are playing with purpose and clarity and can approach this match with confidence despite their low league position.