Liverpool v West Ham Betting Tip 2, 2016-01-30

West Ham to progress to next round

FA Cup & League Cup Tips

Saturday 30th January Kickoff: 1730hrs
Liverpool v West Ham United
Football – England – FA Cup

Liverpool have already qualified for the final of the other domestic cup competition in England, this week, after requiring penalties to beat Stoke in the semi-final of the League Cup at Anfield. It will be the first opportunity for Jurgen Klopp to secure some silverware since arriving at the club earlier this season. It was certainly not a vintage performance, and there’s an argument that Stoke deserved to progress, but the Liverpool coaching staff, players and supporters celebrated like it was back to the European glory days. Attention now turns to the FA Cup and a difficult looking game against an in-form West Ham team. The Reds booked their place in the fourth round after s replay win over League Two Exeter City, eventually seeing them off 3-0.

It is an illustration of how Slaven Bilic has raised expectations since arriving at Upton Park that although they drew 2-2 with Manchester City last week, West Ham will be slightly disappointed that they never held on to the lead after going ahead twice in the game. It was a point that is enough to keep them in sixth place, and in with a great chance of European football next season. That is Bilic’s clear mandate as the club prepare to make their move to the Olympic Stadium which becomes their new home as of this summer. The board have made it clear that they want to host top-level football which includes welcoming teams from the continent. Another route to playing European football, of course, is by winning the FA Cup. That may seem somewhat aspirational at the moment, but the Hammers have shown they are capable of competing with the best.

Klopp has made it clear that he intends to stick with the youngsters in this FA Cup, as he tries to find a balance between the four competitions that they are still participating in. With the Europa League due to restart next month, Klopp is keen to give the majority of his regular starters as much as he can, just as he did against Exeter. Although slightly fortunate to secure a replay in the first instance, the youngsters looked more at ease when playing at Anfield, and despite Saturday’s game being a big step up in terms of the quality of the opponent, the manager clearly believes that they will be good enough to deal with that challenge.

Finishing as high in the Premier League is likely to be the main priority for Bilic and his West Ham players, but there will be some thought given to a possible cup run. The club last reached the final of this competition in 2006, when they agonisingly came to within minutes of winning it, ironically against Liverpool. Should they be victorious at Anfield, it will only enhance their chances of and confidence of doing something exciting in this year’s FA Cup. With that in mind, it’s likely that it will be close to a full strength team that lines up, stronger than the one that saw off Wolves in the previous round.

Liverpool v West Ham United Betting Tips

These two teams have already met twice this season, with West Ham winning on both occasions. The most recent of the two came at the beginning of January when the Hammers proved far too good on the day, running out very comfortable 2-0 winners in front of their own supporters. Earlier in the season, it was an even more comprehensive success, winning 3-0 at Anfield back in August. Liverpool have been unable to cope with the way in which Bilic has set his team up in either of those games and with such an inexperience team likely to be fielded by Klopp, I have my doubts that they will be any more successful this evening.

If anything, I actually think that West Ham are playing better football now than they were at the beginning of the season. The return of Enner Valencia has been a real positive as the Ecuadorian plays the central striking position better than anybody else at the club, and he’s also starting to hit the goal trail again with four in his last three games. With Liverpool being taken all the way by Stoke on Tuesday, it is bound to have an effect on the team, no matter the changes Klopp makes, such was the nature and psychological meaning of the win. Of course, it could work in their favour as they could feed off the positivity. Not for me, though, as this West Ham team are not only confident at the moment, Bilic appears to have Liverpool’s number and he can guide his team to another away day success at Anfield.

West Ham 29/10 @ Betvictor