Slot downplays Liverpool's impressive away form
Liverpool are runaway leaders in the Premier League heading into the halfway point, partly to do with their stellar form on the road.
Arne Slot believes Liverpool's away form may look better due to the calibre of teams they have faced on the road but is ready to show how good they are when they visit West Ham on Sunday.
Liverpool currently sit seven points clear at the top of the table after their 3-1 win over Leicester City on Boxing Day and are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League games.
They are also yet to lose on the road in the top-flight this season, winning six of their eight games, but as impressive as their away form is, Slot thinks it will not be properly put to the test until the second half of the campaign.
"Our away form has been good, but maybe it has a bit to do with the teams we faced in the first half of the season," he said.
"Mainly, we faced the teams at the top half of the table at home and the other ones we faced away, so that might have something to do with it.
"We are a strong team away from home and at home as well. I don't see any reason why we are stronger there and then here, but we can best judge at the end of the season once we have played every team home and away to see what fits us best."
Meanwhile, West Ham have steadied the ship after a tumultuous start under Julen Lopetegui and have gone unbeaten in their last four league outings.
They are yet to win back-to-back Premier League matches since March, but after their 1-0 win over Southampton on Thursday, Jarrod Bowen, who scored the winner, is confident they can keep their momentum going.
"There are a lot of games in December, and we knew it was a good opportunity to get points on the board," Bowen said.
"We know it could have been more, having conceded late on at Bournemouth, but overall, it's been a good run, and we've gained a lot of confidence.
"I think we're in a good place right now, and we're pleased our fans are happy. We go into two difficult games, but we're full of confidence, and we're looking to keep building."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Ham – Jarrod Bowen
Bowen has been involved in 82 Premier League goals for West Ham (48 goals, 34 assists), with only Michail Antonio (101) having a hand in more for the Hammers in the competition.
Liverpool – Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah has been involved in 27 goals in 17 Premier League games this season (16 goals, 11 assists), just one fewer than he was in 32 appearances last term (18 goals, 10 assists).
MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN
West Ham have won just one of their last 16 Premier League games against Liverpool (D3 L12), beating them 3-2 at the London Stadium in November 2021.
And Liverpool have scored at least twice in seven of their last eight Premier League away games against West Ham, including in each of the last five in a row.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League away games (W6 D4), winning six of their eight on the road this season, though they have conceded 10 goals in their last four such games, shipping at league twice each time.
The Reds have lost their final league game in just one of the last 10 calendar years (W8 D1), going down 1-0 at Leicester in 2021.
West Ham, meanwhile, are unbeaten in four Premier League games (W2 D2), last having a longer run without defeat between December and February last season (six). They are also looking to win consecutive league games for the first time since March.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
West Ham – 16.1%
Draw – 19.4%
Liverpool – 64.5%