Premier League team news and prediction: Liverpool vs West Ham

Liverpool come into the weekend joint-top of the Premier League having picked up 13 points this season following their 2-1 win over Sheffield United last week. The Reds will be appreciative of West Ham's efforts over the weekend as they held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw on home turf. 

In the build up to Saturday's clash, we have all your need-to-know match information in one place, including team news, where you can watch the game and a scoreline prediction.   

When is kick off?      

Saturday 31st October, 17:30 GMT      

Where is the match?      

Anfield, Liverpool 

Where can I watch it?      

Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Main Event 

Head-to-head Record 

Liverpool are now unbeaten in their last five home meetings with West Ham following last season's 3-2 win over the Hammers at Anfield. In fact, the Reds have a solid record against the east London side. Indeed, Liverpool have lost just one of their last 20 competitive meetings with West Ham, that sole defeat coming back in August 2015 as goals from Manuel Manzini, Mark Noble and Diafra Sakho saw the Hammers secure a shock 3-0 win at Anfield. 

Team News 

Liverpool have a selection headache at centre-back. Virgil van Dijk won't play again this season after his knee injury in the 2-2 Merseyside Derby draw, while Fabinho, who had deputised for the Dutchman at the heart of the defence, suffered a thigh injury in the Champions League in midweek. 

With Joel Matip a doubt, youngster Rhys Williams, who played an hour against FC Midtjylland, may partner Joe Gomez at the back in a fairly inexperienced backline. Left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas and midfield pair Thiago and Naby Keita will both be assessed, with the former Bayern man facing a late fitness test, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain misses out. 

In the West Ham camp, the only absentee is a big one with Michail Antonio ruled out for the away side. Antonio has scored three of the Hammers' 12 league goals this season, including the opening goal in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City last week. French frontman Sebastien Haller is in line to deputise for Antonio, making his first league start of the season in the process. 

Probable XIs 

Liverpool (4231) - Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Williams, Gomez, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mane, Firmino, Jota; Salah

West Ham (541) - Fabianski; Coufal, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku; Bowen, Soucek, Rice, Fornals; Haller

Key Battle - Jordan Henderson vs Declan Rice

England teammates are expected to lock horns in the middle of the park at Anfield on Saturday. Jordan Henderson needs to show a captain's performance in the face of adversity given Liverpool's injury woes at the heart of the defence. Having played just 45 minutes in midweek, Henderson should be fresh and ready for action against West Ham this weekend.

However, the Hammers are not to be underestimated at Anfield. While their record against Liverpool is poor, West Ham have upset the odds in recent weeks, beating Wolves and Leicester and securing positive results against Tottenham and Manchester City with David Moyes overseeing a four-game unbeaten run. Declan Rice has been a solid performer in the middle of the park for West Ham this season, but Saturday evening's clash will be arguably his toughest test of the campaign so far.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham