Can Liverpool keep Man City at bay with a win at West Ham this Monday, at 8pm on Sky Sports Premier League?

Though still in command at the top of the table, 2019 has seen a couple of potentially costly stumbles for the Reds. The New Year began with a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad, one that kept City in the title race just as it looked like it might be escaping their grasp.

Then, at the end of January, Liverpool were held to a draw by Leicester, failing to take advantage of their Manc rival’s shock loss to Newcastle, throwing away the chance to open up a 7 point lead in the process.

They also fell at the first hurdle in the FA Cup, exiting after a 2-1 defeat at Wolves. Even their wins have been a bit suspect, a slender 1-0 victory over Brighton joined by a sloppy 4-3 squeaker against Crystal Palace.

Now, none of this is disastrous. Jurgen Klopp’s lot can restore a 5 point deficit if they beat the Hammers; even if they don’t they won’t give up 1st place just yet, if at all. However, with City comfortably beating Arsenal 3-1, and an attention-sapping Champions League tie against Bayern Munich on the horizon, Liverpool can’t afford not to make the most of every opportunity to gain a bit more breathing room at the top.

There is every chance the Reds won’t actually have anything to worry about on Monday. It seems West Ham’s 1-0 win over Arsenal meant very little; beyond that and a FA Cu 3rd round victory over against Birmingham, the Hammers haven’t looked great in 2019, losing to Bournemouth, Wolves and Wimbledon, while drawing against Brighton.

With 19 goals in all competitions, including a league-leading 16 domestically, Mohamed Salah has a consensus rating of 62-72, ahead of Daniel Sturridge at 43-50, and Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, both at 32-38. As for West Ham, Marko Arnautovic, still at the club after a lot of January transfer window drama, sits at a Super Mega PGM of 18-22.

Given the Reds’ capacity to unleash hell when they really want to, Monday’s hosts should perhaps be a bit concerned, with Spreadex offering a Liverpool/West Ham (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 1.55-1.75, alongside a Total Goals spread of 3.1-3.3.