Liverpool VS West Ham United

Occupying the second position in the standings, trailing behind Arsenal, Liverpool is gearing up for a highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash with the Gunners on Saturday. However, before diving into discussions about the title race, the Reds aim to focus on progressing one step further toward securing their 10th EFL Cup title. Their most recent triumph in this competition occurred in 2022 when they clinched their ninth crown.In their recent history of quarter-final ties, Liverpool has only fallen short in one of the last six encounters. This setback unfolded on a historic day during the 2019-20 season when an XI composed entirely of academy players—marking Liverpool's youngest-ever starting lineup—suffered a 5-0 defeat against Aston Villa at this stage. Notably, Klopp's senior squad was concurrently competing at the Club World Cup during that period.

The London Stadium witnessed jubilation during West Ham's fourth-round EFL Cup encounter, as Moyes's squad pulled off a stunning upset against Arsenal. This victory followed a narrow win over Lincoln City, propelling the Hammers to the quarter-finals for the second time in three seasons. However, West Ham faces a quarter-final challenge, aiming to overcome a recent trend that has seen them struggle at this stage.In fact, West Ham has encountered a quarter-final hoodoo, having lost each of their last three quarter-final ties since their semi-final appearance in the 2013-14 edition. During that semifinal, they endured a humiliating 9-0 aggregate defeat at the hands of Manchester City. Their recent 3-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield in September marked their fourth consecutive defeat against the Reds. Overcoming this quarter-final hurdle is essential for West Ham to move closer to Wembley.