Liverpool have reignited their Premier League campaign with a crucial 2-0 victory over West Ham United, putting a halt to a worrying run of form. This win sets the stage for a demanding December period where the Reds will look to close the gap on their top-flight rivals.
Turning the Tide at the London Stadium
The match at the London Stadium marked a significant turnaround for Arne Slot's side. Goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo secured a much-needed three points, lifting Liverpool to eighth in the table. This result ended a dismal streak of three consecutive losses, each by a three-goal margin, suffered against Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and PSV in November.
Despite this positive result, Liverpool remain outside the European qualification spots. Surprise away wins for Brighton and Manchester United have prevented the Merseyside club from breaking into the top six. With the title race perhaps beyond them, the immediate focus is now on surpassing the points totals of Manchester City, Chelsea, and arch-rivals Manchester United throughout the festive period.
Analysing the Festive Fixture Pile-Up
Liverpool face a mixed bag of opponents in their next five Premier League outings, a run that could define their season.
Liverpool's next five fixtures:
- Sunderland (H) - Wednesday, December 3
- Leeds (A) - Saturday, December 6
- Brighton (H) - Saturday, December 13
- Tottenham (A) - Saturday, December 20
- Wolves (H) - Saturday, December 27
Despite their recent struggles, the target for Liverpool will be maximum points from these games. The upcoming clashes against newly-promoted sides Sunderland and Leeds present a clear opportunity for six points. The mid-December fixture against Brighton at Anfield will be challenging, despite the Seagulls' poor away form. The period concludes with tricky encounters against Tottenham and Wolves either side of Christmas.
How Rivals' Schedules Compare
The path through December looks different for Liverpool's main competitors.
Chelsea face a difficult run, starting with two away games at Leeds and Bournemouth. They then host Everton before another tough away trip to Newcastle United, finishing the year at home to Aston Villa.
Manchester City, fresh from a last-gasp win over Leeds, have three away fixtures against Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest. These are sandwiched between home games against Sunderland and West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester United are in impressive form, having lost just once in their last seven league matches. Their consistency will be tested with away games at Wolves and Aston Villa, alongside three home fixtures against West Ham, Bournemouth, and Newcastle.
This hectic festive schedule promises to be a pivotal period in the Premier League season, with Liverpool hoping their win over West Ham is the foundation for a successful climb up the table.
