Venue: Anfield Date: Monday, 1 December Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM and BBC Radio 5 Live; Updates on BBC Sport website
Robbie Keane will get an extended chance to impress up front for Liverpool because Fernando Torres is out with a hamstring injury.
Full-back Andrea Dossena is likely to replace Fabio Aurelio, who is out for two weeks with a calf problem.
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has a strong squad at his disposal as several players return to contention.
Scott Parker should start despite a recent illness, while Mark Noble and Jonathan Spector are back from injury.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Dossena, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Babel, Kuyt, Keane, Ngog, Riera, Cavalieri, Lucas, Insua, El Zhar.
West Ham (from): Green, Stech, Neill, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Lopez, Parker, Bellamy, Etherington, Cole, Boa Morte, Upson, Noble, Mullins, Spector, Collins, Faubert, Stokes, Walker, Lastuvka, Diego Tristan, Davenport, Reid, Bowyer, Sears, Di Michele, Collison, Tomkins.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard:
"I am desperate for the league title and obviously we have managed to get ourselves into a good position this season. Now we just need to keep on plugging away.
"We have got another important game coming up against West Ham and that is what I'm focusing on now.
"It's also important that we try to improve on our performance against Fulham and try to take all three points. Every game is crucial."
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola:
"I think my team is coming into this match at the best time because we're going into it off two good results.
"I feel very charged. It is one of those games where if you get something positive out of it it's very important for your team.
"I like to face these kind of challenges. It can be hard but the reward you can get from games like this can be huge."
Liverpool, safely in the last 16 of the Champions League, resume the defence of the Premier League's longest unbeaten home sequence.
West Ham are chasing successive league wins for the first time since Gianfranco Zola's first two league games in charge, having halted a seven-match winless sequence with their second away win of the season at Sunderland last weekend - their first maximum of the campaign outside London.
The Merseysiders have won 10 Premier League matches; the Hammers five.
West Ham travel in search of their first league win in 37 attempts at Anfield. The Hammers last returned with maximum points on 14 September 1963, following a 1-2 top flight triumph.
Liverpool are defending an unbeaten home record against West Ham in the Premier League, and are vying for an eighth successive victory over the Hammers at Anfield.
Distance between the clubs: 228 miles (367 kilometres)
LIVERPOOL
Going into the weekend: 2nd 33 points
1. Picked up seven points out of nine.
2. Lost one of the last 21 Premier League matches; the defeat being 2-1, away to Tottenham, on 1 November.
3. The current total of 33 points after 14 matches represents their best ever start to a Premier League season; the club have never registered as many as 33 points after the first 15 games in this league. In 1990-91, they amassed 38 points in an unbeaten opening 14-match run.
4. Won 14 and drawn four of the last 18 Premier League matches at Anfield. The 0-1 reverse to Manchester United on 16 December 2007 is their only home loss in 30.
5. The Premier League's only club to remain unbeaten at home in 2008.
6. Kept clean sheets in four of the last five home league games, including the last three. Not conceded in 315 minutes (five hours 15 minutes) of Premier League football at Anfield since Amr Zaki scored Wigan's second in the Latics' 2-3 win on 18 October.
7. Not lost in 18 home Premier League games against London opposition, since Chelsea's 1-4 triumph on 2 October 2005.
WEST HAM UNITED
Going into the weekend: 13th 17 points
1. Picked up five points out of 24.
2. On the longest current sequence of eight matches since scoring more than a single goal in a Premier League match.
3. Lost the last three league games against North-West clubs.
4. Gained just two points from a possible 24 in the North-West in 2008.
5. Lost their last five games against 'Big Four' clubs, not gaining a point from the quartet of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United since beating Liverpool 1-0 at home on 30 January 2008.
6. Would be two points adrift at the foot if only second-half performances counted.
7. Not kept three successive clean sheets in the Premier League since 3 May 2003, when Middlesbrough (h), Manchester City (a) and Chelsea (h) were all beaten 1-0.
LIVERPOOL
Jamie CARRAGHER is the only remaining outfield player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
Goalkeeper Jose REINA, also an ever-present, leads the race for the Barclays Golden Glove having kept nine clean sheets.
If selected:-
Diego CAVALIERI will be playing on his 26th birthday.
WEST HAM UNITED
Robert GREEN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of West Ham's Premier League matches this season.
Lee BOWYER is a double shy of 50 career Premier League goals (Leeds, Newcastle and West Ham).
If selected:-
Craig BELLAMY will be making his 200th career Premier League appearance (Coventry, Newcastle, Blackburn, Liverpool and West Ham).
BELLAMY will be facing a former club. The 29 year old Wales international forward made 42 appearances (27 in the league) and scored nine goals (seven league) for Liverpool between June 2006 and his £7.5m move to West Ham in July 2007.
West Ham have dropped more away points in the Premier League to Liverpool than to any other club (36).
Liverpool have won the last seven home league games against West Ham with an aggregate of 16-2.
The Hammers have failed to score in 31 of their 51 league matches on Liverpool turf.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Liverpool 53 wins, West Ham 21, Draws 28
Prem: Liverpool 15 wins, West Ham 5, Draws 6
at Liverpool only
League (inc PL): Liverpool 35 wins, West Ham 3, Draws 13
Prem: Liverpool 10 wins, West Ham 0, Draws 3
Liverpool 4-0 West Ham United
5 March 2008 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Liverpool scorers: Torres 8, 61, 81, Gerrard 83
Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
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