Former Everton boss Roberto Martinez has sparked debate by predicting a shock 1-0 victory for West Ham against Liverpool at Anfield this Saturday.
While West Ham arrive at Anfield as the underdogs, they do so with a defensive blueprint that has recently turned them into a tough nut to crack. For Liverpool, the stakes are just as high, but for very different reasons.
Liverpool’s current state: chasing the top four
Despite being the reigning champions, Arne Slot’s side has endured a turbulent title defense. They currently sit 6th in the Premier League, trailing the top four by three points. However, they have found their rhythm lately, winning their last three matches in all competitions.
At home this season their form recently hasn’t been great (W4 D3 L3), but they are coming off a dramatic 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest a result that kept their Champions League hopes alive.
Roberto Martinez’s bold prediction
A massive storyline heading into this fixture is the tactical confidence of Nuno Espírito Santo. Since he took over from Graham Potter in September 2025, Nuno has focused on stabilizing a leaky defense by shifting to a permanent back four. T
his shift has seen on-loan defender Axel Disasi become a mainstay alongside Konstantinos Mavropanos. The strategy is clear: sit deep, absorb pressure, and hit on the break a method that has historically frustrated Liverpool.
While most pundits are backing a home win, former Everton boss Roberto Martinez threw a curveball during his appearance on The Overlap. He isn’t just predicting a result he’s predicting a specific tactical breakdown:
“What I think is that the manager of West Ham knows how to win at Anfield. And Liverpool struggle when teams are defensive. I fancy West Ham 1-0 to West Ham.”
Martinez’s logic stems from Nuno’s ability to set up a low block that frustrates possession-heavy sides. If the Hammers can replicate the defensive discipline they’ve shown since switching to a back four, Martinez believes a single counter-attack could decide the game.
The recent history between these two clubs shows a clear dominance for the Reds, though the Hammers have managed to keep things competitive in their most recent outings.
| Date | Competition | Venue | Result |
| Nov 30, 2025 | Premier League | London Stadium | West Ham 0–2 Liverpool |
| Apr 13, 2025 | Premier League | Anfield | Liverpool 2–1 West Ham |
| Dec 29, 2024 | Premier League | London Stadium | West Ham 0–5 Liverpool |
| Sep 25, 2024 | Carabao Cup | Anfield | Liverpool 5–1 West Ham |
| Apr 27, 2024 | Premier League | London Stadium | West Ham 2–2 Liverpool |
The “Nuno formula”
West Ham will be aiming to win at Anfield for the first time since 2015 when they face Liverpool on Saturday.
The Hammers may have dropped two points during last Saturday’s 0-0 draw to Bournemouth at the London Stadium, but they have closed the gap on 17th-placed Nottingham Forest to just two points.
Nuno Espirito Santo has a psychological edge that few managers possess at Anfield. In his last visit to the stadium (with Nottingham Forest), he secured a famous 1-0 victory, proving he can shut down Liverpool’s creative engines even when they are in good form.
Liverpool’s attacking threat remains potent, especially with summer signing Hugo Ekitike leading the charts with 10 league goals.
While the historical record heavily favours the Merseysiders, the focus at Anfield will be on avoiding the trap Martinez has laid out.
If Liverpool can find an early goal, they may force West Ham out of their defensive shell if not, they risk a repeat of the frustrating afternoons that have defined their inconsistent title defense.
However, the potential return of Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to the starting lineup could be the key to unlocking a West Ham defence that has only conceded once in their last two games.
Nuno knows that if his side can replicate the “Forest formula,” they might just secure the points needed to drag themselves towards safety.
