Bookmarks at the ready, Michail Antonio has backed West Ham to finish above Liverpool in the Premier League this season.
Both the Reds and the Hammers have started the 2023/24 season in fine form. Liverpool are currently third in the table on 13 points after five games, while West Ham are just two points behind, sitting in sixth.
Antonio’s West Ham may have lost their last outing 3-1 to league leaders Manchester City, but the veteran striker is still confident going into the clash at Anfield this Sunday, while even (boldly) predicting that the Hammers will end the season higher in the table than Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“I am backing myself over Liverpool,” he said on the Footballer’s Football Podcast.
“You know what, I think we are going to finish higher than Liverpool this season. I’m putting it out there.
“I watched the game [Wolves vs Liverpool] because it was before our game and Wolves could have run away with it! They had quite a few opportunities. We’ve got them this weekend and it’s a six-pointer. We’ve got them!”
Antonio’s belief was clearly not shared by co-host and Newcastle striker Callum Wilson who responded: “Michail, wake up. I think he’s having one of those dreams again.”
READ MORE: Michail Antonio claims Mohamed Salah was ready to leave Liverpool this summer
33-year-old Antonio has started the new season well, scoring twice in the opening five games. However, the Hammers have lost eight of their last ten against Liverpool in the Premier League and have not won at Anfield since August 2015 – prior to Klopp’s appointment as manager.
Before Antonio’s West Ham side travel to Liverpool this weekend for what the striker deems a ‘six-pointer’, both clubs will play their Europa League campaign openers this Thursday.
Liverpool travel to Austria to face LASK in Group E, while West Ham – who won last season’s Conference League – host Serbian side Backa Topola in Group A.
Elsewhere on the Footballer’s Football Podcast, Wilson played down Antonio’s chances of lifting another European trophy this year.
He said: “This year there are some big teams in the competition, the likes of Liverpool. I don’t see you winning it this year, but I wish you all the success.”
