West Ham United and Liverpool Europa League prospects predicted by supercomputer
West Ham have just over a four-per-cent chance of winning this season’s Europa League, according to Opta Analyst.
The Irons have already booked their place in the last 16 by virtue of finishing top of their group prior to Christmas.
Opta’s supercomputer has given United a 55.7-per-cent chance of making the next round, 26.8-per-cent chance of reaching the semi-finals, an 11.1-per-cent chance of getting to the final, and a 4.6-per-cent chance of winning it.
Liverpool are listed as the strong favourites to lift the trophy with a 30.5-per-cent likelihood, followed by Bayer Leverkusen (19.2 per cent) and Atalanta (7.5 per cent). West Ham are sixth on the list.
West Ham looking to add to Europa Conference League trophy
Quite how this supercomputer came to this conclusion prior to the fixtures even being known for the last 16 is anyone’s guess.
This list is a reminder of the top-quality sides already through to the last 16, and those that could book their place after dropping down from the Champions League.
West Ham did well to finish top of their group at a time when their form was a lot better, thus meaning they avoided a playoff tie double-header over the next fortnight.
As with any cup competition, the luck of the draw plays a major part. Drawing any of those favourites in the next round would be far from ideal, for example.
It would be great to say West Ham should not fear anybody, but on current form that is simply not true. Let’s just hope that by the time the last 16 is here, the Hammers’ poor domestic run is behind them.
In other West Ham news, a behind-the-scenes figure has quit the club after more than seven years to join Tottenham.
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