WEST HAM have started the season impressively, both at home and abroad, but face their toughest test yet when they welcome Liverpool to the London Stadium this weekend.

The two teams have been the most outstanding of the Premier League contingent participating in European competition this season, and have so far managed to balance this with some excellent displays domestically.

The Hammers’ performances have been the more eye-catching of the two due to their still relatively unexpected nature despite last season’s success but their manager, David Moyes, has not shied away from the challenge and is aiming to qualify for Europe again next season.

“I need to try and get consistency at West Ham,” he said after a win against Genk last month.

“I’d like to try and qualify for European football again if we can.”

On Thursday, West Ham played the second of their games against Genk in their Europa League group, drawing 2-2. 

This was not only the first time they have failed to win in the competition this season but also the first time they have conceded a goal.

Nevertheless, Moyes’s side have now qualified for the knockout rounds and have been lighting up increasingly dark Thursday nights for their own fans and for many neutrals, too.

BT Sport’s coverage of the club usually features host Jules Breach alongside former West Ham players Joe Cole and Carlton Cole. 

The trio have provided refreshing coverage of a refreshing European campaign from an unlikely qualifier, but one that have more than proved they belong at this level.

Dinamo Zagreb’s win against Rapid Wien in Thursday’s other game in Group H was enough to see West Ham through to the knockout rounds with two games to spare.

One more win, from upcoming games at Rapid Wien or at home to Zagreb, would mean they finish top of the group, bypassing the preliminary knockout round and going straight to the round of 16.

Only Lyon and Bayer Leverkusen would be ahead of West Ham in an overall Europa League table at this stage, and only Celtic and Marseille have a higher average home attendance in the competition.

West Ham have been impressing domestically too. They have already knocked both Manchester sides out of the EFL Cup and are fourth in the Premier League, level on points with Manchester City and three ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal.

Their league position is no fluke. The Hammers have been one of the best teams to watch and the stats back up their current league position.

The expected goals stat measures the quality of chances a team create. West Ham are fourth in the league for this, behind Liverpool (top), Man City and Chelsea.

Perhaps more impressively, they are second in the league for fewest expected goals allowed, behind Man City, showing they are very good at preventing opponents from creating good chances.

Away from the data, they have simply been good to watch. 22-year-old midfielder Declan Rice is growing into a real leader of the team and is developing an excellent all-round game. 

From passing and tackling to dribbling and shooting, the England star has a bit of everything.

Up front, Michail Antonio is one of the best centre-forwards in the Premier League and is supported by a combination of fire and skill from Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma, Tomas Soucek and Pablo Fornals.

If Antonio was 10 years younger he would be on the radar of clubs across Europe, just as Rice already is.

In Lukasz Fabianski and Alphonse Areola they have two goalkeepers of a good standard, while in the defensive line, including Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell and academy graduate Ben Johnson, have impressed.

West Ham are in a healthy position, but they face their biggest test of the season when Liverpool visit the London Stadium tomorrow.

Just as West Ham have been one of the standout teams in the Europa League, Liverpool have been doing something similar in Europe’s premier club competition, the Champions League.

Only Ajax and Bayern Munich have better records in the group stage so far, and Jurgen Klopp’s side have managed to overcome the difficult obstacle that is Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, defeating them home and away. 

They are already through to the knockout rounds as group winners with two games to spare.

The trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah remains one of the most fearsome around, while the defensive diamond of Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, and one of Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip, is intimidating for any opposition attack.

Firmino will miss Sunday’s game due to injury, with the more than capable Diogo Jota set to step in in his place. 

A big positive for Liverpool was the return of Fabinho in midweek who was missed in the 2-2 draw with Brighton last weekend.

The Brazilian defensive midfielder offers a combination of physicality, technique and tactical awareness few players can and will be key to stopping West Ham’s in-form attackers.

Thanks to West Ham’s progress under Moyes, this game can genuinely be billed as a clash between two of the best sides in England currently. 

The Hammers will hope this status is still intact after the 90 minutes of football have been played on Sunday afternoon, and for the rest of the season.