The Reds were held to a goalless draw by Fulham last weekend and then scraped past Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday.

They will also be shorn of striker Fernando Torres, who has been ruled out for three weeks with another hamstring injury, while West Ham head into the game rejuvenated after recording their first league win in eight attempts last weekend, a 1-0 victory at Sunderland.

That was the Hammers' second successive clean sheet, having failed to keep one in the 27 previous games, and Zola is relishing Monday night's challenge.

"I don't think Liverpool are having their best moment," said the former Chelsea striker.

"But we are focused and we know we cannot afford any mistakes. We know a lot about them, we've seen them a lot. And I think we have prepared as well as we can so we'll see what happens.

"It could be a good year for them. They've already won two big games (against Chelsea and Manchester United) and that is important. It makes a big, big difference in your confidence. This year I've noticed they're playing better football so they're a team to watch."

Asked if Liverpool can win the title, Zola replied: "I think they've got a very good chance."

Zola and his Hammers will be out to stall the Reds' title charge on Monday, however, and the fact they have not won at Anfield since September 1963 is not dampening the Italian's spirits.

"I think my team is coming into this match at the best time because we're going into it off two good results," said Zola.

"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."

Striker Craig Bellamy will come up against his old side, and Zola believes he is capable of being a match-winner.

"Last Sunday he helped the team a lot and I was pleased with his attitude," he said.

"This week he's been good in training and I'm sure he can be one of the players who can change the game on Monday."

Captain Lucas Neill, who reportedly turned down Liverpool to join West Ham in 2007, is targeting another solid performance in defence.

"Anfield is always a tough place to go and we'll be coming up against a team full of fantastic players so it's going to be interesting," he said.

"We'll be going there knowing we have to work hard. But we will give ourselves a chance if we can keep a clean sheet for a long period of the game because you always get one or two chances as Anfield and it's up to us to be ruthless enough to take them."