West Ham United 3 Liverpool 2
This has been a season of great moments for West Ham and it would be no exaggeration to say their latest is their greatest so far. That much could be taken from the roar of celebration that emanated from the majority of those in attendance here as they toasted a victory over stellar opponents and one that only enhances their own credentials.
As has been the case for sometime now, West Ham displayed great togetherness, determination and craft on a cold evening in east London and ultimately were worthy of their first win over Liverpool since January 2016 and one that sees them climb above them into third place. West Ham qualifying for the Champions League? It simply cannot be ruled out on the evidence of the way they are performing under David Moyes.
For Liverpool this was a first defeat in 26 games and a chastening one at that, given the slackness they yet again showed from a defensive point of view, no one more so than Alisson. The Brazil goalkeeper, normally such a reliable presence, was at fault for all three goals, yet there were poor displays throughout the visitors’ ranks and for Jürgen Klopp there is much to ponder as he enters what for him will feel like an incredibly frustrating international break.
Speaking before this game, Moyes admitted West Ham had shown Liverpool “too much respect” when these sides met here last season, sitting off their opponents and allowing them to largely coast to a 3-1 victory. The same approach would not be taken this time around, the Scot insisted, and he was true to his word as the hosts shook Liverpool with an early bang.
The corner that led to the opening goal came from Michael Antonio forcing Virgil van Dijk into a block by the far touchline. Pablo Fornals swung the set piece into the the area and Alisson made a mess of clearing it with his left arm, the ball grazing off his thumb and drifting into the net.
Liverpool’s players protested to the referee, Craig Pawson, insisting Alisson had been fouled by Angelo Ogbonna as the pair jumped together in an attempt to connect with Fornals’ delivery. There came a VAR check and it was decided there had been no foul, which replays showed was the correct call.
The goal was West Ham’s fifth from a set piece in their last six games while for Liverpool it was the source of injustice. And, from their point of view, there was more to come five minutes later after Pawson, following another VAR check, decided not to penalise Aaron Cresswell for his challenge on Jordan Henderson, the left-back catching the Liverpool captain on the knee of his standing leg as he moved down the right flank. It could, and probably, should have led to a red card, yet incredibly a foul wasn’t even given.
As Klopp fumed on the touchline, his players struggled to break down a West Ham side that was now set up in a deep compact shape. The visitors’ front three of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Sadio Mané had barely any space to operate in and ultimately Liverpool were forced to attack from wide. That approach almost paid off on 31 minutes as Henderson sent a cross in from the right that Jota met with a glancing header which drifted just over.
West Ham were standing strong against opponents who were now dominating possession and territory, their resolve especially admirable given they had lost Ogbonna on 22 minutes with a cut to the right eye resulting from the centre-back being accidentally caught by Jota’s elbow, and it looked like they would go into the break ahead.
But that did not prove the case after Alexander-Arnold got Liverpool back on level terms on 41 minutes with a wonderful free-kick. Located in a central position just outside the area, and having been teed up by Salah, who won the set piece having been fouled by Declan Rice, the right-back curled the ball over the wall and into the top left-hand corner of the net.
It was a deflating moment for West Ham but, as has been the case all season, they did not wilt and, really, should have retaken the lead in stoppage time after Antonio found himself clean through on goal having run on to a through ball from inside his own half. He, however, failed to keep control of the ball, in turn allowing Alexander-Arnold to make a crucial interception.
The game seemed set up for a full-on Liverpool revival and indeed they looked to have taken the lead on 52 minutes when Mané met Andy Robertson’s cross with a thumping close-range finish. However, Lukasz Fabianski stood firm and made an excellent reaction save.
The visitors kept coming forward but, ultimately, that was to be their downfall as West Ham executed a devastating counterattack on 67 minutes.
Craig Dawson won possession from Mané just outside West Ham’s area, and as the ball fell into midfield, Jarrod Bowen got hold of it, charged forward and eventually fed Fornals, whose resulting left-footed shot went through the grasp of Alisson.
The Brazilian’s misery was completed on 75 minutes after he allowed Kurt Zouma to head Bowen’s corner through his arms at the back post.
Cue an eruption of noise from the home supporters, who were given one more moment of concern after Divock Origi, on as a substitute, got one back, with a well-taken strike. Mané then went closer to making it 3-3 with a diving header but, ultimately, the hosts’ joy was not to be denied. – Guardian
