Hi! I’m Anthony Onifade and I’ll be taking you through this evening’s game between Liverpool and West Ham at Anfield!
Two teams approaching this Premier League matchday 7 in good form.
Champions Liverpool will be aiming to win their fourth match on the bounce against a West Ham side seeking to maintain their own unbeaten run stretching back five games.
Head-to-Head stats:
- Liverpool have not lost to West Ham in the league since January 2016, (W6, D2).
- The Hammers won 3-0 at Anfield in August 2015 but that is their only victory in their past 47 league games away to the Reds.
Team News:
Liverpool are without Fabinho because of a hamstring problem, so 19-year-old centre-back Rhys Williams could make his Premier League debut.
Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita, who are nearing returns, will be monitored before the game, while this fixture may come too soon for Joel Matip.
Michail Antonio is unfortunately absent for West Ham but boss David Moyes does not think the player’s hamstring injury is “too bad”.
The in-form striker could be replaced by Sebastien Haller. New signing Said Benrahma could finally make his Premier League debut from the bench.
Team Line-Ups:
LIVERPOOL:
Academy product Nathaniel Phillips makes his full Premier League debut coming in place of the injured Fabinho. Liverpool make six changes from the Champions League win over FC Midtjylland with Firmino, Mane, Salah coming back into the side. Curtis Jones starts alongside Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum in midfield.
WEST HAM:
For West Ham, Sebastian Haller is the only change for David Moyes’ side as the Frenchman replaces the injured Michail Antonio up front. Otherwise, its the same side which drew at home to Manchester City on Matchday 6.
KICK-OFF:
There’s a minute’s silence for World Cup winner Nobby Stiles and the armed forces before kick-off.
West Ham kick us off
1′ Liverpool starting off on the front foot. Salah almost in to get a shot off but Declan Rice clears the ball away.
2′ Fantastic first time pass from Alexander-Arnold to Salah but Ogbonna shepherds him out of play.
5′ West Ham organised and compact, Liverpool trying to unlock them with some trademark long balls.
8′ Good ball in from Coufal towards Haller but Phillips brilliantly heads away. Great reading of the game from the centre-half.
8′ Resulting corner is a waste goes for a Goal-kick.
10′ GOAAALLLL WEST HAM! Pablo Fornals in the area! Cross in from Masuaku which is headed away from Gomez but only reaches Fornals who tucks it in off the post expertly.
11′ Can Liverpool spring a quick response? West Ham defending well. Liverpool being forced to go wide every time they attack.
14′ Free-kick to Liverpool in a very favorable position. Conceded by Balbuena.
15′ Bit of panic in the West Ham area after a cross from Trent AA, Fabianski spills it but quickly recovers to gather the ball.
20′ Liverpool prodding and probing but can’t find any real openings. West Ham defending resolutely, closing the gaps between the midfield and defence. No space for Mane, Firmino and Salah to operate in.
21′ Liverpool starting to turn the screw now, still West Ham hang on.
22′ Two crosses in from Masuaku overhit. West Ham doing really well overall.
23′ Strikers challenge on Curtis Jones from Sebastian Haller. Looked a bit dangerous. No yellow.
24′ Mane fouled in the box. No penalty then Henderson shoots from the edge after a pass from Salah but goes wide. Liverpool showing signs of life now. Can West Ham stay resilient?
26′ Dangerous Trent Alexander-Arnold cross towards Mane which Fabianski misses but West ham manage to deal with it.
28′ West Ham looking dangerous every time they come forward, Fornals picking up nice pockets to hurt Liverpool’s back-line. Great tackle from Robertson on Bowen.
31′ Jurgen Klopp looking very edgy on the touchline. His side having most of the possession but cant penetrate West Ham’s back-line.
32′ Free-kick in a dangerous area for Liverpool, 30yrds out…
33′ Comes to nothing. West Ham try and break up the pitch but can’t make anything of the counter.
36′ Sadio Mane tees up Robertson with a great little cross but the Scottish international hits it over. Good interplay from Mane and Firmino before the opportunity.
38′ Declan Rice fouls Wijnaldum in a dangerous area. Free-kick to Liverpool. Is it Trent AA or Robertson to take this?
39′ Free-kick taken from Alexander-Arnold but hits a well constructed West Ham wall.
40′ PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Masuaku fouls Salah in the box! Ref points to the spot!
40′ Mo Salah to take the penalty…
41′ GOALLL MO SALAH EQUALISES FROM THE SPOT! 1-1!
42′ Silly challenge from Masuaku on Salah there. All of West Ham’s good work undone.
45+1′ Liverpool probing for their second-goal but lacking the quality to hurt West Ham before the break.
Half-time: Liverpool 1-1 West Ham
Decent first-half with West Ham taking the lead through Pablo Fornals after a Joe Gomez mistake but Liverpool clawed themselves back after Masuaku’s thoughtless challenge on Mo Salah in the box. The Egyptian converted the penalty to equalize. West Ham defended well until that point, and will certainly feel hard done by. Liverpool with much work to do if they are to take the three points.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
46′ Firmino really struggling to grab a hold of this game, trying to link up with Salah with his customary flicks but it doesn’t come off. Does the Brazillian need a break? In form Diogo Jota is waiting in the wings..
47′ Liverpool getting amongst West Ham’s midfield and back-line now. Looking more sharp with their passing.
48′ Yellow card for Declan Rice after a cynical foul on Wijnaldum
49′ Free-kick to be taken by Trent Alexander-Arnold on to Salah’s head but he can’t guide it to threaten West Ham’s net.
50′ CHANCE for Fornals! Great cut back from Masuaku on the left but Fornals can’t stretch enough to guide it past Alisson.
55′ Liverpool stilly trying to carve West Ham but to no avail. David Moyes’ side defending resolutely once again, well organised and closing down spaces.
57′ West Ham looking really confident when going forward.
58′ Great cross in from Cresswell but Nat Phillips deals with it. West Ham now trying to create opportunities.
61′ Liverpool need fresh impetus and ideas now. Time for a change from Jurgen Klopp?
62′ Aaron Cresswell down after driving at Trent AA, awkward fall from the left-back. Needing treatment.
63′ Play resumes..
66′ West Ham readying a sub, Yarmelenko receiving instructions.
66′ Small opening for West Ham, but comes to nothing. Fornals shot is blocked from Andy Robertson.
Liverpool growing frustrated here. Predictable football from Klopp’s men, every play in front of the Hammers defence rather than in-behind. West Ham looking comfortable so far.
67′ Liverpool also readying substitutions. Diogo Jota coming on.
69′ Liverpool trying to up the tempo, but West Ham dealing with the danger. Huge foray in the West Ham box, but Salah’s cross is cut out.
70′ SUBS: Diogo Jota and Xherdan Shaquiri on for Firmino and Curtis Jones.
71′ Under 20 mins to go, can Liverpool find a much needed winner. By the looks of it, West Ham could sneak away with a point at Anfield.
73′ Salah shot goes wide! Good work from Mane to bring the ball down for the Egyptian.
74′ Yarmelenko comes on for Sebastian Haller. Quiet evening for the Frenchman. Said Benrahma still awaiting his Premier League debut.
75′ Jota tries to thread a through ball for Salah but it goes astray. A reflection of Liverpool’s performance so far but you can’t write off Jurgen Klopp’s men.
76′ DIOGO JOTA SCORESSS! 2-1 LIVERPOOL! Mane shot is saved he tries to follow up abruptly and Jota follows up to score.
77′ VAR Check! Is it a foul on Fabianski from Mane?
78′ Referee going to check the VAR monitor…
79 NO GOAL! Referee deems it a foul after a look at the replays. Free-kick to West Ham.
83′ West Ham probing for the winner themselves. Cross from Jarrod Bowen headed away from Nathaniel Phillips who’s enjoyed a steady Premeir League debut.
84′ GOALLLL DIOGO JOTA SCORES ! Excellent ball from Shaqiri and Jota notches expertly! No chance of VAR intervention this time, the Portuguese looks onside
84′ West Ham’s resistant finally cracks! Diogo Jota scores for the third game running after brilliant work and pass from Xherdan Shaqiri!
88′ Final throws of the dice from David Moyes. Said Benrahma and Manuel Lanzini comes on for Bowen and Masuaku. Can Lanzini recue the point for the Hammers again?
89′ Salah comes off for James Milner. Jurgen Klopp shutting up shop.
90′ FIVE ADDED MINUTES! Five minutes for West Ham to conjure up an opportunity…
92′ Foul on Yarmelenko from Nat Phillips. Free-kick for West Ham..
92′ Soucek gets his head on the free-kick but it doesn’t test Alisson. Comfortable for the Brazilian.
94′ Yarmelenko puts in a cross and Gomez puts it out for a corner. Taking no chances.
94′ Corner comes to nothing. Defended brilliantly from Nat Phillips. Wonderful defensive header from the debutant.
FULL-TIME: Liverpool 2-1West Ham.
The champions go 3 points clear at the top of the table as they equal the club record of 63 home league games unbeaten set back in 1981. Subs made the difference with Shaqiri creating the late winner for Jota. Salah’s pen had cancelled out Fornals opener. West Ham playing well for large spells but Liverpool’s quality shines through.
MOTM: Nathaniel Phillips.
Assured and dominant display from the 23-year-old on his first Premier League appearance.
That’s all from me tonight, hope you enjoyed! Have a great one!
