Mersey beat

Everton 2 West Ham 1

Looking at the Match of the Day evidence West Ham can count themselves a little unlucky to have lost this one. Early doors Carroll played a great ball out wide to Jenkinson who fired in a dangerous cross while Naismith went close for the Toffees. Lukaku's opener saw a shot deflected off Winston Reid and the scorer was clearly offside. Looks like the introduction of Jarvis and Zarate improved the attacking options for the Hammers, with Zarate playing a one two and twisting inside to fire home an equaliser that was hugely deflected by Phil Jagielka. Everton's winner stemmed from Howard flapping at a Zarate cross, a huge clearance and West Ham being caught with too many men forward as Osman ghosted in to convert Eto'o's cross.

We still nearly equalised when Jarvis crossed and Collins stabbed the ball at Howard late on, before Eto'o missed a great chance for the home side. Seems to have been a bad-tempered game with Mirallas clattering Amalfiitano late and sparking a fracas with Reid being booked; after Amalfitano was crocked again another shoving match ensued where James Tomkins went down holding his face when he'd been pushed in the chest by Mirallas. No place for that James and not worthy of a player in claret and blue. But overall with five men out and Noble limping off injured we ran Everton close and several squad players such as Zarate staked a claim. Now we need to get some bodies back for the Newcastle match.