Liverpool 2 West Ham 1
It's progress of a kind to be annoyed at not getting a result at Anfield. The Irons took the lead early on when Gomez could only head Masuaku's cross straight out to Fornals, who drilled it into the corner of Alisson's net. Rice had another fine game and Liverpool didn't have a shot on target in the first half as West Ham defended resolutely. The Reds equalised through a dodgy penalty. Masuaku was unwise to make minimal contact with Salah, but the Liverpool man went down in Strictly Come Dancing fashion.
In the second half the Hammers had two good chances at 1-1, both falling to Fornals. Pablo scuffed his effort from Masuaku's inviting cross and then shot against the legs of a defender rather than pass to the unmarked Bowen. Interestingly Haler played a role in the build-up to both these chances, but for the rest of the match was largely anonymous and didn't work hard enough. Liverpool's inexperienced Nathaniel Phillips should have been tested much more and Antonio's hold-up play was badly missed.
The arrival of Jota and Shaqiri from the bench won the game for Liverpool. Jota first had a goal disallowed just about correctly for Mane's boot going into Fabianski. The winner came in the 85th minute as Yarmolenko lost the ball (in my head I could already hear my pal Matt haranguing him) in midfield and then Shaqiri found Jota with a clever through ball. The striker raced past Coufal and West Ham's offside trap to fire home.
Subs Lanzini and Benrahma were brought on too late to alter the game but credit to West Ham for still getting a corner in added time before Phillips headed away. OK it was the champions and progress is being made, but we have to learn to get something out of games like this.
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