West Ham are Massive!

West Ham United 3 (three) Liverpool 2

It's a new lucky route to the game for this one, walking from Stamford Hill with Nicola via the Lea Navigation. We end up seeing Matt and Lisa's favourite cocktail bar the Lock Inn and having tea at a hipster cafe in Here East where two women discuss eating sour cherry juice and raw vegetables, as you do in Hackney.

Inside the stadium are Matt and Fraser, plus Essex contingent Scott and Joe, though Alison the Possible Jinx has opted to stay at home in Clacton. Unless that's her in Liverpool's goal. Michael and Nigel are back, having missed the Man City game, so we explain to them that West Hampstead play American football and all games are decided by penalties. We're also joined by DC's mate Damon, a Glaswegian Scouser.

Trevor Brooking reads In Flanders Field for Remembrance Sunday, and then we're off. Scott predicts that West Ham will win 3-2, as if that will happen, while Nigel and myself say we'd take a draw. 

ALISSON'S AIM IS NOT TRUE

It's a cracking atmosphere and a perfect start for West Ham after four minutes as Antonio wins a corner off Van Dyke. Fornals' inswinger bamboozles Alisson, who is distracted by the leaping Ogbonna, and flaps the ball into his own net. Alisson claims a foul but really he's not been strong enough. After VAR checks for a foul and handball the goal is given and the London Stadium erupts.

But have we scored too soon? The rest of the half sees Liverpool pen West Ham back and there's trepidation whenever Salah has the ball. There's a VAR check for a red card after a heavy lunge by Cresswell on Henderson. Aaron has played the ball but with the current rules is a little fortunate to get away with an out of control follow through. 

Ogbonna, having gone down injured once already, has to be replaced after being caught by Jota's elbow and on comes the dependable Dawson. Nigel gets the blame for saying that we have been lucky with injuries at the start of the match. The Hammers defend pretty well until Salah is hit by the Grealish sniper and draws a free kick on the edge of the box. Alexander-Arnold bends an unstoppable shot around the wall and into the top corner.

There's still time for Behrahma to get down the left and cross to Soucek who is blocked by a great tackle from Van Dyke.

It's not that bad to be drawing at half-time against Liverpool though, as the Reds and unbeaten in 25 games. Matt makes a crucial intervention at half time, giving Fraser a signed poster of his hero David Moyes, while Nigel sensibly opts not to eat his lucky banana.

ZOUMA MEETING

West Ham start the second half with much greater attacking verve. Cresswell wins a corner and from the set piece Dawson heads against the bar. While a neat Liverpool moves sees Mane volley straight at Fabianski.

Then the game really ignites. Rice nicks the ball and sets Bowen away. Jarrod speeds through four Liverpool players and plays in Fornals, while Antonio is distracting the rest of the Liverpool defence. Pablo's shot goes in off Alisson's hands and he runs to the Bobby Moore end to do his General salute and spark mayhem at the London Stadium.

Seven minutes later Antonio can't outpace Van Dyke but wins a corner off him. As the corner comes in Alisson is distracted by Antonio, Rice stands still to block a defender and the unmarked Zouma gets round the back to head home from a difficult angle and spark further series of delirium. David Moyes almost does another dad dance. Antonio has had an interesting game. He's not played that well but has been involved in all three goals. 

KOP THAT KLOPP

It's still going to be a very nervous final 15 minutes, though the general consensus among the bouncing Irons fans is that West Ham are massive wherever they go. At least until Nigel mentions that WHU were 3-2 up against Liverpool in the 2006 FA Cup Final. Even the Vicar's Son stays positive, unlike the animated gentleman behind us. 

It gets even more nerve-wracking when sub Origi neatly swivels to pull one back with a fine finish after 83 minutes. Moyes responds by playing with double full backs, bringing on Coufal and Masuaku.

Late on Soucek is adjudged to have fouled on the edge of the box. From the free kick Mane escapes his markers and heads wide when he should score. 

The Irons survive four minutes of added time and then there's a huge roar as the ref blows his whistle. We go third above Liverpool! Nigel finally eats his lucky banana. And for the first time ever Scott has forecast the correct score. It's also been probably the noisiest atmosphere ever at the London Stadium.

The shouty tunnel is full of cries of "West Ham are massive!" as we head to the Refreshment Rooms for a pint or two of Meantime. Michael wonders if that is Star Wars on the TV before leaving early to go to a Seasick Steve concert. Though it's more Seasick Jurgen to judge by his bad loser comments on BBC Sport.

We're in such shock that we can't think of anything to moan about and instead discuss how many times Nigel has seen Motorhead and if there are any bands that carry on with just the drummer. This really feels like a statement win. Alisson has helped, but we've still beaten the unbeatable. Last season we lost out to the top four teams. This time round we've beaten Man City and Liverpool in succession. Blimey. And the BBC is asking if West Ham are really title contenders. What sort of thing is happening here? Come on you Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Johnson 7, Zouma 8, Ogbonna 7 (Dawson 7), Cresswell 7; Soucek 7, Rice 8, Benrahma 8 (Masuaku n/a), Fornals 8, Bowen 8 (Coufal n/a)); Antonio 7.