It's off to Hackney Wick for the 12.30pm kick-off, buying a programme for the delayed Nigel, with Matt, Lisa and Michael somehow getting served in the Best Cafe and making kick-off. Nigel has even survived buying a stadium pie.
Liverpool dominate the first quarter with Zouma and Ogbonna stretched, but slowly the Irons create some chances. Coufal has a goalbound shot deflected wide. Ogbonna almost gives away a penalty only to be saved by the linesman's flag. Not being 4-0 down after 30 minutes is a definite improvement. After a fine tackle by Alvarez, Bowen's deflected low shot is pushed round the post by Alisson.
The Hammers take the lead after 43 minutes when a short corner is played to Kudus, whose cross is headed down by Bowen and in off the post. Matt says he's never doubted the wisdom of short corners.
But the second half sees a different Liverpool emerge, with the men in white suddenly playing with greater intensity and bite. Robertson equalises with a swift turn and shot. Areola gets a hand to it but can't keep it out. The keeper then has to make a decent stop from Alexander-Arnold's long-range effort.
Liverpool take the lead with a somewhat lucky deflected goal, as Gakpo's shot deflects off Ogbonna and then on the line bounces off Soucek and Areola into the net. Defeat looks inevitable as Liverpool pile on the pressure. The dangerous Diaz twice races clear to force fine saves from Areola who is starting to look like a man swatting flies as shot after shot comes at him. "Let the season end now. There's no more chance of glory," reflects a moribund Michael, channelling Private Fraser.
Facing defeat Nigel takes decisive action, tucking into his lucky banana. This inspires Moyes tio bring on Ward-Prowse for Soucek. Emerson has a great half volley saved by Alisson and that seems to inspire the side. Bowen plays in a great cross and Antonio powers home a header for the equaliser. It's almost a copy of Antonio's goal against Leverkusen.
"You're just a shit Andy Carroll!" chant the home fans as Nunez warms up. Mo Salah comes on after a contretemps with Klopp and after a pacy run from deep sets up Harvey Elliott for a shot that pings against Areola's bar.
It's a great game for the neutral and at the end West Ham force a corner, only for ref Anthony Taylor to blow the final whistle before it can be taken. Still, the quality of Mersey has been strained. Liverpool lost the league at West Ham. Nigel says farewell to the bloke beside us, who in a Samuel Beckett-like speech says he's not renewing because he doesn't like the stadium or the football, he didn't enjoy today and the players these days are just like businessmen. Apart from that he's quite happy.
We set off for the Eagle where the East London Pale Ale is thankfully back (with ice), and the big news is that Matt and Lisa are on soft drinks because Lisa's mum and dad are coming up from the country and presumably think that their daughter's partner is a vicar's son who doesn't drink and is always tolerant of officialdom.
A draw against a side that has been challenging for the title all season is a boost after the Palace debacle. One more home game left now and we're still in with a chance of the top eight or better, which isn't a bad season. Irons!
PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 8; Coufal 7, Zouma 7, Ogbonna 6, Emerson 7; Soucek 6 (Ward-Prowse 6), Alvarez 7, Paqueta 6; Kudus 7, Antonio 8, Bowen 8.
2 comments:
Without an injection of American/Arabian/Russian billions 7th or 8th is top of our league and to be free of relegation has been a marvelous 3 years. Moyes,as Sam before him, made it less likely I would spend my time in the stadium watching the away fans celebrating!
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