An incredibly tight game at Upton Park on Saturday afternoon saw a high-flying Liverpool’s title charge nearly stalled by a resilient West Ham United. Overall though, at such a time of the season, wins like this are, not only to be expected, but are also vital for any champions elect.
Sam Allardyce’s unchanged (4-2-3-1) Hammers came into the game on the back of two important 2-1 victories, against Hull City and Sunderland respectively, which all but confirmed the London clubs’ position in the Premier League for next season. The home teams aim now was to push on into the top half of the division; contrary to what many believed, there was still something for West Ham to fight for. This was shown in their starting eleven, which seemed to have a degree of attacking promise to it, spearheaded by the imposing figure of Andy Carroll, who, until last summer, was a Liverpool player and has the title of being the Reds’ most expensive transfer in to the club – £35 million to be precise, I bet you didn’t know that – with another expensive former-Liverpool man to his right: Stewart Downing. Both, especially the former, had a lot to fight for in this match; not only did they want to prove themselves to Brendan Rodgers, who disposed of the two in the Summer, they also were hopeful of wrestling into Roy Hodgson’s World Cup plans.
As for title-challenging Liverpool, their aim was to return to the top of the league, preferably with a win (though a draw would have had the same result) in order to send them 2 points clear of Chelsea. Brendan Rodgers was forced into one change from the team that dispatched Tottenham 4-0 at Anfield a week before, as fresh injury worries for Daniel Agger (this time in his knee) means he faces some time on the side lines, though Rodgers reassured fans it isn’t too serious. In the Dane’s place came Mamadou Sakho, who, in contrast, was returning from a 3-month absence. The vice-captain’s injury could prove to be a blessing in disguise for this match, as Sakho’s aerial prowess and greater strength could aid Liverpool’s handling of Andy Carroll. However, an ominous omen for Liverpool was that the French defender and Martin Skrtel had lined up alongside each other 12 times in the league this season, yet have only mustered one clean sheet from the partnership. The Reds initially lined up in the same 4-3-3 formation that worked so effectively last time out.
A vocal home support spurred West Ham into a bright start. Two early Downing crosses were capably cleared, but it displayed the intent the winger possessed coming into this encounter with his former employers. Liverpool responded with their first attack leading to a free kick, earned by Daniel Sturridge. Despite the 30 yard distance, Luis Suarez never looked like doing anything but curling an effort at goal, and what an effort it was too, dipping just over the bar and onto the roof of the net in front of the Bobby Moore stand.
West Ham weren’t going to let Liverpool dominate proceedings. They threw players forward, and Diame had the beating of Jon Flanagan out wide, before delivering a dangerous cross towards Carroll but Skrtel nipped in with his head to stop it reaching the big Geordie. Following the resulting corner, West Ham were uncharacteristically left short at the back, as the away team counter attacked in typically threatening style. Coutinho’s in-the-area cross was blocked, quelling the danger.
The game was open during these early stages, with West Ham looking as aerially dangerous as usual, while Liverpool looked good on the counter. Sterling encapsulated this, as he burst into the box after seizing on a loose ball, earning a corner in the process. The corner actually fell his way on the edge of the box, and another burst results in a cross deflecting into ‘keeper Adrian’s hands. Shortly afterwards, Carroll had his first sniff of action, striking an effort against the solid figure of Skrtel. No great danger here, although it showed he was also fired up for the match; similar to the previously mentioned Downing. West Ham began to establish an air of dominance, surprisingly, as their first real opening came as a result of a trademark knock-on from the head of Carroll into the path of Nolan, who was tackled by Skrtel (again) before he could sort his feet out.
The first real warning shot from the constantly in-form Suarez was an audacious chipped effort from an unorthodox area, which came down on the far side of Adrian’s goal, clanging the bar. A Sterling shot/cross combination was comfortable for Adrian shortly after this. The Irons weren’t fazed, who earned their first good opportunity through Diame. After he turned away from Flanagan, who was having a forgetful game thus far, he found himself in space on the edge of the Liverpool box. Disappointingly, West Ham’s number 21 could only skew his effort high and wide.
Bar an unthreatening Skrtel header from a corner, West Ham went on to boss the next few passages of play as the game moved into the second quarter. There was an awkward moment for the Liverpudlian defence when a spinning ball landed in the so-called ‘’corridor of uncertainty’’, but the impressive Mignolet came to collect the ball just in time to thwart Carroll’s and Tomkins’ attempts to head it goal-wards.
Liverpool’s feared front line weren’t completely quiet though, as fancy link up play between Sturridge and Henderson lead to an opening for the former, who could only half-volley his strike wide. The figurative shooting boots were certainly on for both teams, though the laces were definitely untied; Noble’s dangerous free kick whistled just wide in front of an anxious away contingent. 35 minutes gone by now, with West Ham enjoying the better of the possession and chances.
As the half entered its final phases, Sturridge again cannoned handsomely wide following a Suarez knock-down. Meanwhile, down at the other end Mignolet constantly combated the aerial approach adopted by West ham.
The game was brought well and truly to life by 5 minutes of intense action. First, a typically brilliant Steven Gerrard pass found Suarez in the box, and as the striker cut back the ball struck the arm of James Tomkins. Referee Anthony Taylor pointed for the spot. The famous number 8 stepped up and converted, firing into the bottom right hand corner with Adrian diving the other way. In scoring, Gerrard reached 172 Liverpool goals – the same tally achieved by a certain Kenny Dalglish.
Heartbreak followed shortly afterwards for Liverpool, and in unbelievable fashion. Guy Demel slotted home a loose ball from a West Ham corner and wheeled off in celebration. Frustration for Demel came though, who thought he’d scored his first Hammers goal, only to be disappointed by the linesman who waved for a foul on Mignolet – the keeper had been ‘punched’ (sort of) on his head by, of all people, Andy Carroll, when challenging in the air. The goal was chalked off. Referee Taylor then spoke to his assistant and, after a lengthy talk, re-awarded the goal to the home side.
Outrage ensued, as Liverpool players desperately appealed to the officials to simply turn around and watch the evidence of the foul on the big screen right behind them, only to be ignored. Consequently, the teams went in with one goal each at half time.
The controversy ensured the second half would be full of fight between the two teams, as the win was now there for the underdogs of West Ham while Liverpool will be riled by the officials’ decision. The goal certainly highlighted the fact that Liverpool’s first half performance was no where near the standard many would expect from title challengers. However, the Reds could barely argue that West Ham did deserve the goal, no matter how disputable the awarding of it was. It was an attacking and positive display from their attackers, although the threat was mainly, and as expected, aerial. Credit where credit is due to one of the men deemed not good enough for Liverpool; Downing had got past Glen Johnson down the right wing more times than anyone would have anticipated and had delivered a handful of worryingly good crosses.
As for Liverpool’s attack, they had, so far, lacked their usual creativity. Coutinho, Sturridge and, to a lesser extent, Suarez and Sterling were yet to pose their typical threat and the first of those four was punished for this. Lucas Leiva came off the bench at half time to take the Brazilians place. The Irons had enjoyed the better of the midfield play in the first half, which had hindered Liverpool’s creativity. Reverting to the midfield three which had served Rodgers so well in recent away games would allow the Reds to regain control in this area. Joe Allen would usually be expected to step in here, rather than Lucas, but the Welshman has a slight injury concern and was therefore not risked.
Indeed, the second half was much more rugged than the first, though it took over quarter of an hour to come to life. The first notable action of the half came just past the hour mark, as a Carroll header pounds the crossbar. Liverpool hadn’t come out fighting like many had predicted.
Similar to in the first half, a Suarez knock down leads to a Sturridge chance. Taking the ball well, his half volley sails just over Adrian’s bar and into Liverpool’s away crowd. To maintain the overall initiative, Sam Allardyce introduced Antonio Nocerino to add more attacking prowess. The substitute took up a position playing just off main-man Carroll.
After 71 minutes had elapsed, young Jon Flanagan, after a suspect first half shift, found himself charging on deep in the opposition area and ultimately earning Liverpool a vital, yet arguable, penalty; Anthony Taylor again making a debatable call. Despite Adrian hitting some of the ball with his out-stretched arm, he did make some definite contact with the full back, who didn’t appeal too passionately. Nonetheless, Taylor pointed for a second penalty, leading to a second Gerrard goal. This time, the Scouse hero opted for the exact opposite than with his first penalty, slotting it into the top left hand corner, with ample pace and power. Adrian, to his credit, nearly reached it but couldn’t quite stretch far enough to thwart the Liverpool captain.
The goal had galvanised Liverpool. 4 minutes after taking the lead, Liverpool were back in West Ham’s area and causing trouble. A beautiful passage of play between Suarez, Sturridge and Henderson leads to Suarez receiving the ball 12 yards out, but his swinging foot misses the crossed ball, instead hitting his standing leg and rolling into the welcome arms of Adrian. Liverpool looked more like their usual selves now. The change to a diamond midfield was proving to be a wise choice from the manager, as the creativity in the final two thirds had returned along with the lions share of the ball.
In an attempt to swing things back his teams’ way, Allardyce brought on Matt Jarvis in the 78th minute, hoping his pace and crossing ability would aid their late attacking efforts, particularly with the much-mentioned Carroll lurking ahead of him. Despite this, it was Liverpool who earned the next clear chance, after a glorious Sterling pass found Sturridge on the edge of the box. The strikers’ snapshot side volley was held well by Adrian, as the game entered it’s final 10 minutes with the Reds looking more likely to extent their lead rather than the home team earning an equaliser.
This was enforced by Suarez being the width of the bar away from scoring yet again, as his utterly ludicrous effort, struck with his side-foot from a wide angle curling viscously and dropping onto the bar.
Allardyce rolled his dice for the final time, brining on striker Caron Cole for midfielder Momo Diame, whose positive first half display had not been repeated in the second. Rodgers replied with a defensive change, hooking Sturridge off for Kolo Toure. Sturridge’s match had been littered with half-chances that, on another day, would have found the back of the net. To say the least, the Premier League’s second top-scorer hadn’t had his most clinical match. This also saw a return to action for the man who had made two high profile mistakes in two consecutive away games in February; at West Brom he made a suicidal back pass into the path of Victor Anichebe, followed up by a calamitous own goal in Fulham’s favour at Craven Cottage.
Liverpool continued to attack as Suarez is pulled back by Almero as he nearly found himself bearing down on goal. Almero is booked an the resulting free kick falls to Suarez whose cut back hits Almero’s hand but the inevitable penalty appeals are dismissed –the right decision for a change. Another chance comes and goes in the 88th minute. Sterling again does superbly to put Suarez one-on-one with Adrian, who expertly closes the Uruguayan down to block the effort made by his stretching foot.
In the 90th minute, Liverpool sat back while West Ham desperately tried to salvage a result – and came close in the process – as first, Downing’s right footed drive went comfortably, but powerfully, over, while a couple of long-range free kicks and crosses finalise in appeals for handball against Henderson just outside the box. The appeals are survived and the crosses are dealt with.
Via the help of sly time-wasting tactics during a corner from Suarez and Sterling, the title stays on track for Liverpool as Taylor finally blows the full time whistle.
A huge sigh, nay, cheer, of relief radiates from the buoyant away end, while West Ham fans voiced their on-going disgust at the brand of football on show at Upton Park despite their relatively sound position in the league; 11th as it stands. Liverpool, by the skin of Rodgers’ shiny teeth, earned a 9th straight win to boost the ever-growing belief that they can, or will, win the title. They face their toughest test of the run-in next Sunday against Man City which could determine the fate of their challenge. The momentum is certainly with the Merseyside club, even though they were ran very close here. However, it is said that even title winners must win ugly, while many also predicted Liverpool would have one or two games like this, which would be scrappy 1 goal wins, earned by twists of fate. Rodgers’ tactical versatility is arguably what won it for Liverpool today. The second half performance was much more dominant and impressive, and the switch to a diamond midfield lead to a break down of West Ham’s solid defence, albeit from the spot decisively.
There was Man of the Match contenders on both sides. The two ‘keepers dealt with the threats of each others attacks admirably, while Skrtel and Sakho for Liverpool, and Tomkins and Reid for West Ham both worked well as partners. The former pair kept Carroll surprisingly quiet, similar to the latter’s expert handling of the three dangerous Liverpool front men. Raheem Sterling also earns an honourable mention from me. The 19 year olds’ (NINETEEN?!) creativity towards the end of the second half presented Suarez and Sturridge with many openings which were, frustratingly, either dealt with or wasted. No matter how long the list of candidates stretches, Man of the Match is only ever going to go to one man – Steven Gerrard. Once again he dragged his club through a tough day. First he delivered the beautiful pass to Suarez which lead to the first penalty. Secondly, and as expected, he converted it with ease. Finally, he managed to guide his second penalty, which proved to be the winning goal, past the impressive Adrian. Factor in his general play: tackles, passing etc, and it was just yet another massive performance from a massive figure in a massive season for the club he proudly captains.
And to end on a cliché: 5 more finals.
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