Five things we learned from West Ham 2-2 Liverpool | OneFootball

Liverpool’s title hopes suffered yet another setback as they drew 2-2 with West Ham United at the London Stadium on Saturday.

Jarrod Bowen gave West Ham the lead after what was a flat first-half showing from both sides, but Andy Robertson’s sweeping finish and a Tomáš Souček own goal put Liverpool ahead at the start of the second-half.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were seemingly cantering towards three points but Michail Antonio capitalised on more shoddy Liverpool defending to head home West Ham’s equaliser.

After their 2-0 defeat to Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, the Reds needed a win if they were to realistically keep themselves in the race with Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the table.

Here are the five things we learned from the game…

Liverpool title hopes all but over

A win today for Liverpool would have put them level on points with Arsenal- albeit the Gunners do have a game in hand- but a draw at the London Stadium means their already feint aspirations of winning the Premier League has taken another hit.

The least Liverpool could have done was stay in it until the very end, but Jurgen Klopp’s side are seemingly freefalling out of this title race when for so long, it looked like a three-way race that would go right down to the wire.

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Manchester City and Arsenal, for now, have shown the grit and resilience needed to win this league. Unfortunately, they have capitulated when it really matters after being in contention for so long.

Bowen a potential option for Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has on numerous occasions praised the talents of Jarrod Bowen and his rise through the Premier League ranks. He once labelled the English forward as his ‘favourite player’ but it’s hard to imagine the German adoring him that much when he headed West Ham into the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Bowen is enjoying another fine season with 16 Premier League goals to his name, and if Mohamed Salah or one of Liverpool’s attackers depart in the summer, Bowen will surely be a player Arne Slot will be looking at.

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Liverpool can’t stop conceding first

West Ham’s opener against Liverpool was the 16th time the Reds have conceded first in the Premier League this season. Klopp’s side are known to be slow starters in games this season and it will certainly be something for Slot to address when he takes charge of the club.

Granted, no other team in the league has gained more points from losing positions than Liverpool this season, but it’s hardly sustainable and they can’t keep relying on comebacks and second half performances if they are to challenge on all fronts again next season.

Diaz is Liverpool’s standout attacker once again

In what was an extremely flat performance from Liverpool in the first half, it was no surprise that Diaz was there most threatening attacker- going close with an effort that crashed off the post. He also provided the assist for Andy Robertson which hauled Liverpool back into the game.

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In what has been a tricky month for Liverpool in front of goal, with so many of the team’s key attackers underperforming, Diaz has maintained some credibility with the how he’s carried Liverpool’s attack in the absence of Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, who have been well off the pace.

A few weeks ago, there was tenuous reports linking Diaz with a move away from Anfield in the summer but given his performances in recent weeks and the deteriorating form of others, Liverpool would be silly to let him go.

The future of David Moyes

With West Ham’s season petering out, and chances of European football in the balance, attention will naturally turn towards the future of David Moyes.

The Scotsman, who turned 61 on Tuesday, will be out of contract at the end of the season and there is little to suggest that there is ongoing discussions to extend his stay at the club. Moyes has delivered European football on a now regular basis to the London Stadium and last season’s Europa Conference League triumph will live long in the memory for West Ham fans.

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However, the club seem to be prioritising ambition and it seems like Moyes will be moved on in the summer, despite the outstanding service he has given to the club.