West Ham 2 – 2 Liverpool – The Postmortem  | OneFootball

West Ham 2 – 2 Liverpool – The Postmortem

This was a game that was always going to pit two faltering teams against one another, which ultimately delivered a fair result and scintillating second half of Premier League football. The result all but ended Liverpool’s lingering title hopes, whereas the Hammers now look unlikely to qualify for Europe next season.

Below is how the team lined up, with match details following.

Liverpool’s Starting XI:

Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Virgil van Dijk (c), Andy Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endō, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Luis Díaz

Photo: IMAGO

Subs

Mohamed Salah – Wataru Endō (79 mins), Darwin Núñez – Luis Díaz (79 mins), Joe Gomez – Trent Alexander Arnold (79 mins), Dominik Szoboszlai – Jarell Quansah (90+1 mins)

Goals

West Ham 1 – 0 Liverpool – Jarrod Bowen (Mohammed Kudus) – 43 mins

West Ham 1 – 1 Liverpool – Andy Robertson (Luis Díaz) – 48 mins

West Ham 1 – 2 Liverpool – Alphonso Areola (own goal) – 65 mins

West Ham 2 – 2 Liverpool – Michail Antonio (Jarrod Bowen) – 77 mins

Important Match Stats

Possession – West Ham 29% – 71% Liverpool

Total Shots – West Ham 11 – 28 Liverpool

Crosses – West Ham 16 – 37 Liverpool

Corner Kicks – West Ham 4 – 8 Liverpool

Goalkeeper Saves – West Ham 7 – 6 Liverpool

The First Half

The opening period of this game was a quick delve into territorial advantage, where the home side allowed their visitors to occupy space, whilst their fleet footed attackers waited to launch their pre-planned counter attacks. The continuing and repeated cross field passes of the reds offered very little in the way of threat, as the new look forward line struggled to break down a well drilled West Ham rearguard. David Moyes may well be joining his opposition manager in the summer departure lounge, which means this would likely be the last time these old foes would meet on a footballing touch line.

Luis Díaz was lively and struck the post after some good work, whereas Harvey Elliott nearly scored, only to see his near post effort hit the side netting. The overall positive events of the Liverpool half were probably confined to those two instances, as adventure was relinquished for caution, which held firm until late in the half. After Alisson Becker pushed a decent Jarrod Bowen attempt around the post, it was the resulting corner which saw the game’s opening goal avail itself. A simply worked set piece and delivery found Bowen free around the edge of the six-yard box, which allowed him to head into the far corner and beyond a diving Brazilian keeper.

The reds had underwhelmed and though to be behind was maybe harsh, it was neither unexpected or undeserved.

The Second Half

On resumption of the second half, no changes were made as the reds started brighter and with more vigour. As the first half whistle blew, a certain German manager had rushed down the tunnel to prepare his fourth to last midpoint team talk to men wearing the Liverpool badge. Whatever was said not only reinvigorated his men but the entire spectacle. Just three minutes after the second period commenced, the away side were celebrating an Andy Robertson strike into the bottom corner, assured by the electric Columbian, Luis Díaz. From this point onwards, the red was in total control and it was not long before their endeavour transformed into another goal. A Trent Alexander Arnold corner found its way to Cody Gakpo, who fired across the goal before deflecting into the Hammers net. The London Stadium was startled and the Premier League’s third placed team were ahead.

Before and after that second Liverpool goal, many chances presented themselves for Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, and even Alexis Mac Allister. The continual inability to close out matches meant that the sting in the tail was almost inevitable, something which materialised in the 77th minute, as the villain of the previous encounter, Michail Antonio, headed in past a helpless goalkeeper.

The substitutions were probably more inactive than proactive and this group is now sliding towards the end of a cycle, one that will have to pick up substantially when the next guy arrives.

What Are My Final Thoughts…?

This was a game that very few of the Liverpool fanbase expected much from, which enabled a point to become quite the relief, something which sums up the last month or so, sadly.

Next up Spurs, where a nervous Anfield awaits…

Steven Smith