In the top match at West Ham United, Liverpool FC lost again after 25 games in charge. In the 2:3 defeat, the defence was too susceptible – the Reds slipped down in the table.
The 3-1 defeat at Real Madrid in the 2020/21 Champions League quarter-finals has long been a non-issue at Liverpool, but it became one again on Sunday – as the Reds lost another competitive game for the first time five months later. And the 2:3 at West Ham United also hurt Jürgen Klopp’s team in the standings: The Hammers moved past.
It was a turbulent top game that started with a real upset: Alisson, under pressure from Antonio and Ogbonna, unfortunately deflected the first corner of the game into his own net with his fists. The referee team around Craig Pawson neither recognised a foul nor – checked also by the VAR – a handball by Ogbonna (4th).
Alexander-Arnold scores fantastically – West Ham in aluminium trouble
Klopp waved it off and his side, again without the injured Roberto Firmino, Keita, Milner and Jones, struggled to digest that early setback. Despite 75 per cent possession, it was a free-kick that gave the visitors their first shot on target against the deep Hammers – and the equaliser: Alexander-Arnold scored beautifully from around 20 metres, Salah had stopped the ball short and perhaps improved the angle decisively (41).
West Ham, meanwhile, were lucky that Cresswell’s reckless tackle on Henderson’s knee (9th) went unpunished, as did Benrahma’s contact with Alexander-Arnold in the penalty area (35th).
The second half began much like the first, but Dawson, an early substitute for the injured Ogbonna, headed a corner against the bar (50th). On the opposite side, Mané missed the lead – Fabianski parried the too central direct shot (52.). Many intense duels and interruptions later, it was the Moyes eleven who turned this top game to their side.
West Ham celebrate double strike – Mané misses 3:3
After Mané lost the ball, the home side showed all their switching skills when Pablo Fornals narrowly beat Alisson on a Bowen pass to make it 2-1 (67th). The Reds just survived two more counterattacks before Zouma headed in another dangerous corner to make it 3-1 (74).
Klopp brought on Thiago, Origi and Minamino, and the latter soon rewarded the run with a strong shot from the edge of the box to make it 2:3 (83). But the 3:3 – it would have been the seventh away game in a row with at least three goals and thus a new England record – would not come. Mané missed a great chance to equalise with his head after a free-kick (90.+1).
And so, on the 11th Premier League matchday, there were only two teams in the top five who celebrated victories: defending champions Manchester City, who are now second behind leaders Chelsea (1-1 against Burnley) – and West Ham, the new third in the table. Liverpool slipped to fourth place.
