Hello! And welcome to our minute-by-minute coverage of this evening’s Premier League clash between West Ham and Liverpool at the London Stadium.
The title race rumbles on with each passing week offering a new twist and turn. Liverpool had the chance to go seven points clear this time last week after Man City fell away to Newcastle United.
However Leicester put a halt to the Reds’ charge after successfully holding Jurgen Klopp’s men to a 1-1 draw at Anfield, thanks to a Harry Maguire equaliser. Now with City having easily dispatched Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates yesterday, the focus is back on Liverpool again tonight.
Even a draw against West Ham would be a big setback. Klopp will not need anybody to tell him what’s at stake in London, as his side try to restore their five point lead at the top of the table.
There are 14 games to go between now and the end of May, but already in this most tense of title races, every single game feels absolutely crucial. Kick-off is coming up in just over an hour at 8.00pm!
We’ll get started with tonight’s team news…
3️⃣ changes for tonight's match against Liverpool ⚒ pic.twitter.com/dyNES2m146
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) February 4, 2019
So, tonight’s teams will line out as:
West Ham: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Snodgrass, Noble, Rice, Felipe Anderson, Antonio, Hernandez.
Substitutes: Zabaleta, Carroll, Adrian, Obiang, Masuaku, Lucas Perez, Diangana.
Liverpool: Alisson, Milner, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Keita, Mane, Firmino, Lallana, Salah.
Substitutes: Sturridge, Moreno, Mignolet, Shaqiri, Origi, Jones, Camacho.
It’s another must-win for Liverpool this evening, but will West Ham prove a thorn in Jurgen Klopp’s side and grab a result? Let us know below how you see this one going!
Poll Results:
Some pre-game reading material ahead of kick-off:
- Klopp calls on Liverpool to ease supporters’ nerves as City gain ground
- Liverpool handed boost as Thomas Müller ruled out of Champions League knockout tie
- ‘Caoimhín would score 20 goals a season up front’: Liverpool’s Cork-born goalkeeper making strides at Anfield
- ‘It’s hard to swallow’ – Liverpool’s Gomez to undergo surgery on leg fracture
- ‘If you are good enough, it will happen’ – Klopp not nervous amid Premier League title fight
Of course it’s well worth keeping tabs on Ireland midfielder Declan Rice tonight. We can call him that, right? With three senior appearances in the green shirt, we’ll go for it.
Jurgen Klopp has been full of praise for the 20-year-old, highlighting his rapid development for the Hammers over the last year in particular.
The German name-checked Rice when reflecting on the last time his side met West Ham — a 4-0 win for the Reds on the opening day of the season.
“We started against West Ham with a brilliant game from us and not a very good game of West Ham. That day they had a new manager and a lot of new players,” Klopp said.
“They had a really bad start, I think they had maybe only two points after six matchdays, but since then they are nearly a top-six side. That’s what we should expect.
“They have the most experienced manager in the Premier League at the moment, really good football team, good signings in defence, experience in the full-back positions.
“(Declan) Rice, fantastic development next to (Mark) Noble in midfield, experience and youth. Then you have the wings, really strong, (Felipe) Anderson fantastic signing, and Marko Arnautovic an outstanding striker.”
📍 London Stadium pic.twitter.com/vw3LEzR38X
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 4, 2019
Oh goodness, what a thriller. Paul Konchesky, a West Ham and Liverpool legend.
West Ham v Liverpool: FA Cup Final 2006 #WHMLIV
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) February 4, 2019
90+1 minutes gone
3-2 West Ham
Up steps Gerrard
Liverpool win the Cup on penaltiespic.twitter.com/bEnWzZA1HT
KICK-OFF: We’re underway for the first half in London!
West Ham in their iconic strip of claret and blue, with Liverpool wearing that lovely grey away jersey which is a real throwback to the days of Dalglish, Rush and ‘Candy’ sponsorships on the front. Grey and red really shouldn’t work as a combination, but it does.
Close! The Hammers fly out of the blocks full of intent right from the off. Mark Noble sticks his leg out at a loose ball and successfully finds Javier Hernandez inside the box. He cuts inside and swings a deft effort towards Alisson’s bottom corner, but it flies just wide of the post.
Good combination play from Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane down the left wing. The Brazilian offloads to Andy Robertson who flies up the touchline, but the linesman raises his flag for offside just as the Liverpool left-back prepared to cross.
Lovely, lovely passing play from West Ham. A neat period of possession ends with the ball spilling out invitingly for Aaron Cresswell to strike — which he does. It’s a powerful, driving effort which drags along the ground and is a matter of inches away from arriving into the bottom corner. So close for the hosts.
Felipe Anderson tearing Milner apart like Zaha did. Interested as to why Klopp prefers him there and Fabinho in midfield rather than vice-versa given latter played there for Monaco and now for Brazil
— Kieran Canning (@KieranCanning) February 4, 2019
There’s a raucous atmosphere inside the London Stadium tonight, as West Ham fans fancy an upset. Their side have started very brightly, with Felipe Anderson and Michail Antonio getting heavily involved. The Hammers are not allowing the absence of Marko Arnautović to hold them back.
Save! Alisson is called into action to make his first big save of the night. Chicharito ventures forward into space and, with team-mates flooding forward left and right creating space and offering distractions, the Mexican striker has a pop from distance. Alisson spreads himself well and manages to palm the ball to safety.
A snappy attack from Liverpool offers the ideal response. Roberto Firmino picks up possession and dribbles into the box, but his left-footed strike is poorly hit and is easily gathered by Lukasz Fabianski. Firmino just didn’t seem to make a decent connection with the ball there.
GOAL! WEST HAM 0-1 LIVERPOOL (MANE 22)
GOOOOAL! Liverpool are ahead after 22 minutes and it’s Sadio Mane the man that’s got it. It’s a clinical, close-range finish from him after a clever attack and subsequent cross into the box. It’s his 11th goal of the season and his third game in a row finding the back of the net.
The travelling Liverpool supporters have found their voice in the away section, breaking out into a loud chorus of The Fields of Anfield Road. West Ham will certainly feel a bit hard done by, given their full-blooded start to this game where they were in control.
The hosts go in search of an equaliser straight away. Joel Matip fouls Robert Snodgrass, giving West Ham a free-kick in a decent position 30 yards out from goal.
GOAL! WEST HAM 1-1 LIVERPOOL (ANTONIO 28)
GOOOOAL! West Ham are level just six minutes after going behind. The free-kick routine is straight off the training ground, Mark Noble finding the run of Michail Antonio behind enemy lines and the 28-year-old providing the killer finish into the bottom corner, in off the post. It’s 1-1!
Naby Keïta has all the technical ability you could ask for but he has a lot of work to do to acclimatize to the pace and physicality of the Premier League. He has to improve if he's going to be a success at Liverpool. #LFC
— Liam Bekker (@LiamBekker) February 4, 2019
West Ham seemed to have poked the bear here, as Liverpool offer wave after wave of attack, but with little success. Naby Keita is seeing a lot of ball in the middle of the park driving forward, earning a corner with one move and then nearly being played through on goal following a one-two with Firmino on another run.
A free-kick into the box at the other end is cleared to the edge of the area. Mark Noble sets himself up to have a go from range, but his left-footed strike is blocked down and hoofed clear by Virgil Van Dijk.
Very close again for Liverpool. Keita travels with possession, offloads to Robertson overlapping down the left, and the Scotland captain fizzes an inviting cross across goal which only needed a touch to find the back of the net. An all-action affair, this.
Close! Declan Rice is inches away from giving West Ham the lead. He peels away from his marker inside the box and has a free header at goal, but he completely misses the target. He should have done a lot better there, you have to say.
There will be just one minute of stoppage time to come at the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: WEST HAM 1-1 LIVERPOOL
The Hammers have responded well#WHULIV pic.twitter.com/j6Eu2M0p1p
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 4, 2019
There we are, half-time already. A really exciting 45 minutes of football with nothing to separate the sides. Sadio Mane opened the scoring with his third goal in as many games with a clinical finish from close range. But Michail Antonio snatched the equaliser just six minutes later with a lovely, low finish from a well-taken free-kick routine. More action to come shortly!
SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway at the London Stadium for another 45 minutes!
Joel Matip ventures forward on an uncharacteristic attacking run. The centre back does really well, making up a lot of ground, before passing to Roberto Firmino. But the Brazilian forward’s own pass is really poor and right to the feet of Aaron Cresswell, bringing an end to Liverpool’s opening attack of the half.
Issa Diop rises high to meet a corner floated into the box, but the defender’s header flies just wide of the bottom corner. It looked to have the better of Alisson there, with the Liverpool goalkeeper caught flat-footed.
Mohamed Salah springs into life with a left-footed effort from outside the box. The recently-named PFA Player of the Month for January curls an ambitious effort towards goal, but Fabianski sees it all the way and catches with ease.
The West Ham supporters rise to their feet as Michail Antonio leads a snappy counter-attack, switching possession from right to left for Felipe Anderson to go and attack. James Milner tracks his run and provides a clever interception before earning a goal-kick for his side.
Referee Kevin Friend is called into action after Joe Matip caught Anderson around the neck running forward. The Liverpool defender is shown a yellow card for his challenge, the first booking of the evening.
A safe pair of hands.
Alisson embracing his dog pic.twitter.com/ZVT06doriP
— Footballers with animals (@ftbllrswanimals) February 4, 2019
Almost a breakaway for West Ham down the left as Aaron Cresswell finds himself free bombing forward. The pass played towards him is overhit, though, and flies out of play for a Liverpool goal-kick causing audible moans and groans from the home crowd.
Two good chances for Salah in the second half. He holds off the challenge of Angelo Ogbonna inside the box before firing an effort on goal. But it’s a poor strike from Salah which floats well over Fabianski’s head and above his crossbar.
Another chance for the visitors. Andy Robertson takes possession just inside the West Ham half, sees the space, and opts for a shot at goal. But it balloons over the crossbar once again.
Some pinball inside the Liverpool box following a dangerous counter from West Ham. It’s made all thanks to some brilliant forward running from Declan Rice and a very good pass to his right from the number 41.
Robert Snodgrass’ cross into the box tries to find Chicharito, but Matip and Van Dijk recover to boot the ball clear. A real let-off for Klopp’s men there.
Substitution for Liverpool: Xherdan Shaqiri replaces Adam Lallana.
69' - Our first change, as Shaqiri replaces Lallana.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 4, 2019
[1-1]#WHULIV pic.twitter.com/vgGNJj3hUS
Twenty minutes left and there’s still very little to separate the sides. Jurgen Klopp has introduced Xherdan Shaqiri off the bench to try and add more punch in attack, with Adam Lallana very quiet throughout the evening. The Swiss forward made his debut for the Reds on the opening game of this season against the Hammers at Anfield.
Close! Another chance goes begging for West Ham and their supporters will be holding their head in their hands at all these nearly-misses. A fine attack down the left, again via Cresswell, sees the ball fall invitingly for Mark Noble to strike. He smashes it over the crossbar, with it landing at an awkward height for the Hammers veteran to keep down.
Substitution for Liverpool: Divock Origi replaces Roberto Firmino.
74' - Another substitution for the Reds, as Origi replaces Firmino.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 4, 2019
[1-1]#WHULIV
Will we be seeing another last-gasp winner from this man? Everton fans know all about him.
West Ham. Please. Learn from others Origi mistakes. He is not to be underestimated. This man can rip out your heart and destroy your season pic.twitter.com/YBSu804U6G
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) February 4, 2019
Manuel Pellegrini’s men are sitting back now, putting a number of men behind the ball. Fabinho and Naby Keita are seeing a lot of the ball, trying to dictate play from deep, spot openings and carve out some late chances for Origi, Salah and Shaqiri up front.
Double substitution for West Ham: Pedro Obiang replaces Mark Noble & Andy Carroll replaces Chicharito.
Ten minutes remaining for either side to try and grab a winner. Andy Carroll comes on against his old club and I’m sure he would just *Kevin Keegan voice* love it to score a late winner here tonight. The game is beginning to break up and slow down amid all these late substitutions, with no real flow about it like there was earlier on.
The tension is slowly rising inside the London Stadium with both sides fancying their chances to snatch all three points. There is so much at stake for Liverpool within the context of the title race and Jurgen Klopp’s men know they cannot afford back-to-back draws, following last week’s 1-1 at home to Leicester at Anfield.
It’s very scrappy out there and very few sights at goal to speak of. West Ham are putting a number of men behind the ball, with Diop and Ogbonna maintaining a disciplined defensive shape to frustrate the best efforts of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to find a way through.
Jurgen Klopp watches on from the touchline with water bottle in hand. It just hasn’t clicked for his side tonight, but it’s not over yet for either side. Will there be late drama like there was in that Merseyside derby against Everton? It could go either way.
Xherdan Shaqiri throws his arms in the air in frustration as he is penalised for a foul outside the box. West Ham will take their time with this one as Manuel Pellegrini prepares to make another switch.
Substitution for West Ham: Arthur Masuaku replaces Felipe Anderson.
A fantastic display by Felipe Anderson. He is replaced by Arthur Masuaku for the final few minutes.#WHULIV 1-1 (90) pic.twitter.com/d8fm6cS3cg
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) February 4, 2019
There will be three minutes of stoppage time to come at the end of the second half.
A hairy moment for Alisson as he comes to head the ball clear, only for it to drop to Andy Carroll. It looks like he might have a free shot into an empty net, but Virgil van Dijk recovers to muscle possession back and clear.
Chance! Divock Origi has the opportunity to snatch the most dramatic of late winners, but he hits the ball straight at Lukasz Fabianski from close range. Oh, what a chance to grab all three points at the death.
FULL-TIME: WEST HAM 1-1 LIVERPOOL
Another twist in the title race...#WHULIV #PL pic.twitter.com/ZGhbljye2K
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 4, 2019
That’s all she wrote. It’s two points dropped for Liverpool as they are held 1-1 in London. Jurgen Klopp’s men took the lead with a close-range finish from Sadio Mane, but Michail Antonio delivered the West Ham equaliser just six minutes later. It was an even second half and an even match overall, on a night where the Premier League leaders just didn’t click and paid the punishment. Thanks a million for joining us tonight – you can read our full match report here. Until next time, cya!
A superb performance. You made us proud lads!#WHULIV #COYI pic.twitter.com/gJ0MEMzmeg
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) February 4, 2019
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