Liverpool 1-0 West Ham United
So a missed chance to end their Anfield hoodoo as Liverpool inflicted yet another Premier League defeat on West Ham on Merseyside.
However, while the Hammers have now won just one of their last 49 league visits here, 36 of those defeats, that told only half the story.
This SBOTOP observer believes what occurred in this Premier League encounter will ultimately quash their Champions League aspirations between now and the end of the season.
Highlights of the game
The key moment arrived shortly after the break.
That’s when Jarrod Bowen was about to shoot, only for Andy Robertson to get in a last-ditch tackle.
It was innocuous enough but one which forced Bowen to leave the fray, helped off the pitch by not one but two staff in what looked a fairly serious injury.
Bowen was just one shy of becoming the first Hammers player to reach 13 goals in all competitions since Carlton Cole and Kevin Nolan a decade ago (2011-12), and the sight of his injury will cause those in the east end of London to wince.
West Ham, who have now lost five of their last 10 Premier League away games, could have still rescued a point, but wayward finishing cost them a possible draw and – coupled with Bowen’s likely absence – one suspects, a top-four berth.
With Liverpool on a roll with a wealth of attacking options, doing the double always looked highly unlikely. But the visitors showed in bursts elements of why they ran out victors in a five-goal thriller when Kurt Zouma netted the winner back in November.
Liverpool made eight changes to the team that beat Norwich in the FA Cup in midweek with goalkeeper Alisson, centre-back Ibrahima Konate and captain Jordan Henderson keeping their places in the side.
West Ham had already suffered a blow pre-match with Declan Rice missing out.
The Hammers skipper was replaced in midfield by Nikola Vlasic, with Aaron Cresswell and keeper Lukasz Fabianski returning from the FA Cup defeat at Southampton.
Liverpool have earned six successive Premier League victories by an aggregate score of 18-2, including hitting a third of those last time out as they demolished naïve Leeds, and they were almost off to a dream start here too.
Within two minutes, full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold caught the visitors out with a quickly taken long free-kick and Mohamed Salah was clear on goal only to be denied by Fabianski.
West Ham settled after that and, when Michail Antonio raced onto a clipped ball, he forced Alisson into action from a tight angle.
The same player again tested the home custodian, but it was another player who is having a fairly barren run in front of goal who broke the deadlock.
Naby Keita’s clipped ball was volleyed into the danger zone by Alexander-Arnold and there was Sadio Mane to tuck home the opener. That was Mane’s 12th Premier League goal this season – one more than he managed last term.
There were more Premier League 2022 highlights to come and the home side would have doubled their lead but for a goal-line clearance by Cresswell to prevent new signing Luis Diaz from opening his top-flight account.
Next it was Alexander-Arnold’s turn to provide the goal-saving clearance after Pablo Fornals had expertly lobbed Alisson.
Into the second period and Manuel Lanzini should have done better from close range, while Diaz twice went close again, but there were no further goals as the Premier League 2022 betting odds took another twist.
West Ham have a job on their hands to make the top four.
For the ultimate top spot, the pressure and focus now turns on leaders Manchester City.
Key statistics
Virgil van Dijk has never been on the losing side for Liverpool in 60 Premier League games at Anfield, setting a new record for most home games for a single club without ever losing in the competition (won 52, drawn eight).
Alexander-Arnold has made 11 Premier League assists this season, more than any other player. Salah (10) and Andrew Robertson (9) make it a Liverpool 1-2-3.
Liverpool have the only remaining unbeaten home league record in the top four English divisions this season. In 2020-21, they lost six games and drew three at Anfield.
West Ham have lost a club record 70 league matches versus Liverpool.
The Hammers have won only six of their past 17 league games (drawn four lost seven).
They have also only managed one point and one goal in their six away league games this season against teams in the top half of the table.
David Moyes is still winless in all 66 Premier League away games as a manager versus Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.
What’s next?
Liverpool entertain Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night, holding a 2-0 aggregate lead. They are then at Brighton next Saturday lunchtime in the Premier League.
This match marked the start of an important spell for the Hammers, who travel to Sevilla in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday (March 10) before hosting Aston Villa in the Premier League next weekend.
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