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Liverpool v West Ham United Live Commentary, 24/02/2020

FT
3 - 2
LIV
WHU
G. Wijnaldum (9)
Mohamed Salah (68)
S. Mané (81)
I. Diop (12)
Pablo Fornals (54)
Anfield

Commentary

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West Ham remain in the bottom three following this unlucky defeat, while Liverpool are once again 22 points clear at the top of the division. Next up for Klopp's side, who are now on an 18-match winning run in the top flight, is a trip to Watford next Saturday. West Ham host Southampton the same day.
Liverpool recover from behind to beat West Ham 3-2 at Anfield in an entertaining clash. Wijnaldum opened the scoring for the hosts after nine minutes, but Diop equalised 174 seconds later and substitute Fornals put Moyes' men ahead with a first-time finish nine minutes into the second half. The Premier League leaders hit back, though, with Salah equalising thanks to a Fabianski howler and Mane - later denied a second by VAR - snatching the win with an 81st-minute winner.
90' + 6' FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 3-2 WEST HAM
90' + 5' Matip fouls Antonio and West Ham have one final chance to swing a free-kick into the box. It is a good delivery but Van Dijk gets to it first. Noble gets on the end of the loose ball and his shot deflects behind for a corner, which Robertson defends.
90' + 4' We are into the final minute of added time at Anfield. West Ham are struggling to get the ball forward as Van Dijk heads a long ball clear.
90' + 3' After a pretty frenetic first 91 minutes, the game has finally quietened down. That is bad news for West Ham as they have just two more minutes to find an equaliser.
90' + 2' Liverpool are still not over the line just yet. West Ham have been impressive today and Moyes will argue his side deserve at least a point from the match, but time is fast running out for them.
J. Matip
S. Mané
Liverpool
90' + 1' Matip comes on for Mane as Klopp throws on an extra defender.
90' Five minutes have been added on at Anfield! It has been a gripping game and there could yet be another twist to come.
89' BIG CHANCE FOR WEST HAM! Antonio plays a brilliant pass through for Bowen. Alisson races off his line and makes himself big to deny the substitute from the one-on-one with his head. The corner also causes panic as Liverpool survive a big scare.
87' LIVERPOOL GOAL DISALLOWED! Mane was stood in an offside position when converting Alexander-Arnold's pass and the goal is ruled out. It is not quite game over just yet!
86' GOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!!! LIVERPOOL 4-2 WEST HAM!!! That should do it! Oxlade-Chamberlain slips in Alexander-Arnold down the right and the full-back in turn squares for Mane to convert from a few yards out. However, it looks as though it will go to a VAR check for a possible offside against Mane...
85' There is a scramble inside the Liverpool box but they get it clear. A swift counter offers promise of a fourth goal, though the attack soon fizzles out.
J. Bowen
R. Snodgrass
West Ham United
84' January signing Bowen is brought on for Snodgrass for the final six minutes at Anfield.
82' Fabianski has now arguably been at fault for all three of Liverpool's goals. West Ham have eight minutes to find an equaliser.
T. Alexander-Arnold
Assist
Liverpool
81' Gomez's wild shot deflected kindly for Alexander-Arnold, but the right-back made his own luck by staying in an advanced position. He then managed to flick the ball over Fabianski for Mane to tap in.
S. Mané
Goal
Liverpool
81' GOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!! LIVERPOOL 3-2 WEST HAM!!! Mane has surely won it for Liverpool!! A deflected shot is hooked towards the back post by Alexander-Arnold and Mane is left all alone to convert into an empty net from a few yards out. Fabianski was left in no man's land!
M. Noble
Yellow Card
West Ham United
80' Noble is the latest player to enter the referee's book for dragging Oxlade-Chamberlain back to halt a Liverpool attack.
79' Ogbonna does well to keep pace with Salah and clear the ball before his opponent can get in behind. Liverpool work the corner short and Alexander-Arnold's cross is cut out, as is the next delivery.
78' Liverpool are on course to drop points for just the second time this season in the Premier League. Klopp's men have had chances to snatch a winner, but West Ham are also looking quite dangerous when they get forward.
76' HALLER DENIED! Gaps are opening up at the back for West Ham to break into. Haller is picked out in some space but his powerful shot is straight at Alisson, who still has to be alert to make the save.
74' NEARLY ANOTHER FOR LIVERPOOL! The West Ham goal is being bombarded. Fabianski gets down low at his near post to keep out Salah's shot and Firmino heads the rebound wide. Wijandlum's cross then hits the shoulder of Ngakia as referee Jonathan Moss waves away the penalty appeal.
72' West Ham have six players forward - they are not holding on for a point. Liverpool deal with the danger and get the ball forward quickly. Alexander-Arnold's cross is taken off the head of Firmino and Van Dijk's shot deflects wide from the next attack.
70' A 2-2 draw would still be a great result for West Ham if they can see out the next 20 minutes. However, momentum is very much with the hosts after being gifted a goal by Fabianski, who is usually so reliable between the sticks.
A. Robertson
Assist
Liverpool
68' Robertson charged past his opponent down the Liverpool left and spotted Salah in space. In many ways, it is Fabianski who should be credited with the assist!
Mohamed Salah
Goal
Liverpool
68' GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!! LIVERPOOL 2-2 WEST HAM!!! A Fabianski howler gifts Liverpool an equaliser! Robertson skips away from his man, cuts the ball back for Salah and his shot squirms through the hands and legs of Fabianski. The West Ham keeper will not want to watch that one back!
67' Liverpool have not lost any of their previous 77 Premier League games in which they have scored first, dating back to a 2-1 loss against Crystal Palace in April 2017. That was also their last top-flight defeat at Anfield.
I. Diop
Yellow Card
West Ham United
66' Diop goes right through the back of Mane in an attempt to win the ball. He fails to get any of it according to the referee and is shown a yellow card.
S. Haller
Felipe Anderson
West Ham United
65' Felipe Anderson is replaced by Haller to give West Ham a bigger presence upfront.
64' CHANCE! Firmino is given a free header in front of goal but he guides it over the crossbar. The Brazil international has been pretty poor today.
63' SAVE! Alexander-Arnold's powerful drive is heading for the back of the net, if not for a smart save from Fabianski to his left. It is constant pressure from Liverpool now.
62' Robertson flicks the ball into the path of Mane. Ngakia slides in and takes out his opponent inside the box, but only after making contact with the ball first - good challenge!
61' A reminder as we enter the final 30 minutes of the game, Liverpool are unbeaten in the Premier League this season and have dropped points just once.
60' Robertson's cross has a little too much on it and Salah is unable to make any connection with his attempted header at the back post.
59' Van Dijk wins another aerial ball in the West Ham area. It drops in the six-yard box, where Fabianski is waiting to gather ahead of two Liverpool players.
58' Oxlade-Chamberlain wastes no time in getting a shot away from range. It flies well of target, with Fabianski happy to watch it all the way.
A. Oxlade-Chamberlain
N. Keïta
Liverpool
57' Keita is off and Oxlade-Chamberlain on as Klopp tries to inject some creativity into his midfield.
56' Liverpool have conceded more goals tonight v West Ham (two) than they did in their previous 11 Premier League games combined (one).
D. Rice
Assist
West Ham United
54' Rice decided against using the run of Ngakia to his right and instead sent in a good cross for substitute Fornals, who was given far too much space in the box.
Pablo Fornals
Goal
West Ham United
54' GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!! LIVERPOOL 1-2 WEST HAM!!!! Anfield is silenced by Fornals!! Rice crosses the ball from the right and Fornals is left in space to guide a first-time shot away from Alisson. The shot was miscued off his shin but the visitors will not care one bit.
53' The ball ricochets inside the box and Firmino so nearly gets on the end of it, but Fabianski reacts quickly to get there first. From the next attacking wave, Alexander-Arnold's pinged pass runs through to Fabianski.
D. Rice
Yellow Card
West Ham United
51' Rice is booked for knocking the ball away after a decision went against his side.
50' Salah's curled shot on his left is blocked and he turns down the chance to hit it on his right from the follow-up. West Ham defend the danger but there is a sense they are starting to drop a little deep.
49' Soucek was clearly carrying a knock from the first half, explaining that early West Ham sub. Liverpool are looking to build some momentum but are getting nowhere fast as Salah's pass is cut out inside the box.
Pablo Fornals
T. Souček
West Ham United
47' Soucek departs inside the opening two minutes of the second half. Fornals, who was not included in the squad against Manchester City, comes on in his place.
47' CHANCE! Alexander-Arnold picks out Firmino to his left. The Brazil international is wasteful with his latest shooting chance, however, sending the ball high and wide from 15 yards.
46' RESTART! Liverpool get us back under way at Anfield! Neither side made any changes at the break, so it is as you were.
West Ham looked a lot better in that first half compared to some of their recent displays. Moyes will no doubt ask for another 45 minutes of the same from his players, while Klopp will know Liverpool have to step things up if they are to maintain their winning league run. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lallana are possible options to come on in midfield should the home team wish to change things at the break.
Liverpool and West Ham go into half-time at Anfield all square at 1-1. Wijnaldum headed the hosts in front after nine minutes, only for Diop to level up 174 seconds later with another headed goal. Klopp's side were largely kept under control by their opponents, but Van Dijk did hit the crossbar six minutes before the interval.
45' + 1' HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-1 WEST HAM
45' One minute has been added on at the end of the first half.
44' Liverpool are struggling to build any real momentum as we fast approach half-time. West Ham have done a job on them in this first half and are nearly halfway to picking up what would be a massive point in their bid to dodge the drop.
42' West Ham are showing plenty of aggressiveness. Soucek goes in hard on Keita - a free-kick the visitors are happy to give away as Liverpool were about to counter - and Noble fouls Wijnaldum less than a minute later.
40' OFF THE BAR! Van Dijk climbs highest to meet Alexander-Arnold's left-sided corner and sends a header crashing off the top of the crossbar.
39' Ngakia fouls Mane around 30 yards from goal and Alexander-Arnold decides to take on the free-kick. It goes through the wall and a yard wide of the right-hand post. A touch off Antonio on its way through means Liverpool will have a corner.
38' Felipe Anderson leads the West Ham press from the front and it pays off as Liverpool are put under a bit of pressure deep in their own half. This has already been a much better display from the visitors compared to what we saw at the Etihad Stadium last week.
36' Alexander-Arnold's free-kick skips through to Salah at the back post. The angle is against the Egypt forward and in the end he can only head the ball out of play.
35' Klopp's side do not look comfortable whenever the ball is crossed into their box. Ogbonna heads it on and so does Soucek, but Antonio is unable to turn it in at the back post. He would have been flagged for offside, anyway.
33' West Ham have defended well on the whole, but Alexander-Arnold seems to be finding pockets of space down the right-hand side. Credit to Moyes' men as they are getting in Liverpool's faces and have won another corner through Alexander-Arnold's block.
31' NEARLY! Ngakia throws the ball straight to a Liverpool player and within seconds Firmino is slipping in Alexander-Arnold for an angled drive. The shot is just off target, with Salah unable to get a touch when sliding in.
29' Liverpool are not afraid to get shots away but West Ham are putting bodies on the line to block them. The visitors are not just sitting back, either, as they have got the ball into some promising positions so far.
27' OVER! Mane tees up Firmino for a shot that is always rising over the crossbar.
26' It is end-to-end stuff at the moment. A minute after Antonio wasted a promising opportunity at one end, Mane attempts to pick out the top corner at the other. His shot hits Ogbonna and goes behind.
25' The hosts' fifth corner of the match is swung towards the front post, where Cresswell is waiting to head clear. Liverpool then probe away down the left but possession is turned over and a Gomez error almost lets Antonio in on goal. Alisson does well to pounce on the ball following a heavy touch from Antonio.
23' Liverpool have had 74 per cent of the ball in the opening quarter of the game. West Ham have more than held their own, however, and it is all square thanks to Diop's header to cancel out Wijnaldum's opener.
21' West Ham win another corner and yet again Liverpool fail to really defend it. The ball is flicked on and lands in a dangerous zone, but Felipe Anderson neither finds the target nor a team-mate at the back post.
19' Liverpool have won their last 17 Premier League games, just one shy of the all-time English top-flight record set by Manchester City between August-December 2017 (18).
18' There were just 174 seconds between Liverpool opening the scoring and West Ham equalising through Diop. The hosts do not tend to concede all that often at Anfield - now Moyes' side just need to see out the remaining 72 minutes!
16' SAVE! Robertson plays the ball to Salah, who cuts onto his left boot and tries to bend the ball into the top corner. Fabianski, caught out for Liverpool's opener, makes a good save to keep the scoreline level.
14' Well that equaliser certainly makes things interesting. Rather than feel sorry for themselves after falling behind, West Ham went up the other end and cancelled out Wijnaldum's goal almost instantly.
R. Snodgrass
Assist
West Ham United
12' Snodgrass sent the right-sided corner into a dangerous zone on the edge of the six-yard box and Diop did well to get to it ahead of Gomez.
I. Diop
Goal
West Ham United
12' GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!! LIVERPOOL 1-1 WEST HAM!!! Less than three minutes after falling behind, Diop levels things up for West Ham. Snodgrass sends in a delightful corner and Diop gets in front of Gomez to beat Alisson at his near post. Like Fabianski a few minutes ago, Alisson will wonder if he could have done better to keep out the header.
10' Fabianski got a touch to Wijnaldum's header but could not keep it out. Liverpool have been on top since kick-off and now have an early lead to build on.
T. Alexander-Arnold
Assist
Liverpool
9' Alexander-Arnold has built a reputation as being one of the finest passers of the ball in the Premier League. This was another good cross and an equally as good header from Wijnaldum at the end of it.
G. Wijnaldum
Goal
Liverpool
9' GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!!! LIVERPOOL 1-0 WEST HAM!!! Wijnaldum opens the scoring for Liverpool inside the first nine minutes. The chance to cross the ball appears to have gone, only for Alexander-Arnold to swing it in and pick out Wijnaldum eight yards from goal. The Netherlands international beats Fabianski with the header, but the West Ham keeper should have been doing a lot better.
8' NEARLY A HOWLER! Diop plays the ball back to Fabianski and the goalkeeper's attempted clearance bounces straight back off Mane and out for a goal-kick. That was nearly a disastrous moment for Moyes' men!
7' Van Dijk pings a ball over the top and Cresswell has to strain every muscle in his neck to get to it before Salah. The corner is again pretty poor, but it eventually drops for Robertson to curl one wide of the target.
5' Liverpool string together some passes down the left and Robertson sends a cross towards the front post. Diop gets to it first to concede a corner, which the visitors are also able to defend.
3' As expected, West Ham have set out with four at the back and are sitting deep. Liverpool have had plenty of the ball in the first few minutes but have been unable to find any gaps just yet.
1' KICK-OFF! West Ham, aiming to drag themselves out of the relegation zone with a shock result at Anfield, get us up and running!
The teams are coming out onto the pitch at Anfield, with kick-off just moments away.
West Ham have won one of their last 46 away league meetings with Liverpool - a 3-0 victory in August 2015 under Slaven Bilic. The London side have failed to score in 31 of those 46 matches.
West Ham show two changes from their 2-0 loss to Manchester City last Wednesday. Felipe Anderson returns to the side following a six-match absence with a back injury, the Brazil international taking the place of Arthur Masuaku, who misses out through illness. Teenage right-back Ngakia is also included in the starting XI, replacing the injured Ryan Fredericks. This will be Ngakia's second ever appearance in the Premier League, the other coming in the reverse fixture last month.
Klopp has made just one change to Liverpool's starting line-up from the 1-0 loss against Atletico Madrid. Skipper Jordan Henderson hobbled off at the Wanda Metropolitano and is expected to miss the next three weeks, so Keita is given a chance to impress alongside Fabinho and Wijnaldum in central midfield. Mane was taken off at half-time against Atletico for tactical reasons, but the Senegal international - directly involved in seven goals in his last five league appearances against West Ham - starts today's game.
Subs: Pablo Zabaleta, Jarrod Bowen, Manuel Lanzini, Fabian Balbuena, Sebastien Haller, Pablo Fornals, Darren Randolph.
WEST HAM XI (4-1-4-1): Lukasz Fabianski; Jeremy Ngakia, Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell; Declan Rice; Robert Snodgrass, Tomas Soucek, Mark Noble (c); Felipe Anderson; Michail Antonio.
Subs: Adam Lallana, Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adrian, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren.
LIVERPOOL XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk (c), Andy Robertson; Naby Keita, Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.
West Ham enter this game 18th in the table and one point from safety. Today's visitors picked up a 4-0 win over Bournemouth in David Moyes' first game in charge on January 1, but since then they have lost four and drawn two of their six top-flight matches, while also losing 1-0 to West Brom in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Liverpool have won their last 17 Premier League matches and boast a 19-point lead on second-place Manchester City with this game in hand to play. Jurgen Klopp's men suffered just a third defeat of the season in all competitions on Tuesday, however, going down 1-0 to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Premier League meeting between Liverpool and West Ham at Anfield.