Liverpool vs West Ham LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Liverpool look to continue winning run as they welcome West Ham to Anfield
If Sunday’s win over Manchester City is to be the springboard that Liverpool’s stuttering season required, then perhaps this rather more sedate victory over West Ham United can provide the same for their marquee summer signing. The hope will be that Darwin Nunez’s first Anfield goal is a catalyst for a career that is beginning to show shoots of potential, if this match-winning display is anything to go by.
Nunez’s first-half header proved enough to overcome a West Ham side that, by the end, had done enough to earn a point. If Jarrod Bowen had converted a penalty on the cusp of half time, they may have even taken all three, given that they were the more dangerous of the two sides in the second half. Yet David Moyes was left to rue missed chances, especially a late Tomas Soucek opportunity that somehow did not earn them an equaliser.
Liverpool’s task for the evening was to ensure Sunday was not another false dawn in the manner that the wins over Newcastle United and Ajax proved to be. Klopp kept faith in the shape that inflicted Manchester City’s first defeat of the season but switched personnel. Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of five changes, making his first start since recovering from injury, while Diogo Jota’s calf problem brought Nunez into the line-up.
The Uruguayan’s chaotic late cameo against City went largely unremarked upon in all the bad blood post-match, though enough of the away end here saw it judging by their early suggestion that he is an inferior version of Andy Carroll. West Ham provided Carroll with an escape route out of Anfield after the failure of his £35million move, of course, but Nunez quickly made his case that he will be following the same path.
Follow all the reaction to Liverpool vs West Ham:
64’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Firmino nearly makes it 2-0! Kehrer loses possession, Henderson gets down the right and cuts it back to the Brazilian - Cresswell is there to just deflect it behind.
Bowen then deflects Elliott’s strike away for another corner as the home side try to rebuild some momentum in this half. Firmino meets the second corner - his header straight at Fabianski, who saves.
60’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Moyes follows suit with a change, Benrahma on for Fornals.
West Ham just trying to push forward in greater numbers at the moment, with Liverpool more or less defending from just inside the Hammers’ half.
Jones has gone left side, Elliott right, Salah up top with Firmino.
Benrahma is left side for West Ham.
56’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Darwin has another chance as he runs into the left channel onto Henderson’s through ball, but it’s an awkward angle and he smashes it over.
Subs are coming for the Reds.
LIV subs: Fabinho for Thiago, Jones for Darwin, Elliott for Carvalho
52 - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
A bit of sloppy passing going on from Liverpool, Salah and Thiago the culprits early on this half.
Carvalho tries to make ground with a good dribble before committing a foul, while Johnson tries to do likewise for the Hammers but is tracked by Tsimikas.
Fornals tries to free Bowen but Alisson reads the pass.
48 - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
So close to a quick second for the Reds. Henderson plays a one-two with Salah and clips a chipped effort over the keeper - and just over the crossbar.
Gomez almost causes himself a problem on a poor clearance but Alexander-Arnold helps him out and Liverpool clear.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Hard to argue Alisson Becker has been one of the Reds’ players of the season so far.
This week he has proven vital at both ends!
Half time - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
And there’s the whistle - 40 minutes of domination from the hosts and then a five-minute flurry from the Hammers when they should have scored one and might have had two.
The home side lead though thanks to Darwin Nunez’s header.
45+1’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Liverpool now having to fight their way to the break as Soucek and Bowen both have sights.
Then Kehrer has a free header off a corner and it’s into the ground and over!
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