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:
42’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Monitor check! We know what that means.
42’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Gomez jumps into an aerial challenge with Soucek and the midfielder goes to ground - there’s not a challenge as such but he certainly crashes into his side. There’s a VAR check...
40’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Scintillating between Firmino and Salah again as they exchange passes and the No9 tees up the No11 - but his shot this time is central and straight at Fabianski.
At the other end Bowen finally gets into the box but Tsimikas sticks with him and blocks the attempted cross coming in. Good defending. The Hammers have scored just twice in the first half of games this season - the lowest in the Premier League.
Then it’s back up to the other end - and SO close to 2-0! Nunez chests down and fires a brilliant volley past the keeper - but back out off the post!
36’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Firmino buzzing everywhere at the moment and linking play around the box.
West Ham haven’t been able to lay a glove on their hosts yet, with no shots at all this half.
Just the one touch in Liverpool’s box, in fact.
32’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Darwin Nunez causing all sorts of problems for Johnson in particular. He’s robbed the ball off him twice more and stopped him playing out. Now Tsimikas crosses deep and it ends up at the left boot of Salah - and he scuffs it well wide. Much better chance than the finish suggested.
28’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
The hosts really pushing for a second here. Van Dijk sprays a magnificent pass to the right and Salah and Firmino link in style - but then the Egyptian opts to dribble past a second man instead of cutting the ball back and he runs it out of play.
Carvalho turns away from two defenders and wins a free-kick - he’s had a lively start.
Yet to play more than a half at once in the Premier League since signing in the summer.
24’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Almost a second immediately for the Uruguayan as he robs Johnson of the ball and drives into the box - but his ferocious left-footed strike is beaten away by Fabianski this time.
A warning sign for the Hammers.
GOAL! 22’ - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Thiago slides in and misses the ball - perhaps fortunate not to get a yellow card although the ref does give him a warning.
Then he’s back in possession and starts a move which moves left, Tsimikas crosses and Nunez rises highest to head in the opener!
18’ - Liverpool 0-0 West Ham
Tsimikas is harshly adjudged to have fouled Bowen as he looks to break away.
The Hammers try to build down the left but Gomez easily outpaces Scamacca, who quickly gives up the chase.
On the same flank but at the other end of the pitch Tsimikas crosses for Nunez and Zouma has to be alert and aware to head behind for a corner.
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