Liverpool vs West Ham United LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
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Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez netted a brilliant goal as his side romped to a 3-1 Premier League win over a dogged West Ham United side at Anfield on Sunday, deftly steering home a volley on the hour mark.
The visitors got off to a flying start when Tomas Soucek forced a brilliant save from Alisson with a downward header in the seventh minute, and two minutes later Michail Antonio headed a Soucek cross wide with the goal at his mercy.
But the Hammers were left to rue those early misses when Mohamed Salah was felled by Nayef Aguerd in the 15th minute for a stonewall penalty, and the Egyptian attacker stepped up to smash home the resulting spot kick to give Liverpool the lead.
That kick-started the home side, but West Ham still managed to level before the break when Jarrod Bowen dived at the feet of Virgil van Dijk to score with a superb low header for his fourth goal of the season.
The goal was eerily similar to the James Ward-Prowse strike that put them ahead against Manchester City a week ago, but once again it wasn’t enough to get them anything from the game.
After spurning a number of decent chances, Nunez finally got on the scoresheet when he latched on to a beautiful lofted pass from Alexis Mac Allister, much to the delight of the Anfield crowd.
That goal took the wind out of the Hammers’ sails and substitute Diogo Jota was able to hook home a third goal from Virgil van Dijk’s knockdown in the 85th minute, four minutes after coming off the bench.
The win leaves Liverpool in second spot in the table on 16 points, two behind leaders Manchester City, while West Ham are seventh on 10 points.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
Salah is the fifth player to either score or assist a goal in each of his team's first six games of a Premier League season, after David Beckham in 2000-01, Thierry Henry in 2004-05, Sergio Aguero in 2019-20 and Erling Haaland in 2022-23.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
Liverpool win a free-kick now and Robertson clips it in from the middle. Van Dijk heads it on from the middle of the crowd, and Diaz can't keep it in play at the byline.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
Alvarez cuts out Mac Allister's pass and Ward-Prowse sweeps it out to Bowen on the right. He picks out Coufal's overlapping run, and he wins a free-kick when he's tripped by Robertson. It comes to nothing though.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
West Ham win a corner which is swung into the box by Ward-Prowse. Van Dijk half clears it in the middle but only gets it as far as Emerson. He drills a low shot through the crowd, but it's Szoboszlai that gets the deciding block.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
The home fans and players are asking for another penalty here. Gomez floats a cross towards Nunez from the right and he goes down under pressure from Zouma. There is a quick VAR check, but it's only a corner.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
West Ham are still trying to press Liverpool high upfield, but they can't get close the Reds at the moment as they comfortably knock it around in their own half.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! The hosts break quickly on the counter, but Diaz's pass is just slightly behind Nunez. It bounces kindly off his heel into Salah, who knocks it past Aguerd before tripping over the defender's outstretched leg. The referee points straight to the spot.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
Penalty Goal Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
Liverpool vs West Ham United
Szoboszlai's free-kick is straight into the wall, and West Ham come away with the ball. Antonio has to wait for support to join him, and by that point, Liverpool have flooded back into their shape.
Liverpool vs West Ham United
Liverpool are seeing a lot of the ball early on here, but they're struggling to pass their way through West Ham's compact shape. The hosts are switching it from side to side, but still not opening up any space.
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