West Ham vs Liverpool result: Player ratings as Mohamed Salah fires Reds to victory

West Ham 1-3 Liverpool: Egyptian’s brace proved the difference after the Reds dominated throughout

Karl Matchett
Sunday 31 January 2021 18:25 GMT
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Mohamed Salah celebrates a goal for Liverpool
Mohamed Salah celebrates a goal for Liverpool (Getty Images)

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Liverpool picked up a second win in a few days in the Premier League with a 3-1 victory away to West Ham on Sunday.

The away side dominated possession in the early stages without really troubling the Hammers’ back line, with Thiago and Xherdan Shaqiri both having efforts blocked. Divock Origi toe-poked wide at the near post just at the end of the half, with both sides only having one shot on target apiece in the first 45. 

After the break it was quickly more open, Salah seeing a shot blocked and Michail Antonio firing wide, before Salah found space in off the right of the area to curl one into the far top corner.

READ MORE: Liverpool in talks to sign Preston’s Davies

West Ham tried to get themselves back in the game and had a few minutes of possession before the second goal - a corner for the home team which ended in a lightning counter and a second brilliant finish from Salah. Roberto Firmino then gave Gini Wijnaldum a tap-in, before Craig Dawson scored from a corner late on. Here are the player ratings from the game at London Stadium.

West Ham

Lukasz Fabianski - 6. Had little to do despite Liverpool’s dominance, until he was required to pick the ball out of his net.

Vladimir Coufal - 6. Enjoyed the tussle with Andy Robertson but didn’t really provide an outlet.

Angelo Ogbonna - 6. Defended well when repelling crosses, less so with runners and passes through the centre.

Craig Dawson - 6. Big block on Shaqiri in the first half, but was caught by a few passes in behind him. Scored the consolation.

Aaron Cresswell - 5. Lost Salah a few times, including for the first goal.

Tomas Soucek - 6. Put himself about with physical challenges and being a target at set plays as usual.

Declan Rice - 5. Could hardly get a touch in the first half-hour but protected the space in front of the back line. A few poor fouls and overrun as the game went on.

Jarrod Bowen - 5. Spent the first half almost as an extra full-back and never really got going as an attacker.

Pablo Fornals - 5. Barely involved for most of the match.

Said Benrahma - 5. Had no luck through the middle. Moved left after an hour and didn’t get much better.

Michail Antonio - 7. Kept making willing runs down the channels but fired the one big chance he had wide.

Liverpool

Alisson - 7. Safe with his handling, very good with coming out of the box to sweep up.

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8. Looks to be in confident mood once more after recent struggles.

Nat Phillips - 7. A reliable performer at the back. Won a few big headers.

Jordan Henderson - 7. Kept it simple and was a vocal presence all game.

Andy Robertson - 7. Had lots of space to run into but his delivery wasn’t at its finest.

Gini Wijnaldum - 8. At the base of the diamond he used the ball well and made plenty of interceptions. Scored the third after a rare run into the box.

Thiago Alcantara - 7. Some good passing to break the Hammers’ lines. His usual batch of hard-working and tackling in the middle.

James Milner - 7. The one midfielder who really got forward into attacking spaces. Great defensive work too.

Xherdan Shaqiri - 6. Looked neat in patches but didn’t get involved enough in a central role. Provided a brilliant assist cross for the second goal.

Mohamed Salah - 8. Ran the right channel constantly but didn’t see many passes come his way - so fashioned an opening or two himself and scored twice.

Divock Origi - 6. Too passive at times, but did have several shooting chances - all off-target.

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