skip to content
football.co.uk
FULL TIME: WEST HAM 0-3 LIVERPOOL. Liverpool catapult themselves back to the top of the table on goal difference with a routine victory over West Ham who looked well short of their best tonight.
This evening has been all too easy for Liverpool and this is the fifth league game in a row in which they have scored at least three goals.
WEST HAM 0-3 LIVERPOOL. The game is made safe now as Liverpool break out of defence and Babel has a header saved by Green but is on hand to tap home the rebound.
Andrea Dossena is on in place of Yossi Benayoun for Liverpool.
The Hammers are making their final change as Luis Boa Morte is replaced by Academy Graduate Josh Payne.
Javier Mascherano has talked his way into the book.
West Ham have definitely missed Carlton Cole and Dean Ashton today as Diego Tristan has not been able to bully or trouble Skrtel and Carragher at all.
Benitez thinks its game over now as he withdraws Fernando Torres and his fragile hamstring with Ryan Babel on in his place.
Collison has given West Ham something a little different since his introduction with a bit of creativity and flair from the midfield.
Zola is making his second change now as Fred Sears replaces Di Michele who wasted the Hammers best chance just before the break.
Di Michele has a half chance as Ilunga gets himself to the byline and cuts it back towards the Italian but it was behind him and he could only curl it wide of the near post.
Lucas Neill is having a real shocker today! The big Australian looks ponderous on the ball and without it with Yossi Benayoun's clever movement leaving the Hammers captain all at sea.
Carragher charges down Collison's shot which create a three on three for Liverpool on the break and Gerrard finds Kuyt but Green gets down well to make a fine save.
West Ham are making a change as Jack Collison replaces Junior Stanislas.
Gerrard has his first shot at a hat-trick as Torres dummies Arbeloa's cross but Green gets his body behind it for a routine save.
West Ham are the side in control of the ball actually now but they are completely incapable of breaking down this Liverpool back four who have been untroubled for the most part.
Emiliano Insua is coming on in place of Fabio Aurelio - no sign of injury so it appears that is a tactical decision, perhaps motivated by his booking.
Upson has changed his kit and his new shirt has no name or number on the back - but he is back on the field and West Ham need him there today.
Plenty of enjoyment for the ladies in attendance as Matthew Upson has to change his shorts as well as his shirt after a bloody nose requires treatment - cue wolfwhistles, etc...
Fabio Aurelio is cautioned for a challenge on Boa Morte as West Ham looked to break on Liverpool.
Zola has made a tactical switch of sorts at the break with Mark Noble sitting deeper alongside Kovac to help plug the gaps that Gerrard has been finding.
The second half is underway and their is more bad news for the Hammers - Liverpool are the best second half team in the country this season.
HALF TIME: WEST HAM 0-2 LIVERPOOL. The away side have been superb at times and deservedly lead thanks to Gerrard's brace but West Ham should have got one back through Di Michele.
Defensively West Ham have been a shambles and they are again here as Mascherano's pass is looped into the air by Tomkins before Torres is allowed to rise and loop a header over Green, but it falls a fraction wide.
We are into one minute of added time.
To round off his disappointment Di Michele is booked for diving - he deserved it.
Oh dear! Miss of the season for sure! Di Michele latches onto Carragher's mistake but tries to overcomplicate the finish and ends up prodding it wide, while stumbling, and then dives over Reina for good measure.
Radoslav Kovac is booked for dissent.
Luis Boa Morte is still fuming about perceived injustices against him, but he is risking a second yellow card with his continued protests.
WEST HAM 0-2 LIVERPOOL. Green makes a wonderful save from the spot-kick but Gerrard is first to react to spare his own blushes by slotting home the rebound.
Boa Morte is booked for a combination of the foul and his complaints.
Penalty! Boa Morte clearly frustrated from moments ago pulls Torres' shirt in the box when there is little danger and its a blatant penalty. Correct decision!
West Ham are up in arms as Mascherano fells Boa Morte 25 yards from goal but no free-kick is given - shocking decision.
Skrtel is running towards the touchline and Di Michele gives him a real striker's tackle sending the Slovakian tumbling but he escapes further punishment.
Liverpool have become a little sloppy in the last ten minutes and they are allowing West Ham to dominate possession, only the Kovac chance to show for it so far.
West Ham are starting to push on now as Diego Tristan cuts inside Jamie Carragher and fires at Reina who makes a regulation save.
Great chance! Noble curls a wicked ball into the six yard box where Reina comes but Kovac beats him to the ball but can't keep his header down.
Superb football from Noble and Di Michele to create space for Stanislas on the left but his cross is far too long and the danger passes.
Lucas Neill is doing his best Didier Drogba impression in the face of Alan Wiley after clearly shoving Torres to the ground outside the box - Tomkins was making a superb tackle when he got invovled by the way.
West Ham are beginning to probe a little now with Boa Morte and Stanislas running at the full backs but for now the delivery has not been good enough for Tristan and Di Michele.
Fernando Torres has his first chance of the game as Aurelio's deflected drive drops into his path but he skies it high and wide.
Half a chance for the Hammers as Noble and Stanislas work a short free-kick that eventually gives Tristan the chance to glance a header goalwards but Reina is across well to make a simple save.
The Irons have finally grabbed a foothold in the game but giving Liverpool a 1-0 headstart was not what they were looking for, particularly given the Reds recent form.
Liverpool have been in top gear since the first whistle but the Hammers are still stuck in the starting blocks and need to get going soon before the game is out of reach.
West Ham are all over the place at the centre of their defence and Torres is almost through himself now to make it 2-0 but Green is out quickly to deny the Spaniard.
WEST HAM 0-1 LIVERPOOL. 76 seconds gone and Liverpool already lead! Torres feeds the ball through the defence for Gerrard who beats the offside trap to round Green and give Liverpool a dream start.
Alan Wiley is today's match official and he gets this vitally important clash underway.
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio, Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Kuyt, Torres.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Boa Morte, Noble, Kovac, Stanislas, Di Michele, Tristan.
For Liverpool the demand is simple, they must win. If Rafa Benitez's side fail to take maximum points back to Merseyside tonight then they can surely wave goodbye to their title hopes.
West Ham are in contention for the Europa League next season but after Fulham's victory earlier this afternoon it has made this game even more important to Gianfranco Zola's men.
Welcome to Upton Park where West Ham United are set to entertain title-chasing Liverpool.
West Ham United could throw a spanner in the works of Liverpool's title bid in Saturday's late kick-off at Upton Park. The Reds will be hoping to move level on points with Manchester United at the top of the table as they play 24 hours before the Premier League leaders are involved in a Manchester derby on Sunday. However, three points are by no means assured for Rafael Benitez's side as they were held to a goalless draw by the Hammers at Anfield in early December. Since then, West Ham have also enjoyed an upturn in fortunes despite a lengthy injury list and know that three points of their own on Saturday would significantly boost their chances of finishing in the European qualification places. Speaking after last weekend's 1-0 win over Stoke City which consolidated seventh place in the table, manager Gianfranco Zola said: "We have never lost focus that we could get into Europe and it remains a possibility. "We have so many young players that to be in Europe would be a big thing for them. They would improve very much." Zola was referring to the lengthy injury list at Upton Park which means he will again be without the likes of Carlton Cole (groin), Valon Behrami (knee), Scott Parker (groin), James Collins (calf), Dean Ashton (groin) and Danny Gabbidon (hip). However in their combined absence, youngsters James Tomkins, Freddie Sears, Junior Stanislas and fit-again Jack Collison have combined with experienced campaigners like Diego Tristan, David Di Michele, Radoslav Kovac to produce an effective unit. Liverpool have injury concerns over key duo Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres ahead of the trip to the capital. Torres missed last weekend's 3-0 victory over Newcastle United with a fresh hamstring problem, while midfielder Alonso failed to complete the game following the tackle which led to Joey Barton's high-profile red card. Early indications are that both will be fit to face the Hammers, unlike defensive duo Sami Hyppia (knee) and Philipp Degen (groin). Meanwhile, Benitez was happy to keep up the pressure on United at the top of the table after the comfortable win over the Magpies, saying: "We have to try and get three points in each match and see if United feel under pressure and make mistakes.
advertisement
Skipper Steven Gerrard's double blast and Ryan Babel's late strike fired Liverpool comfortably back to the top of the Premier League following a 3-0 win over West Ham United. Gerrard took his season's tally to 23 goals with two first-half efforts, before substitute Babel's late strike left the Reds' title hopes flickering and West Ham's Europa League ambitions dangling by a thread. When these two sides shared a goalless draw at Anfield back in December, Liverpool went to the top of the Premier League, six points clear of third placed Manchester United with 23 matches still to play. But now with just two games left they are level and the Reds can only hope and pray that Sir Alex Ferguson's side slip-up in their four remaining matches - starting against Manchester City on Sunday lunchtime. With just one defeat in their last 11 matches, Liverpool had made three changes to the side that nudged Newcastle United closer to relegation last Sunday. There was a recall for Martin Skrtel in place of the injured Xabi Alonso, while 16-goal Fernando Torres and Lucas Leiva came in for Albert Riera and Daniel Agger. Following his side's victory at Stoke City last Saturday, Gianfranco Zola named an unchanged line-up, but results earlier in the afternoon had already meant that West Ham had slipped two places to ninth spot without even kicking a ball. And the Hammers had still hardly kicked a ball when they found themselves trailing with just 70 seconds on the clock. Torres telepathically sent Gerrard behind the pushed-up home defence and, as the flag stayed down, the Liverpool skipper calmly rounded the helplessly exposed Robert Green before slotting the ball into an empty net to give his side dream start. Desperately, West Ham tried to find a foot-hold and, as the quarter-hour mark approached, Spanish striker Diego Tristan's back-header was saved at full-stretch by compatriot Jose Reina and then Radoslav Kovac nodded Mark Noble's in-swinging free-kick over the top from just six yards. At the other end, energetic ex-Hammer Yossi Benayoun and the industrious Dirk Kuyt were looking to ensure that lively Liverpool broke at every opportunity, while the threatening Torres and Gerrard deposited long-rangers high into the stands, much to the relief of the home fans. But seven minutes before the break, the Merseysiders doubled their lead when the retreating - and consequently booked - Luis Boa Morte was adjudged to have pulled back Torres as the pair raced for Benayoun's through pass. Although Green brilliantly parried Gerrard's low penalty at the base of his right-hand post, the Liverpool captain reacted quickest to bundle the rebound home. With the boos for referee Alan Wiley still ringing around Upton Park, the official merely infuriated the locals even more when he cautioned Kovac for dissent and the breaking David Di Michele for diving after the irate Italian pounced on Jamie Carragher's slip before losing his way and stumbling as he attempted to round Reina Zola introduced youngsters Jack Collison, Freddie Sears and Josh Payne at the expense of Junior Stanislas, Di Michele and Boa Morte, while Babel and Andrea Dossena replaced Torres and Benayoun. And seven minutes from time, Babel cemented a comfortable victory when he lashed home the rebound after he had initially headed Kuyt's cross into Green from point-blank range to start the rapid evacuation of a battered and bruised Boleyn Ground crowd.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
football.co.uk web