Source: Telegraph
Liverpool back on top of Premier League
Steven Gerrard scored twice as Rafael Benitez's side dismantled West Ham with professional disdain.
The problem for Liverpool is that the next time they take to the field United could be champions. If Alex Ferguson's side beat Manchester City today, Wigan on Wednesday and then Arsenal on Saturday, they will have retained the title before Liverpool even kick off against West Bromwich Albion next Sunday.
Liverpool had dropped only two points in their previous eight games and their superb late-season form should have ensured that they won the sprint for the title line. Yet with so many points dropped in winter draws —West Ham one of several supposedly inferior opponents not dispatched at Anfield — Benitez's side were always going to struggle to catch United. Still, the way they have sustained the pressure on their rivals has been admirable.
A large part of the problem has been the reliance on Torres and Gerrard. The pair are superb but both susceptible to injury, and this was only the 12th time they had started in tandem in the Premier League this season. Benitez has spoken of fine-tuning this squad for next season – he certainly needs a striker to share the goal burden when Torres' hamstrings fail.
The pair took all of 77 seconds to unravel West Ham's defence. Torres had dropped deep in the right channel and his through pass found Gerrard, who timed his run perfectly to stay onside. Gerrard eased round the advancing Rob Green and passed the ball into the net.
That quickly took the edge off the game, although West Ham did come extremely close to equalising when Radoslav Kovac headed over from close range from the excellent Mark Noble's free-kick. Pepe Reina had committed himself to the punch and if the Czech had kept his header down it was a goal.
Meanwhile, Alan Wiley was doing his best to antagonise the home crowd. He made a really poor decision in punishing James Tomkins for a perfectly judged tackle on Torres but worse was his failure to blow up when Luis Boa Morte was clearly fouled by Javier Mascherano. The otherwise impressive Boa Morte's response was idiotic though, chasing the referee to protest and, clearly still angry, pulling Torres' shirt in the box as the Liverpool striker chased Yossi Benayoun's cute chip.
Wiley correctly awarded the penalty and Gerrard stepped up to take it. Green saved superbly, diving full stretch to his right but Gerrard managed to keep his balance and tuck in the rebound. That was his 15th in the League and his 23rd in all competitions.
Without Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole, both injured, and with Savio only just recovered from illness, West Ham lack class up front. It is doubtful whether David di Michele or Diego Tristan, both 33, will be offered deals on this evidence.
Like Liverpool, they could do with recruiting some top-end cover while the promising Freddie Sears continues to develop.
Liverpool were having an easy time in the second half, living off West Ham's mistakes. With an hour gone they should have made it three with a superb counter-attack, Gerrard racing almost the length of the field with Torres and Dirk Kuyt either side of him. The England midfielder slipped the ball to Kuyt but Green saved his effort at the near post.
The third goal did come though, with just over five minutes to go. Kuyt's cross from the right was met by Ryan Babel, on for the tiring Torres, but his header was saved by Green. The rebound fell back to Babel, who slammed it in.
Benitez withdrew Torres, sparing the Spaniard's hamstrings the final 20 minutes. That might have added to West Ham's motivation but, aside from Tristan nearly breaking Liverpool's offside trap, they continued to struggle to create chances.
Their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League are receding, but this, his heaviest defeat as a manager, should not detract from the outstanding work Gianfranco Zola has done this season.
