100% effort, 0% reward
It was no surprise to see West Ham play the way they did against Liverpool on Sunday, it was mostly playing long balls up to Carlton Cole and Kevin Nolan. Although when the ball was played on the deck it was at a high tempo and for parts of the game the Liverpool defenders were unable to handle players like Mohamed Diame and Matt Jarvis.
West Ham didn’t completely dominate the game though, Liverpool played well in the first 15 minutes and last 10 minutes as well as going forward well at times during the first half, but created little for most of the second.
Even though West Ham’s goals came in the first half, the early part of the second half was dominated by the home side. They were desperate for a third goal, a goal that probably would have sealed the victory. They squandered a few chances and were made to pay by Liverpool who scored their second against the run of play when Raheem Sterling put Joe Cole through on goal and the former West Ham favourite slotted the ball in.
The Hammers seemed happy to sit back after the Reds scored and were left without Diame’s attacking threat when he had to go off after injuring his hamstring. James Tomkins came on for the Senegalese international and drifted into central defence, leaving Mark Noble on his own in defensive midfield. Liverpool got the winner after Jordan Henderson’s shot was deflected off James Collins, the Welshman then pushed further up the pitch in the dying minutes of the game looking to knock the ball down to Carlton Cole, Nolan or Maiga.
West Ham will definitely feel they should have got something out of the game, considering the amount of effort they put in as well as scoring 2 goals. Liverpool can probably count themselves lucky to score 3, considering one was an own goal and the other was from almost nothing. It was a game that both teams probably would have been happy with a draw from.
West Ham play West Brom away next Sunday and going to the Hawthorns certainly won’t be an easy task for Sam Allardyce’s players. They have to get over the disappointment of losing at home quickly as well as preparing for life without Mohamed Diame for 3 months.
Liverpool host an Aston Villa team who are looking more like relegation candidates with every game they play. Liverpool will need to eradicate their inconsistent home form in order to beat Villa and have a chance to push on for a European place.
West Ham fans will be disappointed with the fact that their team didn’t get anything from the game, but a place in mid table at the beginning of December is more than they could have hoped for at the start of the season.
Thomas Baxter
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