Liverpool 2 West Ham United 2
Liverpool: Lallana (5'), Origi (48')
West Ham: Payet (27'), Antonio (39')
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
For the second weekend running, Liverpool enjoyed a dominant start against opponents they were expected to beat.
And for the second weekend running, Liverpool let a lead slip through their fingers and fell further adrift of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.
After last Sunday’s remarkable 4-3 defeat by Bournemouth, a match in which Liverpool went 2-0 and then 3-1 up, Jurgen Klopp would have been hoping for a more low-key and straightforward afternoon against West Ham United this week.
That looked to be the way things were going when Adam Lallana opened the scoring within the first five minutes, the England international neatly controlling Sadio Mane’s cross with his right foot and firing a shot into the bottom corner of the net with his left. Liverpool, though, failed to press home their advantage and ultimately the expected three points ended up as one.
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West Ham’s defensive frailties have been exposed on numerous occasions so far this season — Slaven Bilic’s side had conceded 29 goals in the 14 games they had contested prior to Sunday’s encounter — and they threatened to be overrun and overwhelmed in the first 15 minutes at Anfield.
A typically fluid front three of Mane, Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi buzzed around with intent, with Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum pushing on to provide support in the final third.
West Ham succeeded in standing firm, though, before gradually embarking on a few forward forays of their own. Michail Antonio’s speed and willingness to run in behind gave Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip something to think about in open play, with Dimitri Payet then drawing the visitors level with a free-kick which under-fire goalkeeper Loris Karius probably should have saved.
Much like at the Vitality Stadium last week, panic suddenly set in for Liverpool. West Ham, growing in confidence with each passing minute, sensed their opportunity and duly edged ahead shortly before the break, Antonio slotting the ball past Karius after Matip made a mess of dealing with Havard Nordtveit’s deflected pass.
Bilic and his players would have been anticipating a quick Liverpool start after the interval, and that is exactly what they got. The hosts soon had a tangible reward for their decision to come flying out of the blocks, Origi levelling after Darren Randolph had clumsily spilled Mane’s delivery from the left, but they were unable to find the all-important third goal despite plenty of possession and pressure for most of the second period.
Once again it was errors at the back that cost Klopp’s side, who now find themselves six points shy of the summit of the standings. West Ham did not muster a single shot on target after the 39th minute, yet two avoidable Liverpool concessions prior to that meant the damage had already been done.
Unless they can eradicate such defensive sloppiness, the Premier League title will not be headed to Anfield this term.
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