Liverpool Cubs Show Heart of Lions

Returning to the capital without the services of Luis Suarez, Brendan Rodgers went loaded with midfielders with Shelvey in the attack zone leading the line in the modern parlance of a 'false no 9' and Downing, the only change from the home league win against Southampton getting a rare start. Adam Morgan after impressing in representative games for the club at all levels gained a well deserved spot on the bench alongside Suso and after his impressive goal winning appearance against Udinese, Jordan Henderson must have counted himself unlucky.

West Ham without the services of Liverpool's Andy Carroll, still out injured, but were captained by Liverpool born Kevin Nolan. Mohamed Diame's return the starting line-up after he dominant performance in the second-half meant Lucas, Allen and Gerrard were going to receive a stiff test against a combative opponent. Diame had the first strike of any note which deflected off Carlton Cole and just past the post with Pepe Reina wrong footed.

Glen Johnson whose form has been imperious this season broke the deadlock in magnificent style.   Picking the ball on the right from a Gerrard pass, with West Ham defenders backing off as he cut in, the defender unleashed a tremendous 20 yard drive into the top corner past the flailing Jaaskelainen. Minutes later in should have been two, with Johnson the tormentor slicing through from the right and playing the ball across to Sterling whose whipped shot failed to hit the target.

West Ham began to ramp up with the pressure with long balls aimed at Carlton Cole pinning Liverpool back with Skrtel and Agger defending heroically at the back and Diame's power running causing carnage in the Liverpool midfield. Liverpool suffered a blow with Jose Enrique having to be substituted surprisingly with Joe Cole coming on and Stewart Downing moving into the left back position. Liverpool were missing Suarez ability to take pressure off by making something out of nothing and acting as the first defender and came as know surprise when, if slightly unfortunate, Allen in charging down Diame's shot was adjudged to have handballed. Noble dispatched the penalty.

West Ham's increasing pressure and physicality was posing questions which Liverpool were finding difficult to answer.   Having not brought a centre-half with two on the bench Liverpool paid the price with Gerrard heading an own goal from Matt Jarvis cross. A sweeping moving down the left sent Downing

The opening 15 minutes of the second-half was more of the same with Diame running the show, Jarvis rediscovering his old Wolves form and Carlton Cole doing a serious impression of Didier Drogba giving the Liverpool backline a serious working over. Increasingly, West Ham dominance stifled Liverpool's passing and Suarez ability to get something out of nothing showed how bereft Liverpool can look without their talisman. A low cross from Downing, dummied by Joe Cole through to Sterling was tipped over by Jaaskelainen was one of the very few adventures forward. Minutes later, from a lovely whipped crossed from Downing, Shelvey headed wide with very little pressure.

Against the run of play Joe Cole scored a stunning equaliser. A superb move ended with a Raheem Sterling one-two with Shelvey and pass through to Cole who smashed the ball home into the far corner with a left foot drive.   Jordan Henderson's subsitution and the injury to Diame gave Liverpool the stimulus we needed. Henderson roared down the right and delivered a sumptuous near post ball which Collins, under pressure from Shelvey was unluckly to poke in for an own goal.   Rodgers, knowing the erial threat replaced Allen with Coates.

When the shock of five minutes injury-time subsided, Liverpool should have a penalty with Jonjo Shelvey showing his learnt a thing or two from Luis Suarez slaloming through the defence, to be brought down by Reid, which the referee deemed as good tackle. We controlled the game through the 5 minutes injury time and in the end performed manfully to get over the physicality of a determined West Ham team.

Man of The Match: Glen Johnson - A superb performance by the England right. Was Liverpool's main threat in attack and was so potent looked like a fully fledged right winger, cutting in with a vengeance.

Comment: Liverpool withstood West Ham's physical barrage and in the end came out the stronger, with no small thanks to Jordan Henderson who gave the midfield the drive and power it had lacked once Diame began to threaten. Raheem Sterling thoughtful play was there for all to see. He was stifled for a good part of the game, but came more into the game in the last quarter, releasing the ball earlier and it was his key pass which set Joe Cole free to equalise. Jonjo Shelvey performed with the heart of lion showing he has the right stuff and came close to being our Man of the Match.