Liverpool battle past attritional West Ham

Former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll added spice to what we knew would be a difficult game when he claimed in the week preceding the game that “I never really got the chance and was told to leave.  That’s why I’m here.”

With the ‘Big man’ in that mind-set Liverpool supporters were all wondering whether we’d be on the end of a backlash and with Stewart Downing also lining up against his old club, supporters were questioning whether we should make changes to the team to subdue the physical threat. 

 

Should we start with Coutinho and Sterling or start with just one?  Should Lucas come in for Gerrard with the threat of a two match ban hanging over him? Should Sakho come in for Agger to help contain West Ham’s long ball game?  Brendan Rodgers never had to make that call as Agger picked up a “small knock” in his words, although he ought to be in contention for the home game against Manchester City.

West Ham set out to make it difficult leavving very little space for us to work in midfield and a defence well marshalled restricting Liverpool to long-range efforts with Suarez and Sturridge working hard, but finding it difficult to extricate themselves from the unwarranted attentions of the West Ham markers.

Early on, Suarez saw his 25 yard free-kick drift just over and then produce a moment of impudence when cutting in from the left after collecting Coutinho’s throw-in, his speed of thought was so instinctive and sharp that his chip left West Ham keeper floundering as it came back off the bar.  Suarez then expertly found his striker partner Sturridge, who uncharacteristic rushed his shot to fire over.

Just as it seemed we would have to gather ourselves at half-time and formulate a different plan of action, Steven Gerrard unfurled a spectacular 50 yard ball with such incision, that it crept inside the full-back to Suarez, who deftly flicked the ball inside James Tomkins who handled to stop Suarez going in on goal.  Gerrard displayed all the calmness of his 33 plus years expertly Adrián the wrong way.

Liverpool’s celebrations were sawn off in mid-flow with Anthony Taylor deciding that it was his time to get himself in the spotlight with a ridiculous decision.   Carroll blatantly knocked the ball out of Mignolet grasp with his hand after connecting with his face allowing Demel to stab home.  The Assistant referee Stuart Burt having flagged, consulted with referee Taylor who overruled Burt to award the goal.

Steven Gerrard slots home the winner

The decision was staggering in its competence and something which we have suffered with in big games the season and in a game which at times felt like a war of attrition could have been very costly to our title ambitions.

Brendan Rodgers made his move at half-time bringing on Lucas to replace Coutinho who struggled with the lack of space afforded him.  The substitution gave us the initiative we were craving for with the combative Lucas adding a more steely presence and simplicity with the ball, allowing Sterling to provide more incision into the Liverpool attacks playing behind the front-two.

Even so, Carroll who resembled a striker from a bygone age came close to putting West Ham ahead when he rose majestically above Glen Johnson to head against the bar.

 

 Liverpool fans celebrate in the London's Ruse Pub in London's

With Lucas now attuned Liverpool were controlling the game, pinning West Ham back for long periods with the home team’s regimented formation keeping us at bay.  Lucas, then unveiled an exquisite short pass inside the full-back to the raiding Flangan who was brought down by Adrián in his follow through, which seemed somewhat harsh.

Steven Gerrard strode up to put the penalty away, his 13^th of a prolific season, playing in his much heralded holding “quarterback” role.

Suarez almost put the game to bed when with the ball coming across him, in an unorthodox manner of a genius, contorted his body so as to curl the ball with the outside of his boot and against the bar.

West Ham had a modicum of pressure during the final throes, but it was Liverpool who looked the more threatening with Raheem Sterling’s run and shot which needed to palmed away by Adrián late on.

Man of the Match:  Steven Gerrard – Led his team imperiously and his stunning pass which set up the first goal was a thing of beauty.  He stepped up once again for the penalties and calmed the nerves of those around him displaying an indomitable spirit which he seems to have taken forward since the retirement of Jamie Carragher and is leading his team into battles (in conjunction with his manager) showing they have learnt different ways to the win.

Mamadou Sakho in his first full game back since injury was imperious.  The threat of a fully wound up Andy Carroll should not be played down and he and Skrtel gave as good as they got with the ex-Liverpool man often picking himself off the ground.  More impressive though was his calmness bringing the ball out of defensive and his short and incisive passing.

Luis Suarez – Two flashes of genius and a starring role in gaining the first penalty says it all about a player who deploys a never say die attitude week in week out. While he may not have been allowed to have his usual brilliant game, he left his mark on the game two remarkable pieces of skill.

Critical eye:  The standard of the refereeing was appalling and could have been costly.  It wasn’t the fact that Anthony Taylor made a mistake, it was the fact that he overruled the Refereeing and assistant and in all probability made the second penalty decision knowing that he’d made a huge mistake earlier.  We’ve hit by bad refereeing decisions this season, but this was different because as the foul was so blatant and he changed the mind of colleague with his intransigence.

*Sad to see the brilliant talent of Joe Cole languishing on the bench.

Team:

West Ham: 13 Adrián, 20 Demel, 8 Armero, 14 Taylor (Jarvis – 78 Mins), 5 Tomkins, 2 Reid, 21 Diamé, (Cole – 85 mins), 16 Noble, 9 Carroll, 4 Nolan, (Nocerino – 68 mins), 23 Downing

Subs: 7 Jarvis, 22 Jääskeläinen, 24 Carlton Cole, 26 Joe Cole, 27 Potts, 28 Johnson, 47 Nocerino

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 38 Falagan, 8 Gerrard, 37 Skrtel, 17 Sakho, 10 Coutinho (Lucas – 45 mins), 14 Henderson, 15 Henderson, 15 Sturridge (Kolo Touré – 85 mins), 31 Sterling, 7 Suarez

Subs: 1 Jones, 4 Kolo Touré, 9 Iago Aspas, 12 Victor Moses, 20 Cissokho, 21 Lucas, 24 Allen

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Attendance: 34,977

Fábio Aurélio announced his retirement after missing the whole of the 2013 season for Grêmio due to injury.  YNWA Fabio!