West Ham United leap-frogged Liverpool and moved up to third in the Premier League table with an impressive 3-2 win at a raucous London Stadium.
Ending a demanding period of seven fixtures in the space of 22 days across three competitions unbeaten – a splendid feat in itself – Pablo Fornals’ breakaway goal and Kurt Zouma’s first West Ham goal were enough to see the Hammers come out on top in an open-ended second half after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick had cancelled out Alisson Becker’s own-goal early in the first half.
Divock Origi pulled a goal back late on for Liverpool, but West Ham deserved the three points for an awesome show of character which resulted in them inflicting a first defeat on the visitors in the Premier League this season and ending Liverpool’s unbeaten run of 25 games prior.
Results seldom come more impressive, nor do atmospheres – the backdrop to an instant Club classic.
Manager David Moyes had described the Reds as the most in-form team in world football before kick-off, but after riding out an early storm, it was West Ham who drew first blood.
Fornals’ accurate long ball over the top allowed Michail Antonio to break and win the first corner-kick off the tracking Virgil van Dijk. Crowding goalkeeper Alisson Becker on the goal-line, a host of West Ham players – led principally by Angelo Ogbonna – attacked the Spaniard’s in-swinging delivery.
But such was the whip and elevation on Fornals’ cross, it sailed over both Ogbonna and Alisson – who upon review it transpired had got a weak fist to the ball – and nestled into the far corner of the net.
Video Assistant Referee had the chance to address Liverpool’s appeals for both a foul and a handball – and VAR duly turned both down.
It was going to take something special to break West Ham – and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold provided it moments before half-time, curling an inch-perfect 25-yard free-kick over the wall and into the top corner after Salah had shifted the ball.
And so it was at all square the two sides reached half-time – a fair reflection perhaps not in terms of possession or territorial dominance, where Liverpool were on top, but unquestionably their commitment.
Four minutes into the first half, West Ham took the lead through a corner kick.
If the first goal were to be taken away from Fornals upon video review, West Ham’s second was certainly his – a just reward for their increased attacking momentum in the second half.
The goal owed so much to the positivity and persistence of Bowen, who picked up the ball near the halfway line, span and charged at three Liverpool defenders, creating space for Fornals to run into.
Bowen looked up and poked the ball through to the Spaniard.
The No8 has made a knack of scoring against Liverpool since sporting Claret and Blue and although his left-footed strike wasn’t the cleanest of efforts, it still managed to squirm beneath Alisson and trickle over the line – his third goal in five games against the Reds.
As Liverpool pressed forwards, space was opening up, Antonio robbing Fabinho of the ball and – in a similar fashion – poking in Fornals, but this time the Spaniard was flagged offside, seconds after seeing his shot saved by Alisson.
Antonio then posed Van Dijk another problem with a similarly positive run, winning yet another corner – and based on recent evidence, the Claret and Blue Army roared in the knowledge of how those so often go.
Bowen’s delivery was on the money into the six-yard box, Zouma was unchallenged at the far post to head home his first goal since joining in the summer – and the Hammers, notching their sixth set-piece goal of the season were 3-1 up and, like the bubbles which engulfed the east London air, flying.
But Liverpool provided a timely reminder of their quality to set up a nervy finish with seven minutes remaining, substitute Origi turning and firing a bouncing volley into the bottom corner when the opportunity seemed a half-chance at best.
As the clock ticked into injury time, Liverpool missed a gilt-edged chance when Mané stooped and – somehow – headed Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick wide when it seemed easier to score.
West Ham United had done it – a memorable victory, crafted by an indefatigable squad and manager and forged in the fires of east London.
The 59,909 supporters in attendance will talk about this game for some days – nay, years – to come.
