West Ham 1-3 Liverpool
Liverpool are back on track. After a poor run of results since the turn of the year, Jurgen Klopp’s champions have responded with back to back wins.
The Reds followed up an impressive victory over Spurs by handing out more capital punishment to another London side, the in-form West Ham. Mo Salah scored his first goals in seven Premier League games to end the Hammers’ run of six consecutive victories and to lift his team up to third, and just a point behind second-placed Manchester United.
Gini Wijnaldum made it a resounding win for the Reds when a home victory would have taken West Ham above the champions but, in the end, all the Hammers had to celebrate was a Craig Dawson consolation.
Highlights of the game
In the first half with few real chances Liverpool dominated possession but had little to show for it, and West Ham threatened first when Aaron Cresswell crossed for Pablo Fornals and his shot was deflected wide. At the other end, Salah fed Xherdan Shaqiri and he had his shot thwarted by a brilliant block by Dawson.
West Ham United’s Craig Dawson in action against Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino
Michail Antonio’s header, easily collected by Alisson on 42 minutes, was the first effort on target, and Salah just about brought Hammers’ keeper Lukasz Fabianski into action as the half limped to a goalless conclusion.
Sadio Mane was unplayable in Liverpool’s victory over Spurs last Thursday but he pulled out of this game with a muscle strain. After a goalless first half in which the Reds defended well and controlled the midfield but lacked spark up front, he was badly missed.
Tomas Soucek has been in superb form for the Hammers but he struggled to make an impact on the game, and his frustration boiled over when he was late on Thiago to earn a yellow card. And then Michail Antonio had a superb opportunity when he was put through on goal but he hammered his shot wide. It was a big chance for Antonio and the hosts were made to pay.
Curtis Jones, having just come on to replace James Milner got an assist with his first touch, passing to Salah who turned inside Aaron Cresswell and curled the ball into the far corner, giving Fabianski no chance.
And the Egyptian doubled his tally and Liverpool’s lead, midway through the second half, with a breathtaking counter-attack and finish. West Ham had a corner that was cleared and Jones spread the ball out wide to Xherdan Shaqiri on the left flank, and he lobbed a beautiful pass into the path of Salah, who brought the ball down with a brilliant touch and flicked it past the advancing Fabianski.
Wijnaldum rounded off a slick passing move the make it 3-0 before Dawson grabbed a late consolation for the Hammers.
Key statistics
David Moyes’ team have been big Premier League 2021 news recently as they threatened to gatecrash the top four, but they finished the game in fifth place after being dominated by the champions in the second half.
Liverpool had 67 percent possession and 14 shots to eight, and they are now unbeaten in all five trips to the London Stadium, winning four and drawing one.
Mo Salah is the first Liverpool player to score 20 goals, in all competitions, in four successive seasons since the legendary Ian Rush did so in six consecutive campaigns in the 1980s.
What’s next?
With Manchester United drawing a blank in a goalless draw with Arsenal, making it one point from six for the Red Devils this week, this was a chance for Liverpool to make up lost ground and they accepted it gleefully.
Klopp’s side now has two home games to come and they could hardly be different challenges. On Wednesday they host Brighton. Graham Potter’s team escaped relegation last season, but they are in the thick of the struggle again, one place above the drop zone where both Fulham and West Brom are showing signs of improvement. Then, next Sunday there’s a blockbuster clash at Anfield when league leaders Manchester City rock up.
Of course we’ll be previewing and reporting on that game here at SBOTOP, and it could be a huge moment in the 2020/21 title race. The Premier League 2021 betting odds back Pep Guardiola’s to win the league, but if Liverpool can get a result then the odds will shift slightly the other way.
The Hammers have two away games to come; first they visit fellow Clarets Aston Villa, another side with European aspirations, before heading back to London to play Fulham who are desperate for points.
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The post Premier League: Super Salah Fires Liverpool To Victory appeared first on SBOTOP.