REDS RIDE LUK TO A RECORD
Fabianski’s howlers are a Hammer blow for Moyes
THEY are just unstoppable.
Liverpool get past every hurdle, every scare, to chase down records in their incredible, remarkable season.
Sadio Mane got the late winner on a nervy night at Anfield when West Ham threatened to pull off one of the season’s biggest upsets.
But Liverpool equalled two records. They equalled Manchester City’s record of two seasons ago of 18 Premier League wins in a row and a 21st straight home win equalled their 1972 record.
They have got more in sight. It is 44 games unbeaten, five short of Arsenal’s record of 49, and the title will surely follow before the end of March. It was heartbreaking for West Ham, who put up such a brave fight, but it was yet another defeat after keeper Lukasz Fabianski had a nightmare.
Early on, it had felt as onesided as Tyson Fury against Deontay Wilder. Target practice for Liverpool with West Ham clinging on.
West Ham’s resistance lasted nine minutes. Liverpool were camped in the West Ham box, the visitors failed to clear and the inevitable followed.
Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped a cross back into the box, Georginio Wijnaldum stooped and headed past West Ham goalkeeper Fabianski, who should have kept it out.
That was Wijnaldum’s 11th goal of the season but also Alexander-Arnold’s 11th assist in the Premier League. The right-back has got more assists than any Premier League player apart from Kevin De Bruyne.
That was surely the cue for a battering. But the opposite happened. West Ham rose up and fought.
While the travelling fans displayed their banners to protest against the club’s ownership, they never stopped singing for their team all night. Just three minutes later, West
Ham were level. Robert Snodgrass’s near-post corner created havoc in the Liverpool box, Issa Diop evaded Joe Gomez and the West Ham defender headed home, with keeper Alisson unable to keep it out.
The Hammers fought and scrapped. Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice battled in midfield, Michail Antonio caused problems up front. They actually put up a better fight than most other teams have at Anfield this season.
Mo Salah forced a fine save from Fabianski, AlexanderArnold fired a shot just wide while Virgil van Dijk headed against the bar. But Liverpool,
for all their superiority, were not clicking while West Ham were not buckling.
Roberto Firmino should have done better after the restart while West Ham suffered the loss of the injured Soucek, who had been outstanding.
But on came Pablo Fornals, who stunned Anfield just seven minutes after his introduction. Rice swept over a cross and Fornals got away from Gomez to put the ball past Alisson.
The stadium fell silent apart from the pocket of travelling fans.
But just when the Kop was beginning to get anxious, then came the equaliser. Andy Robertson’s cross found Salah, his shot was weak but it went through Fabianski’s legs. The West Ham keeper should have done better on the first goal but this was a howler.
Now, with more than 20 minutes left, it was all there for Liverpool. They did not have to wait long. Gomez’s shot was deflected, AlexanderArnold put over a cross and there was Mane to score the winner.
This was a major scare but, in truth, you always feel that Liverpool will win. Because they always do and that is why they will be champions sooner rather than later.