Hammers ruin Liverpool’s 25-game unbeaten streak
THE deafening noise at the final whistle told its own story.
Another amazing win for West Ham prevented Liverpool from setting a club record as Jurgen Klopp’s side suffered their first defeat in any competition for 216 days.
The 25-game run stretched back to April 6 – when they were beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals – and Liverpool had almost forgotten how to lose.
That is why this was such a remarkable scalp for West Ham as David Moyes’ sensational London Stadium reign goes from strength to strength.
He has made even some of the most fed-up fans fall back in love with the club again. It was bubbles and a rousing chorus of Sweet Caroline when the crowd filed out, the away end long since having left after watching their team’s defensive frailties get horribly exposed.
Pablo Fornals was magnificent and Jarrod Bowen never stopped running, but Liverpool keeper Alisson also had a rare off day.
He was at fault for the opener, let the second goal go through him and stayed grounded for the third.
It was a brilliant blood-andthunder game, full of drama and turning points as West Ham leapfrogged Liverpool to move up to third, level on points with Manchester City and just three behind leaders Chelsea.
They had to hang on at the end as the visitors laid siege but West Ham deserved their win.
Liverpool’s midfield seems to have become a weakness, failing to protect a defence that is vulnerable under pressure.
The Hammers went ahead on four minutes with a goal that left everyone dazed and confused. Fornals put over a curling corner and Alisson, under intense duress, punched the ball into his own net.
Liverpool protested and the goal survived two VAR checks for a possible foul and handball before referee Craig Pawson allowed it to stand.
Trent Alexander-Arnold levelled with a world-class effort that underlined his incredible talent. Still, England do not play him – staggering.
Declan Rice protested his innocence after being pulled up
for a trip on Mo Salah. He and Alexander-Arnold then performed a short free-kick routine before the defender whipped a shot up and over the wall, and it dipped into the top corner.
West Ham regained the lead when Fabinho and Sadio Mane got into a mix-up, Bowen raced forward and fed Fornals, who smashed a low shot through Alisson.
Bowen, right, then sent over a corner in the 74th minute and Liverpool’s defence watched in horror as Kurt Zouma rose at the back post to head home.
No one could quite believe it. Divock Origi was thrown on and he gave the visitors hope, scoring with a shot on the turn. Liverpool then pinned West Ham back and Moyes’ men had to cling on.
Mane went wide with a diving header at the far post from an Alexander-Arnold free-kick.
That was the last chance but West Ham merited their win and Liverpool have only themselves to blame.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson 5; Alexander-Arnold 8, Matip 7, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 7; Oxlade-Chamberlain 5 (Thiago 69, 5), Henderson 6, Fabinho 6 (Minamino 79); Salah 7, Jota 6 (Origi 76), Mane 7. Goals: Alexander-Arnold 41, Origi 83.