Our fan blogger looks back at Saturday's 0-0 draw with Liverpool
Fan blogger Joe Difford takes a look back at Saturday's 0-0 draw with Liverpool
Having already comfortably defeated Liverpool twice this season, fans were hoping for a hat-trick to be completed at Anfield on Saturday.
However, a combination of early injuries and a group of fired-up youngsters determined to prove themselves meant that a replay is needed to decide whose name stays in the hat.
Jurgen Klopp continued to use a young squad, again not because he isn't taking the FA Cup seriously, but simply because injuries mean that he doesn't have enough fit players.
Perhaps it was the magic of the FA Cup or that they were turning out in front of 45,000 fans at Anfield, but the young lads stepped up and were confident and composed.
Slaven Bilic went with the strongest squad available to him once again, with the cup more important than a Champions League place to him, and understandably so.
Adrian and Mark Noble were the only two without injuries who didn't feature, the Spanish shot-stopper at his wife's side as she gave birth to his first child, and the skipper who had the flu midweek.
Early injuries forced the Hammers into two substitutions, with key men James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate leaving the field. In their place came Joey O'Brien and Nikica Jelavic, and this is where the home side gained an advantage.
O'Brien, who hadn't kicked a ball in months, was tasked with covering an area controlled by the impressive Joao Teixeira, and his lack of action this season meant that our attacking threat wasn't as fluid as usual.
Bilic bringing on Jelavic was a positive change, showing that he was going for the win and not the replay, but having to make a change like this so early is sometimes a problem. Dimitri Payet was forced out wide to accommodate, where he was quickly closed down and stopped from being the influence he usually is.
Liverpool came closest in the first half, forcing a spectacular fingertip save out of Darren Randolph, who was excellent all game.
Enner Valencia should have scored when he misjudged a cross and headed back out wide towards the touchline, but Pedro Obiang's volley from distance was the closest the visitors came to taking the lead in the opening 45, his effort bouncing past the post.
We had a good case for a penalty when Jelavic headed the ball onto the arm of Steven Caulker, with the Liverpool man pushing it away from goal, but the referee ignored the subdued protests.
The kids of Liverpool dominated possession in the second half, but Michail Antonio almost won the tie in the dying seconds, seeing his header come back off the post, but the linesman had already flagged for a push on Jose Enrique.
The replay at the Boleyn Ground will be the fourth meeting of the two sides this season, with the Hammers unbeaten.
Liverpool have an excellent FA Cup record against us, not losing in seven games, but this has been a season for ending droughts.
The winner of the replay will go on to face Blackburn Rovers, and although anyone can win in the cup, Bilic and Co. will fancy their chances in that tie.
Our round against Liverpool is not over though, but expect another strong West Ham line-up, another inexperienced Liverpool one, and hopefully our name in the hat for the next round.
For more West Ham fan views or to join the conversation visit www.90min.com
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United
Having already comfortably defeated Liverpool twice this season, fans were hoping for a hat-trick to be completed at Anfield on Saturday.
However, a combination of early injuries and a group of fired-up youngsters determined to prove themselves meant that a replay is needed to decide whose name stays in the hat.
Jurgen Klopp continued to use a young squad, again not because he isn't taking the FA Cup seriously, but simply because injuries mean that he doesn't have enough fit players.
Perhaps it was the magic of the FA Cup or that they were turning out in front of 45,000 fans at Anfield, but the young lads stepped up and were confident and composed.
Slaven Bilic went with the strongest squad available to him once again, with the cup more important than a Champions League place to him, and understandably so.
Adrian and Mark Noble were the only two without injuries who didn't feature, the Spanish shot-stopper at his wife's side as she gave birth to his first child, and the skipper who had the flu midweek.
Early injuries forced the Hammers into two substitutions, with key men James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate leaving the field. In their place came Joey O'Brien and Nikica Jelavic, and this is where the home side gained an advantage.
O'Brien, who hadn't kicked a ball in months, was tasked with covering an area controlled by the impressive Joao Teixeira, and his lack of action this season meant that our attacking threat wasn't as fluid as usual.
Bilic bringing on Jelavic was a positive change, showing that he was going for the win and not the replay, but having to make a change like this so early is sometimes a problem. Dimitri Payet was forced out wide to accommodate, where he was quickly closed down and stopped from being the influence he usually is.
Liverpool came closest in the first half, forcing a spectacular fingertip save out of Darren Randolph, who was excellent all game.
Enner Valencia should have scored when he misjudged a cross and headed back out wide towards the touchline, but Pedro Obiang's volley from distance was the closest the visitors came to taking the lead in the opening 45, his effort bouncing past the post.
We had a good case for a penalty when Jelavic headed the ball onto the arm of Steven Caulker, with the Liverpool man pushing it away from goal, but the referee ignored the subdued protests.
The kids of Liverpool dominated possession in the second half, but Michail Antonio almost won the tie in the dying seconds, seeing his header come back off the post, but the linesman had already flagged for a push on Jose Enrique.
The replay at the Boleyn Ground will be the fourth meeting of the two sides this season, with the Hammers unbeaten.
Liverpool have an excellent FA Cup record against us, not losing in seven games, but this has been a season for ending droughts.
The winner of the replay will go on to face Blackburn Rovers, and although anyone can win in the cup, Bilic and Co. will fancy their chances in that tie.
Our round against Liverpool is not over though, but expect another strong West Ham line-up, another inexperienced Liverpool one, and hopefully our name in the hat for the next round.
For more West Ham fan views or to join the conversation visit www.90min.com
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United