West Ham United 1-2 Liverpool
Premier League, London Stadium, Wednesday 26 April 2023, 8pm BST
West Ham United fell to a 2-1 defeat by Liverpool on Wednesday evening.
Joel Matïp’s second-half header proved to be the difference after West Ham had taken the lead in a tense Premier League fixture at London Stadium.
Paquetá’s stunning strike – his third in as many matches - found the top corner with 12 minutes played, although his effort was quickly cancelled out as Liverpool’s quality ultimately told in east London.
Cody Gakpo pulled Liverpool level by the break, before Joel Matïp secured the points in the second half with a powerful header.
David Moyes’ men, who were exasperated at Referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision to not award a late penalty, fell to just their second defeat in eleven games.
It might have been different in E20 after a strong start from the Irons. An aggressive press proved to shake the visitors, with Bowen almost finding Antonio inside ten minutes.
A moment of magic from Paquetá did, at one point, give the Claret and Blue Army in attendance hope of successive home wins over Liverpool. From wide left, the No11 carried the ball inside, combined with Michail Antonio, and then found the back of the net with the stunning swish of his right foot.
But West Ham’s lead only lasted for six minutes, as Liverpool pulled themselves level. Trent Alexander-Arnold found Gakpo, who was given far too much space to look up and find the bottom corner from 25 yards. The match was level – and in stayed that way by the break.
In truth, Liverpool started to show the quality that had seen them take seven points from their last three top-flight games and score eleven goals in the process in the second half.
While the Reds had chances in the first 45 minutes, with Diogo Jota striking and then heading over the bar, West Ham thought they had gone ahead as the clock ticked past the hour.
Bowen ran onto a lovely through ball from the skipper and found the far corner, although a late VAR call for offside denied him his 12th goal of the season.
The game continued to ebb and flow under the lights, with Salah next to test the Hammers. Aguerd was again more than equal but was helpless as Liverpool took the lead with 67 minutes played.
Having escaped from the previous corner with Vladimír Coufal blocking an effort on the line, the Reds made their second corner in quick succession count. Andrew Robertson’s delivery was was met by Matip, who towered over the Hammers’ defence and found the top corner with a bullet header from close range.
In response, the Irons pushed for an equaliser, with Danny Ings and Maxwel Cornet introduced by Moyes. Cornet was quickly into the action, and stretching Liverpool’s defence, he sent a half-chance over the bar, as West Ham continued to test Alisson’s resolve.
With Aaron Cresswell on set pieces, the Hammers’ best chances looked to come from corners. A delivery from the left was met by Tomáš Souček but his header drifted over the bar.
Somehow, a late penalty appeal was waved away. Ings’ dribbled into the area and saw the ball bounce off Thiago’s arm, although referee Chris Kavanagh was unmoved by West Ham’s protests. As was VAR Neil Swarbrick.
It would prove the be the final major action in east London as West Ham once again saw fine margins fall the way of their opponents.
West Ham United: Fabiański, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell, Souček, Rice ©, Paquetá, Benrahma (Cornet 70), Antonio (Ings 70)
Subs not used: Areola (GK), Downes, Fornals, Kehrer, Lanzini, Ogbonna, Emerson
Goal: Paquetá 12
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson © (Thiago 59), Jones (Milner 83), Gakpo (Núñez 77), Jota (Diaz 59), Salah
Subs not used: Kelleher (GK), Gomez, Tsimikas, Elliott, Carvalho,
Goals: Gakpo 18 Matïp 67
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Attendance: 62,473
