WEST Ham United could not end their 42 year hoodoo at Anfield,
going down 2-0 to Liverpool through goals from Xabi Alonso and Bolo
Zenden.
Pards was forced into one change from the team that beat
Middlesbrough 2-1 at Upton Park, David Bellion who impressed on
Carling Cup duty against Bolton replacing hamstring victim Bobby
Zamora.
Yossi Benayoun overcame a hamstring injury to play, while Nigel
Reo-Coker was named captain of the side. Matty Etherington and
Anton Ferdinand also shook off knocks to start.
Pards changed the system in the absence of Zamora, switching
Benayoun into the centre of a three-man midfield and fielding
Bellion on the right.
As expected, a magnificent Anfield atmosphere greeted the players
at kick-off, with a noisy section of travelling Hammers adding to
the passion inside this famous stadium.
West Ham United wore their new white and dark blue away kit for the
first time in a competitive fixture against the Reds and attacked
the Kop end in the first-half.
Hammers started the game brightly in search of their first win at
Anfield since September 1963. But it was the home side with the
first threat on goal Djibril Cisse firing venomously wide of Shaka
Hislop's goal.
West Ham were more than holding their own until the 18th minute
when a fine Xabi Alonso strike gave Liverpool the lead.
A corner from the left was flicked away at the far post by
Reo-Coker, but the ball dropped straight at Alonso's feet and
the Spaniard promptly curled home a wonderful effort from 20 yards,
beating Hislop to the goalkeeper's left.
Hammers looked to hit back straight away and Benayoun very nearly
embarrassed Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina when he seized on a
careless pass and hit a first time shot that the keeper scooped up
comfortably.
Hammers were rarely second best against their hosts, Luis
Garcia's stinging shot which Hislop saved comfortably the
Reds' only other real chance of the first-half.
At the other end, Hammers showed plenty of willing without really
breaking through a resilient Reds defence and went in trailing 1-0
at the break.
HT: 0-1
Hammers made a lively, competitive start to the second-half but
again it was Liverpool posing the goal threat, Steve Gerrard
hitting a 20 yard shot on the turn that whistled just past
Hislop's left-hand post.
On 57 minutes Paul Konchesky came to West Ham's rescue with an
excellent goal-line clearance. From a corner the ball dropped to
Liverpool centre-half Sami Hyypia 12 yards out and his fierce
volley was well-blocked by the full-back at the right-hand post.
Approaching the hour mark Pards introduced Jeremie Aliadiere in
attack to replace his compatriot David Bellion.
With 65 minutes gone Hammers needed the intervention of Anton
Ferdinand to prevent Luis Garcia a run at goal, and moments later
Pards sent on Teddy Sheringham in place of Etherington much to the
displeasure of the home crowd.
Still Liverpool came forward though, Morientes should have done
better than head straight at Hislop having out-jumped Ferdinand at
the far post.
On 70 minutes another jinking run from Garcia opened up the Hammers
defence and Alan Pardew's men needed an excellent one-handed
save from Hislop to keep them in the game after a fierce drive from
the Spanish winger.
As the match entered the final 15 minutes Hislop was needed again,
this time to make a brave block at the feet of Morientes.
With 10 minutes left Pards rolled his final throw of the dice,
bringing on James Collins to make his Premier League debut in place
of Tomas Repka.
Collins went up front in the hope of turning the game back West
Ham's way. But two minutes later Liverpool substitute Bolo
Zenden all but ended Hammers chance of taking something from
Anfield.
Zenden broke away down the Hammers right and bearing down on Hislop
fired an angled drive across the goalkeeper and in off the far post
to make it 2-0.
Roared on yet again by a magnificent army of travelling fans, who
maintained their support right up to the final whistle, Hammers
fought hard to find a way back into this game.
In midfield, Nigel Reo-Coker led by example, driving his team on.
But there was to be no comeback as Liverpool held firm to inflict
only West Ham's second away defeat of the season, Alan
Pardew's side going down 2-0 at Anfield despite a performance
that deserved better.
LiverpoolTeam NameWest
Ham United2Goals07Shots on target ( Inc Goals )18Shots off
Target (inc woodwork)22Blocked Shots010Corners Won516Total Fouls
Conceded133Offsides72Yellow Cards00Red Cards051%Possession49%