West Ham United 1-0 Liverpool
Mark Noble held his nerve to fire in a last-gasp penalty that gave West Ham United a richly-deserved victory and ended a seven-match losing streak against Liverpool.
Jamie Carragher's added-time foul on Freddie Ljungberg gave the England U21 midfielder the chance to seal a dramatic late victory and he made no mistake. Although they went agonisingly close in 2006's epic FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium, West Ham United had also come into this latest encounter without a victory over Liverpool in their previous eleven meetings.
Having gone nine games unbeaten since mid-December, Rafael Benitez's sixth-placed side had dispatched Havant and Waterlooville with a 5-2 win at Anfield on Saturday. The Liverpool boss made eight changes following that faltering 5-2 win - with Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torrres among the big names returning to the lineup, while former Hammers midfielder Yossi Benayoun kept his place after a hat-trick.
West Ham United's last win over the Merseysiders came courtesy of Trevor Sinclair's lone strike back in November 1999 but, sitting in tenth spot, Alan Curbishley had every right to feel confident that his unchanged team - with the fit again trio of Dean Ashton, Matthew Etherington and Nolberto Solano also on the bench - could turn the tide following their 1-1 draw at Manchester City ten days ago.
It was the reshuffled Reds, who looked more dangerous in the early stages as Torres tried his luck with a hopeful grass-cutter in the opening seconds before Benayoun sent a rising effort over. Then, on 18 minutes, with the linesman's flag staying down, Torres raced clear from halfway only to be thwarted by Robert Green's perfectly timed charge.
With Anton Ferdinand gradually getting the measure of Liverpool's £27m marksman, West Ham United visibly grew in belief as Luis Boa Morte fired over after the ball was frantically scrambled off Lee Bowyer's toes. Then the relieved Reina could only stand and stare as the impressive Noble's inswinging left-wing free-kick was nodded on to his own crossbar by Xabi Alonso.
Five minutes before the interval, Fabio Aurelio hauled down the fleeing Ljungberg at the expense of a yellow card and, as West Ham United began to shade an absorbing first half on points, Reina's timely punch cleared the ball off the head of toiling lone-striker Carlton Cole to keep it goalless at the break.
Just after the restart, Ljungberg just could not connect with ever-present George McCartney's cross and then Boa Morte scuffed wide from six yards to the frustration of the claret and blue fans amongst the sold-out crowd of 34,977. That was the cue for both Etherington and Ashton to enter the fray at the expense of Bowyer and Boa Morte for a final half-hour that saw the home side revert to a more attacking 4-4-2 formation.
Benitez immediately responded by bringing on Lucas for Harry Kewell, who had also got little joy out of the other Lucas - fellow Aussie Lucas Neill. The Brazilian substitute soon fired just past the base of Green's right-hand post and, midway through the half, he strolled on to Gerrard's square pass, before shooting over the home keeper's left-hand angle.
After Gerrard uncharacteristically sent an 18-yarder high and wide, Torres was booked for dissent before Benayoun was replaced by Ryan Babel. With the game ebbing and flowing as it moved into the final quarter-hour, both Cole and Ljungberg went close before Neill, at the far past, sent his shot crashing into the boards. Torres was also thwarted by the outstretched leg of Green.
Jonathan Spector came on for the final ten minutes to stifle Gerrard as Cole departed to deserved applause. West Ham United reverted back to a 4-5-1 formation and a goalless draw, by now, looked the only realistic outcome. But with just seconds of the three added minutes remaining, the breaking Etherington had other ideas. He picked out Ljungberg inside the box, and referee Alan Wiley had no hesitation in pointing to spot when he fell under Carragher's challenge. Ice-cool, Noble did the rest with a low, spot-kick beyond the outstretched left arm of the diving Reina.
Click here for the official team sheet