LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER 2013
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MICHAEL OLIVER
FULL AUDIO COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Final score - Liverpool 4-1 West Ham United
94: That's it. The final whistle is blown. Thanks for joining us. West Ham had a sniff at 2-1 down with 15 minutes to go, but Suarez put any hopes of snatching an unlikely draw to bed. West Ham are now just above the bottom three on goal difference ahead of Crystal Palace. We'll have reaction from Anfield on all platforms soon. Don't forget, our in-form U18s will be in FA Youth Cup action at Accrington Stanley on Tuesday evening. We'll have live commentary on whufc.com. Thanks again for joining us.
93: Liverpool are looking for their second 5-1 home win in four days. Collins clears Kelly's cross to avoid that happening, but Liverpool aren't quite finished yet.
92: Collins is booked for bringing down Coutinho. The Brazilian collects the short free-kick from Lucas and fires in a dipping shot that Jaaskelainen holds on to.
91: Into the first of three added minutes.
90: Suarez fires the ball across the goal and Collins nearly turns it in for another own-goal! West Ham somehow clear through Demel and the follow-up shot flies over the top. Liverpool have now had 30 shots.
89: Apparently, that might have been an O'Brien own-goal. If it was, that might have been the fourth own-goal of the game! It would also take Suarez's record down to an ordinary eleven goals in five home games.
88: Maiga runs the ball down the left and Taylor wins a throw. Oh, no he doesn't, because the ball hits him again on the way off. It's been one of those days.
87: Suarez has 12 goals in five home games at Anfield in the Barclays Premier League. That is ridiculous.
85: If I could fast forward the final few minutes I would. Suarez tries to go around Jaaskelainen and complete his hat-trick, but he runs out of pitch.
84: Goal! Suarez again. He twists and turns and loses Noble before shooting. The ball flicks off O'Brien's shoulder and the underside of the bar, leaving Jaaskelainen with absolutely no chance. You have to feel for the Hammers fans away to my left. Nothing has gone right for them today. Even the trains back to London are delayed due to problems at Watford. Taylor is on for Jarvis.
82: Nolan is sent-off for a late tackle on Henderson. Replays show the captain put his boot into the midfielder's calf. He can't have any complaints about that. The armband is passed to Noble and Nolan trudges off down the tunnel.
81: Goal! It won't matter now. Suarez has his goal, heading in powerfully at the far post from Johnson's superb cross. The ball looped over Collins' head and the No7 smashed his effort into the net. That's that. Shame, as West Ham had given themselves a chance of snatching something.
80: Into the final ten minutes and the away fans are calling for Carlton Cole.
78: Diame slides a ball through for Jarvis, but he cannot control properly and is crowded out. That was a decent chance to get a shot on goal. Flanagan is replaced by Kelly after Noble has been penalised for handball. The home fans around us are getting a bit twitchy. Can the Hammers play on their nerves? Demel wins a throw deep inside the Liverpool half. Demel and Cole combine, but the latter's cross is too close to Mignolet.
77: Martin Kelly is being readied by the Liverpool coaching staff.
76: Nolan is down on the edge of the box after being caught by Lucas. Nothing given by the referee but that was a foul.
75: Joe Cole over-runs the ball and flies into a challenge with Allen. He catches the No24 on the ankle and is booked. No complaints from Cole.
73: West Ham have found some belief. Noble crosses and Skrtel heads away. The ball drops to Diame, who drives a shot a few yards wide from 25. The visiting fans start a chorus of 'Come on you Irons!' behind the goal. Can the Hammers pull an amazing point out of this?
71: West Ham have a corner! The big guns are going forward. O'Brien and Diame keep the ball alive. Diame's shot is blocked and Collins volleys goalwards. It's going wide and Maiga cannot convert at the far post. Head in hands for Big Sam. Sterling is replaced by Victor Moses.
70: Liverpool have resumeed their bombardment of the West Ham penalty area, but they cannot find a way through on this occasion.
67: Liverpool won't like that. Sterling crosses low and O'Brien clears for a corner. The ball is headed out but the game has to be stopped for an injury to Henderson. That gives me time to reflect on that goal out of nothing. Nolan did well to control a high ball and ran to the right edge of the penalty area. He then found Demel, who cut back onto his left foot and crossed to the far post. Jarvis headed the ball back towards the centre of goal and Skrtel was on the stretch to poke the ball past a helpless Mignolet.
66: GOAL! Unbelievable. That's drastic! Demel crosses from a pass from Nolan and Jarvis heads the ball back across goal. Skrtel sticks out a foot and pokes the ball past Mignolet!
65: We've had two more blocked shots as Collins gets in the way of efforts from Allen and Coutinho. I'm afraid to say it, but the final whistle cannot come soon enough at present. Something drastic needs to happen to turn the tide out there.
63: This cannot go on. Allen cuts the ball inside for Sterling, whose first-time shot is brlliantly kept out by Jaaskelainen diving low to his left. He can't hold it and O'Brien puts the ball behind. The corner is cleared, but West Ham cannot get out of their own half.
62: They are literally having chance after chance, Liverpool. Henderson's clever cut-back finds Sterling, who screws high and wide from 12 yards. Moments later, Suarez loses Demel and crosses low across the face of goal.
60: Suarez chops his way past McCartney and O'Brien slides in to concede a corner. It's all Liverpool at present. Maiga heads the Coutinho corner clear but it's not gone for long. First Skrtel beats his man and cuts the ball back for a Sakho shot that is blocked by Nolan. The ball spins to Flanagan, whose follow-up is also blocked and Jaaskelainen collects the bouncing ball.
58: Jarvis loses out to Johnson and Liverpool attack again. Coutinho cuts in from the left side of the box and tests Jaaskelainen with a low shot. The Finn parries and the loose ball just eludes Henderson following up.
56: Gerrard is replaced by Lucas. At the same time, Joey O'Brien is on for Tomkins. George McCartney goes to centre-half alongside Collins. O'Brien goes to left-back.
55: Tomkins and Noble get in a mess and Suarez benefits. He finds Gerrard and Collins has to make a superb sliding block. Gerrard has done his hamstring here and he'll need to be replaced. He signals immediately to the bench. The corner is repelled but Liverpool get the ball back to Coutinho, who slams a shot high and wide.
53: West Ham counter and Diame has space to run into centrally. He could go on his own, but he tries to thread a through ball in for Cole. Unfortunately, Sakho reads his intentions and intercepts with his left foot.
50: Skrtel needs some treatment before the corner. When Gerrard takes it, Suarez wins the header, but it's straight at Jaaskelainen.
49: Sterling takes on McCartney and shoots low towards the near post. He gets plenty behind it and Jaaskelainen does well to divert the ball behind for a corner. West Ham haven't started since half-time.
47: Goal! That's probably that. Tomkins fouls Suarez. Gerrard takes the free-kick to the far post, the ball eludes Demel, Sakho basically mis-kicks it and the ball bounces high and towards the roof of the net. Collins tries to clear but smashes the ball into his own crossbar and it ends up in the net. Seriously.
46: We're back under way. Downing is replaced by Joe Cole at the break.
Liverpool are first out of the tunnel after the break. Just before we get back underway, our loanees are in action. Pelly Ruddock's Luton are 4-0 up at Alfreton in Conference National, while Jordan Spence's MK Dons are 0-0 with Dover in the FA Cup second round.
Half-time score - Liverpool 1-0 West Ham United
46: West Ham have a corner as Flanagan heads Jarvis' cross behind. Downing's corner is headed clear as far as Jarvis, whose first-time shot is blocked. Collins tries to lob it back in, but Liverpool stand firm. Noble concedes a corner and that's half-time. Today's attendance at Anfield is 44,781. The goal itself was rather unfortunate, and Demel could do nothing to get out of the way of the ball. Liverpool did get better as the first half wore on, but even then, the own-goal was very harsh on the visitors. Big Sam's side have had their moments, most notably when Maiga's header was pushed aside by Mignolet. For the Reds, Suarez has looked the most likely, while Sterling should have got his name on the scoresheet. Join us again in 15 minutes for the second half.
44: Suarez should make it 2-0. Sterling wins the ball, beats Collins and nods the ball forward for the No7, who has a clear sight of goal 18 yards out. He gets it horribly wrong, though, volleying high and wide.
42: Goal! An own-goal from Demel. Nolan loses possession. He claims a foul. Nothing is given. Johnson heads down for for Suarez, whose shot is parried by Jaaskelainen, hits Demel and trickles into the net.
41: Coutinho plays in Sterling and he is in. He pokes his shot wide.
40: What a chance that could have been! McCartney wins the ball back and it's three against three. He finds Jarvis, who fizzes an outstanding cross along the face of the Liverpool goal. For some reason, Maiga stops his run six yards out and the chance is lost.
39: West Ham are being forced back onto the edge of their own box. Liverpool pass side to side before Gerrard's shot is blocked. Coutinho tries next time and somehow West Ham hold on.
36: Downing gets into space and loses Flanagan. His cross is right-footed and headed out as far as Jarvis. His poke towards McCartney is not strong enough and the left-back loses out to Sterling.
35: Suarez is caught offside from Coutinho's pass. The Liverpool fan sat about two yards from my right doesn't agree - loudly. A replay shows Suarez was offside.
33: Big Sam said yesterday that one of Suarez's great strengths is that he never stops running. He is right. The No7 is everywhere, in midfield, out wide and up front. This time it is Sterling who is the furthest forward, but his left-foot shot is weak and an easy hold for Jaaskelainen.
31: So, half-an-hour gone and it remains goalless, somehow. Liverpool are having more of the ball as you might expect, having enjoyed 62 per cent of possession. Shots-wise, Liverpol have had seven to two, but each team has had one effort on target - Maiga for West Ham, Suarez for Liverpool.
29: Johnson into Sterling, who finds Coutinho 30 yards out. The Brazilian, sporting a nifty haircut, sends his shot well wide of the left-hand post.
27: Good covering from Demel this time as he tracks the run of Henderson and brings the ball away before conceding a throw. Liverpool try to benefit from it by finding Suarez again, but he is crowded out and the ball makes its way through to Jaaskelainen.
26: Good chasing from Jarvis and Downing produces a throw when Mignolet overhits his pass for Flanagan. Demel thros in for Diame, who passes the ball straight out of play.
25: Suarez collects from Gerrard and shoots from 25 yards. The ball hits Tomkins and bounces away for a corner. Henderson takes and Nolan heads powerfully clear for a throw.
24: Collins is penalised for fouling Suarez, but there looks to be nothing in it. Why would he foul Suarez when they are battling for a high clearance? Anyway, after a talking to from Michael Oliver, Collins resumes his position and the game re-starts with a home free-kick.
21: So close for Maiga! Collins nips in confidently again and finds Jarvis. His cross finds the head of Maiga, who expertly glances it on and forces a fantastic save out of Mignolet. Superb effort from the No11. The Belgian fingertips the ball aside for a corner. From the corner, there is another scramble but Liverpool survive.
20: Jaaskelainen holds a low right-wing cross from Johnson this time, having seen the same player seen his initial centre headed away by Tomkins.
19: Collins finds Demel, who holds off Henderson as he brings the ball away. A foul is given on the Ivorian. Collins lofts it into the box and Nolan is whistled for a foul.
16: What an open game this is. Henderson collects a pass from Suarez, cuts inside and shoots. The ball hits Suarez, who has continued his run. He is not offside, but thankfully the ball squirts wide.
14: Downing's delivery is headed clear, but West Ham win it back as Liverpool threaten to counter. Diame has a shot that is deflected wide. Mignolet catches the corner and sends Sterling away. He crosses and Henderson is there at the far post. I think it is Demel who somehow diverts the ball over the top. Gerrard's corner is cleared.
13: Good. Diame robs Flanagan and wins a throw. Diame then finds Demel, who is fouled as he buccaneers past two Liverpool defenders outside the penalty area. Downing...
12: The West Ham fans get a laugh and applause from the home fans for a jovial song about Luis Suarez's form.
10: Downing finds Diame inside and he threads a ball between Sakho and Flanagan for Maiga. It looks as if the No11 is in on goal. He slides and tries to apply the first-time finish, but the ball eludes him. Replays show it was just too strong from Diame. Liverpool break immediately and Henderson finds Suarez. He is onside again, but Jaaskelainen is equal to his shot, saving comfortably low to his right.
9: Best football of the match so far as Liverpool build-up steadily from right to left before Flanagan checks and finds Suarez. He tries a chipped effort into the far top corner, but it's off target and floats wide.
7: Henderson could be crucial for Liverpool, finding space between the West Ham back four and midfield three. He is there now, spinning and finding Johnson in space. The ex-Hammer runs at McCartney and crosses right-footed, but it's too strong and bounces away for a goal kick.
6: It's an open game so far. Jarvis crosses from the left and Sakho heads clear. End to end!
5: Johnson's header finds Henderson. Suarez beats the offside trap and looks to be away. Collins does brilliantly to get back into position and stop the No7 as he tries to cut inside. Henderson handles and West Ham have a free-kick.
4: Noble delivers to the heart of the penalty area. A West Ham head flicks on and Tomkins battles for possession, but he's flagged offside.
3: Liverpool attack for the first time and it's that man Suarez. He wins a corner off McCartney, but the Gerrard delivery is cleared as far as Downing on the edge of the box. He clears a bit further and forces Henderson back before the Hammers steal possession. Downing is involved again, winning a free-kick ten yards inside the Reds half.
2: Downing works a crossing position and crosses left-footed to the far post. West Ham have three men in the middle but it's just too high for Jarvis, whose header skims behind.
1: Decent start from the Hammers, who have the ball inside the Liverpool penalty area. Downing wins the header and Maiga forces a throw. From it, Downing collects from Demel.
3pm - The Reds kick-off. West Ham are attacking The Kop end of Anfield.
2.58pm - A minute's applause is being held in memory of Nelson Mandela, the South African President who died at the age of 95 this week.
2.54pm - Our loanees are also in action today. Jordan Spence starts in the FA Cup second round for MK Dons against Dover Athletic. Pelly Ruddock is in midfield for Luton Town at Alfreton Town in the Conference National. Here come the two teams at Anfield...
2.52pm - We take you behind the scenes on our social media platforms. You can find the links above to our Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram accounts, where you can find photos, video, competitions and much more!
2.47pm - The two teams have headed back inside, while the substitutes are still out doing some shooting practice. I read that Big Sam has tasted victory in three of his 19 managerial battles with Liverpool. He has won here as a manager, in a League Cup fourth-round tie on 3 December 2003, 3-2 courtesy of a last-minute penalty from Youri Djorkaeff. Kevin Nolan got involved too, coming on as an injury-time substitute for the French match-winner. A repeat of that result would go down rather well.
2.45pm - Just to get you in the mood for today's game, we've got a few stats to give you some optimism! West Ham have not won in their last 40 visits to Anfield, losing 29 and drawing eleven. In our last 28 visits combined, we have scored six goals. Records and runs are there to be broken and ended, of course!
2.05pm - Today's team news is in... Liverpool have decided not to drop Luis Suarez after his indifferent performance in midweek, unfortunately. On a serious note, West Ham make four changes, with O'Brien, Rat, Morrison and Carlton Cole being replaced by Demel, McCartney, Jarvis and Maiga. Just one change for Liverpool, with Daniel Agger missing out through illness. His place goes to France FIFA World Cup Play-Off hero Mamadou Sakho.
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, McCartney, Collins, Tomkins, Noble, Diame, Nolan (c), Downing, Jarvis, Maiga
Subs: Adrian, O'Brien, Collison, Diarra, C.Cole, J.Cole, Taylor
Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan, Allen, Gerrard (c), Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez
Subs: Jones, Aspas, Moses, Cissokho, Lucas, Kelly, Alberto
1.30pm - Reading today's Official Programme here at Anfield, where Kenny Dalglish has just paid a visit to the Press Room. Steven Gerrard writes that today's game 'won't be straightforward as West Ham will be difficult opponents'. He says Liverpool will have to 'battle West Ham in every department if we are to win the game' and that our '3-0 win at Tottenham shows what we're capable of'. Let's hope the Reds' No8 is right!
Introduction
Good afternoon and welcome to Merseyside for today's Barclays Premier League fixture between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield.
You do not need me to tell you that the Hammers have not got a great record at this famous stadium - my Dad was 17 when we last won here and he is now 67...
While West Ham were disappointingly beaten 1-0 at Crystal Palace on Tuesday, Luis Suarez bagged four ridiclous goals in Liverpool's 5-1 victory over Norwich City here 24 hours later.
One statistic that will hearten Sam Allardyce, his players and the 2,000 or so Hammers fans who have made the trip to the North West is that West Ham have the joint-best away defensive record with leaders Arsenal so far this season, having conceded only five goals on their travels this year.
To counter that, Liverpool are the Premier League's great entertainers of the season so far and are yet to play out a goalless draw in any of their 14 league matches to date. They sit fourth at kick-off, while West Ham are 17th.
Suarez's midweek salvo took his tally for the season to 13 goals, making him the league's top-scorer, but he is not a one-man team. Liverpool have been dominant on home soil, winning six of their seven Barclays Premier League matches at Anfield this term.
Team news-wise, Big Sam will be without Andy Carroll (foot), Winston Reid (ankle), Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) and Mladen Petric (calf). Ravel Morrison is suspended after being shown his fifth yellow card of the season at Crystal Palace in midweek. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will be without England striker Daniel Sturridge (ankle).
Before we announce the teams at just after 2pm, feel free to enter either of our two Twitter competitions - #WHULINEUP and #WHUGOAL