Slaven Bilic is hoping to build on the 2-0 win over Liverpool
Slaven Bilic highlighted the team effort as the key behind the Hammers’ 2-0 win over Liverpool, the first double over the Reds in 53 years.
A goal either side of half-time, both headers, a diving effort from Michail Antonio before a typically bullish finish from Andy Carroll sealed the victory.
Reflecting on the win, the Hammers eighth of the campaign, Bilic said: “It was a great way to start the New Year, Liverpool are a team that everyone wants to beat, so this win is great for the fans.
“We won 2-0, the scorers will probably grab the headlines, but it was a real team effort, the scorers are the cherry on top of the cake.
“It is a great achievement to beat Liverpool twice, everyone is buzzing, but particularly to do it at home, in front of our fans is a very good feeling which we will feel for several days.”
Having netted his second winner in as many games, Carroll’s all-round performance was a particular highlight.
Looking ahead to the Hammers’ FA Cup third round tie with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, Bilic said he hoped his number nine could maintain his form over a number of games: “Everything Andy did today was good, defending, holding the ball up, I think every ball Adrian put up he got, and we put up quite a few.
“Now he is fit, it is all about him. He needs to train hard every day and work hard to improve. Then, and only then, will he become a great asset for us, it is up to him.
“He has all the quality to be in the England squad in the Euros, of course. I don’t want to talk about the national side too much. Does he have the quality? Of course, he just needs to perform like this over a series of games.”
Another stand out performer for the Hammers recently has been James Collins. The Welsh international has barely put a foot wrong, and put in another dominating performance against Liverpool.
Bilic continued: “James Collins has been excellent recently, every game he has been superb. He is good on the ball, good without it, he is not afraid of the ball, he is not afraid to push up.
“Of course, physically people are afraid of him, he is very dominant in the air, he is just a great centre-back, maybe in the form of his life.”
A goal either side of half-time, both headers, a diving effort from Michail Antonio before a typically bullish finish from Andy Carroll sealed the victory.
Reflecting on the win, the Hammers eighth of the campaign, Bilic said: “It was a great way to start the New Year, Liverpool are a team that everyone wants to beat, so this win is great for the fans.
“We won 2-0, the scorers will probably grab the headlines, but it was a real team effort, the scorers are the cherry on top of the cake.
“It is a great achievement to beat Liverpool twice, everyone is buzzing, but particularly to do it at home, in front of our fans is a very good feeling which we will feel for several days.”
Having netted his second winner in as many games, Carroll’s all-round performance was a particular highlight.
Looking ahead to the Hammers’ FA Cup third round tie with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, Bilic said he hoped his number nine could maintain his form over a number of games: “Everything Andy did today was good, defending, holding the ball up, I think every ball Adrian put up he got, and we put up quite a few.
“Now he is fit, it is all about him. He needs to train hard every day and work hard to improve. Then, and only then, will he become a great asset for us, it is up to him.
“He has all the quality to be in the England squad in the Euros, of course. I don’t want to talk about the national side too much. Does he have the quality? Of course, he just needs to perform like this over a series of games.”
Another stand out performer for the Hammers recently has been James Collins. The Welsh international has barely put a foot wrong, and put in another dominating performance against Liverpool.
Bilic continued: “James Collins has been excellent recently, every game he has been superb. He is good on the ball, good without it, he is not afraid of the ball, he is not afraid to push up.
“Of course, physically people are afraid of him, he is very dominant in the air, he is just a great centre-back, maybe in the form of his life.”