Jarrod Bowen felt West Ham United deserved more than to suffer a cruel late blow in defeat at Liverpool on Sunday.
The Irons looked set to be taking a point home from a spirited, enterprising performance at the league leaders, when Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s 86th-minute cross forced an own goal off Reds defender Andrew Robertson.
That cancelled out Luis Díaz’s 18th-minute opener and finally saw the Hammers breach the home rearguard, after Alisson had superbly denied Mohammed Kudus - touching his chip onto the bar - and Bowen himself when saving one-on-one.
But the visitors were to be denied at the death when Virgil van Dijk headed home from a corner, leaving a rueful skipper to reflect on a performance that merited more than it got.
“It was a really good second-half performance,” Bowen said. “You come to Anfield, they're top of the league by ten points, it's not going to be easy and we suffered with that early on.
“They got the goal and then by the end of the first half, I think we started to play a little bit, got a bit more bravery, a bit more confidence with the ball.
“We had a couple of half chances here and there. We had a chance with the corner at the end of the first half and then I think we just grew into the game as the game went on.
“We worked all second half to get back into the game and felt we were in a really good position at 1-1, but then a set-piece has undone us at the end.”
Graham Potter’s men forced eleven shots on the home goal, as they threatened becoming just the fourth side to leave Anfield with points this season.
That pleased Bowen, as the Irons found balance between defence and attack with their performance, although they came up against a goalkeeper in fine form in Reds stopper Alisson.
“We had chances,” he continued. “I had a chance when the keeper comes out and smothers it and it hits him on the head.
“I think the only thing I could have done [differently] was shoot for his legs. Obviously, it's easy when you slow it down, but as soon as I made the run, Lucas [Paquetá] found me. I had my touch, he was in front of me and [in that moment] I think the chip over him was the only thing.
“I think if he moves his head out of one way or the other, it might go in, but those are the fine margins. He's one of the best keepers in the world.
“It was disappointing to lose today but I think we can take some real good things from our performance.”
