Five goals in the ‘against’ column : Somehow, though, this didn’t seem a capitulation unlike the Chelsea match. For long periods West Ham were competing and shoulda’, coulda’ scored a couple. Only at about 75 minutes did the match get away from us.
A disallowed goal, several penalty shouts, missed chances but certainly until Salah came onto score Liverpool’s third and Alvarez getting dismissed for a second, pointless yellow, the Hammers were closing down, competing, creating opportunities and looking again like a team with a plan and a sensible formation.
Important to see Todibo get through 90 minutes but he looked far from the finished article. Turning his back to ‘take cover’ from a ball heading at him for the fifth goal is unforgivable – take it in the face, if necessary, Dawson style. Don’t duck. That worries me because it is instinctive, not thought-controlled.
Crysencio Summerville looked a threat all night and had a couple of excellent interplays with substitute Antonio. Carlos Soler – I think a first start – looked fit and certainly capable in midfield. No ‘overwhelm’ in the middle of the pitch this week- not until Alvarez departed anyway.
It was indeed a torrid night for Vlad Coufal who was overwhelmed in an unequal duel with Liverpool’s Gakpo. Without Wan Bissaka we do look vulnerable on the right hand side and Cresswell on the left was similarly given the run around. None of this came as any surprise to anyone who’d seen the team announced an hour before the game: Our second string left and right backs against some of the fastest forwards, at Anfield? Trouble ahead there.
When the fourth and fifth goals went in right at the end, the contest had long gone, but strangely, there was no despair tonight for me.
Alvarez has to learn not to lunge when he’s on a yellow card- how utterly brainless was that? I’d be fuming if I was his team-mate or his coach right now. That score would have been 3-1 or 3-2 if we’d finished with 11 players. More about that later today.
What did I take from that game – perhaps a sense that when our best 11 come together with a sensible 4 -3-3 or similar formation, this Hammers side will do fine. (I’m aware that this sounds ostrich-like bearing in mind the score.)
Onto Brentford, forget the Carling Cup. Let’s start getting some points on the board.
The weakened side did well 1-1 at half time. However this is where the manager shows similarities to Moyes in not substituting players at half time, seemingly influenced by the score line.
In addition, how many times in games do you see Areola and Fabianski save the ball then quickly run out to the edge of the area to throw out to a team mate only to find players strolling around the pitch. This needs to be corrected.
We lost??
Thanks Martin,
I wholly agree with you.
Firstly, West Ham at Anfield, 1 win in 60 years and we got smoked there last year, so the moment the draw was made, I expected that the EFL Cup won’t be coming to London Stadium this season.
As usual at Anfield, Liverpool have the luck of the Leprechauns, or the poor officiating of Andy Madley and no VAR
Overall, I thought there were a number of positives to take from West Ham. They certainly seemed more active, cohesive and interested, even if scoring seemed like a mythical creature of the imagination to them.
Liverpool hit on the counter at super speed, and West Ham playing a high line with a back 5 including 3, 30 somethings and a newbie against track star front line, there was going to be goal opportunities.
After the 3rd and Alvarez, it was a lost cause.
Disappointed with a classless Liverpool exercise of ramping up the score in extra time, long after the game had been won, but what would I expect from the least classy outfit in football.
Onwards to Brentford.
thanks Brian, we will sit in our ‘optimism huddle’ as all the world around us seem to lose their sh@@ this morning. .. safe in the knowledge that we’ve seen it all before from our claret and blue split-personality team.. looking forward to the ‘upside’ when it comes!
I’m with you Martin. I came away from Anfield thinking this is the best performance this season (admittedly leaving on 81 mins as I had an hour walk back to my accommodation and little battery left on the mobile!).
We looked a team for the first time, particularly in the second half and if we had taken our chances or given any of the penalty shouts the result could have been very different. You could tell we were doing well by the noise, or rather lack of, from the home support, again particularly in the second half.
Jimmy looks better and better, Bowen was back near his best, the midfield was competitive despite Soler still not being up to speed with English football (but does look a good footballer)
That all said, unless the results start coming confidence will further decrease and JLo will be waving goodbye.
Well I really feel for the fans that where there last night
This is worse than Moyes at least he got a few results there was 11 headless chickens and a Rooster in the dug out again and none of them new what they where doing. Awful, Disgraceful Unacceptable. Clearly the manager isn’t fit for the job
Should have bought a left back/cbk and striker.
Many teams get caught out with Liverpool’s very quick counter attacking, something whu should try.
Gakpo on left flank caused numerous problems coupled with Salah and then losing Alvarez was last straw.
Some players need to keep their legs shut nutmegs are becoming a norm.
One positive at least they didn’t concede within first 10 minutes which has become a trait.
Ads on this site take a priority and are crap you need to activate a blockage.
Martin’s mention of Craig Dawson reminded me that he is still establIshed !n the Wolves lineup and, yes, he would have faced up to everything thrown at him last night.
Vlad Coufals positioning was really poor throughout the match the worst game he’s played often in two mind’s whether to stay wide with his winger or cover his central defenders. Alvarez is a liability gives away needless free kicks and gets booked far to often. Biggest problem is the manager has centered his defense around Kilman but he’s only average at best, not international class and definitely not an elite defender which for £40m you’d expect. Can’t see with the player’s available how this is fixable as Mazropanous is also poor. Didn’t think we would be challenging for European places but equally didn’t expect us to be in the bottom six! Conceding goals and not scoring goals the other end is a major issue. Impressed with Soler’s post match interview honest appraisal of the current situation a win would make a whole world of difference.
How long before we invite Moyes and Stuart Pearce back to save us from relegation?
Hear hear…