Match Verdict
First things first…if anyone had told me I’d have been unhappy coming away from Anfield with a draw before this season started I’d have laughed ’em out of the place.
Having said that, but for a series of Darren Randolph saves we wouldn’t have done – the bloke was superb – our clear man of the match who kept us in the FA Cup.
Personally, I’d give him the replay on the 9th or 10th of February because but for him there wouldn’t be one taking place at the Boleyn.
The other West Ham turned up at Anfield today. There was little attacking impetus in a match which at times felt far too friendly with both sides seemingly intent on giving each as much space as they needed to have a go.
Yet we were never able to find that killer ball or penetrating ball and watched Liverpool pounce on most second balls. Thank God they were incredibly wasteful and Randolph was so impressive.
Even the two managers were engaging in conversation which saw them erupting in laugher. Nothing wrong with that I guess but you began to wonder whether we might have been better off in the old Liverpool Empire theatre. It really was that kind of game.
Liverpool had the lion’s share of it but saw the majority of their shots fly wide or well over the top despite testing Randolph into a triple save at one point from Benteke and Allen.
And the No 2 – only playing because Adrian was allowed the weekend off to welcome his new baby – pulled off another couple from Teixeira.
With Payet having rare off day and Valencia misfiring up front we rarely looked likely to get a win but as the old saying goes: If you can play badly and not get beat you ain’t a bad team.
Special words for Winston Reid and Michail Antonio who came on as a late sub and made things happen but this was another day Alex Song and Victor Moses will want to forget.
The replay is actually set for February 9 unless it becomes a TV match in which case it will be played on Wednesday the 10th
Why the deafening silence on the certain penalty we never got. In the Guardian commentary (which by the way I find the best commentary available) they even checked the replay and stated it was a clear penalty
If the ref or other officials don’t see it they can’t give it . Simple as that . Bad luck written all over it .. But I didn’t see any West Ham players protesting ,, they didn’t see it either . We all saw it on television replays but the the ref doesn’t have quadruple vision .
We were lucky to come away with a score less draw . And as you rightly say , Hugh , if it wasn’t for Randolph we would licking our wounds . No point in talking about missed chances because percentage wise Liverpool should have gone through tonight . BUT THEY DIDN’T . We are in the hat for Monday night’s lottery . We should win the replay ( pretty definitely televised ) on the 10th with Liverpool having such a tight game schedule . The big concern is our constant injury epidemic . We weren’t great tonight , but we toughed it out by shear determination . ( don’t forget we were at Anfield in the cup ,, not easy by any stretch ) Just happy to see Bilic and West Ham taking the FA Cup seriously .
bet MOTD don`t make a big thing out of the double hand ball. The ref was bang in line with it but Atkinson is always terrified to make crucial decisions. Especially for the away side. He let some bad tackles from behind go unpunished early on but then started giving fouls for much lesser offences. never the less we should still have nicked it . hey ho who would have thought it.we are gutted we ain`t won at anfield. can`t wait for the replay. Hopefully they play their first team we will beat `em then. Fair play to their kids. COYI X
The club seem to think it’s on the Tuesday as they are already selling tickets.
I was certain the BBC would want to televise this….
The “other” West Ham?
What the one that doesn’t have a soft underbelly anymore with 1 defeat in what 12?
I could be wrong but we had at least 3 key players missing today plus another 2 early injuries and a geezer returning after hardly kicking a ball.