Michail Antonio’s second-half equaliser took Liverpool out of the title race after a poor run of results
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds were looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Everton in the Merseyside derby. With qualification to next season’s UEFA Champions League on the horizon, pressure was on to secure top four as soon as possible.
Ryan Gravenberch made a start in the middle of the park alongside Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister. Harvey Elliott, who has had a superb season so far, started in the front line in place of Mohamed Salah, who was benched at the London Stadium.
The Reds started well in the Capital, with Luis Diaz having the best opportunity in the first half. The Colombian winger cut inside on his strong right foot and struck a well-hit strike at the near post, hitting the woodwork.
Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring minutes before the half-time interval, with a header from a set piece that evaded everyone including Alisson in the Liverpool goal. The Hammers led, with Liverpool trailing in a game of football for what felt like the millionth time this season.
They turned it around in the second half, with an equaliser coming from the unlikely source of Andy Robertson. The Scottish left-back poked home after a well-worked counter attack to bring the Reds level.
Shortly after, Liverpool took the lead after a series of calamitous and, rather unlucky, deflections around the West Ham United backline ended up in the back of the net. It ultimately went down as an own goal from goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Unfortunately for the visitors, it wouldn’t be Areola that had the last say in this contest. Michail Antonio headed the Irons level with 15 minutes left to play. A goal that would prove to be enough to grasp a point.
After Antonio’s goal, Klopp made numerous changes in search of a late winner. One of these was Salah, who came on for Diaz. The Egyptian international wasn’t best pleased with something on the touchline involving the Liverpool manager as they appeared to have a spat.
Klopp later confirmed that the disagreement had been resolved quickly and that there was no bad blood between the two Liverpool legends.
The match finished as an entertaining 2-2 draw, with Liverpool’s title hopes all but ended at the London Stadium.
The maximum number of points the Reds can mathematically finish on is 84. That is if they beat their final three opponents this season: Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The next challenge will be Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday, 5 May. Kick-off is at 4.30pm.
West Ham United team: Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Ogbonna, Emerson, Soucek, Alvarez, Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus, Antonio.
Liverpool team: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Mac Allister, Endo, Gravenberch, Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz.
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