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Morgan Amalfitano completes frantic West Ham victory against Liverpool Morgan Amalfitano completes frantic West Ham victory against Liverpool
(35 minutes later)
Liverpool’s period of adjustment continues to prove painful. This was a third league defeat in four, a game effectively surrendered in a frenetic first seven minutes when West Ham had been rampant as an attacking force and the visitors merely dazed and confused. The blur of tactical tweaks and substitutions thereafter never struck upon the correct blend to recover parity. If this squad is still becoming accustomed to each other’s foibles, then the actual team’s constant shape-shifting can leave them looking dizzied at times. Liverpool’s period of adjustment continues to prove painful. This was a third league defeat in four, a game effectively surrendered in a frenetic first seven minutes when West Ham had been rampant as an attacking force and the visitors merely dazed and confused.
The blur of tactical tweaks and substitutions thereafter never struck upon the correct blend to recover parity. If this squad is still becoming accustomed to each other’s foibles, then the actual team’s constant shape-shifting can leave them looking dizzied at times.
It was West Ham’s energy which held sway, with their resistance admirable once Liverpool’s desperation had whipped up late pressure and a fine third goal guided in by Morgan Amalfitano in the dying moments. Sam Allardyce fights a constant battle for acceptance in these parts, but this was an eye-catching victory to cherish, and only this club’s third in 23 league meetings with Liverpool. His own recruits are propelling his team, while Liverpool’s still strive to adapt. It was December before Brendan Rodgers’ side lost a third league game last term. Life is proving more sobering this time around.It was West Ham’s energy which held sway, with their resistance admirable once Liverpool’s desperation had whipped up late pressure and a fine third goal guided in by Morgan Amalfitano in the dying moments. Sam Allardyce fights a constant battle for acceptance in these parts, but this was an eye-catching victory to cherish, and only this club’s third in 23 league meetings with Liverpool. His own recruits are propelling his team, while Liverpool’s still strive to adapt. It was December before Brendan Rodgers’ side lost a third league game last term. Life is proving more sobering this time around.
This contest had been chaotic and unpredictable from the outset. West Ham, a team whose ambition has so often been choked by a miserable recent home record – they have won here only twice since February – had torn into their visitors from the kick-off, subjecting Liverpool to the kind of frantic early attacks more normally mustered by Rodgers’ side. They were rewarded twice in the opening seven minutes with the visitors panicked and powerless to resist. The goal thrashed through a clutter of bodies from the edge of the penalty area by Raheem Sterling, after Aaron Cresswell had blocked from Mario Balotelli, offered them a route back into the contest that had seemed implausible up to then. This contest had been chaotic and unpredictable from the outset. West Ham, a team whose ambition has so often been choked by a miserable recent home record – they have won here only twice since February – had torn into their visitors from the kick-off, subjecting Liverpool to the kind of frantic early attacks more normally mustered by Rodgers’ side. West Ham were rewarded twice in the opening seven minutes, with the visitors panicked and powerless to resist. The goal thrashed through a clutter of bodies from the edge of the penalty area by Raheem Sterling, after Aaron Cresswell had blocked from Mario Balotelli, offered them a route back into the contest that had seemed implausible up to then.
Even so, so porous was Liverpool’s rejigged rearguard that only Simon Mignolet’s saves from Enner Valencia and Cresswell kept Liverpool afloat before the break. West Ham appeared revitalised, their lineup so reinforced in a productive transfer window and their energy irrepressible at times. Their ascendance was established in midfield where Alex Song and Cheikhou Kouyaté provided the muscle to complement Mark Noble’s busy industry. Stewart Downing operated at the tip of their diamond, looking every bit the player Liverpool had once considered worth £20m when prising from Aston Villa, while Valencia and Diafra Sakho split, galloped down the channels and stretched frazzled opponents. Even so, Liverpool’s rejigged rearguard was so porous that only Simon Mignolet’s saves from Enner Valencia and Cresswell kept Liverpool afloat before the break. West Ham appeared revitalised, their lineup so reinforced in a productive transfer window and their energy irrepressible at times. Their ascendance was established in midfield where Alex Song and Cheikhou Kouyaté provided the muscle to complement Mark Noble’s busy industry. Stewart Downing operated at the tip of their diamond, looking every bit the player Liverpool had once considered worth £20m when prising from Aston Villa, while Valencia and Diafra Sakho split, galloped down the channels and stretched frazzled opponents.
The latter’s goal had been glorious, a delicate and deliberate chip arcing over Mignolet after Alberto Moreno had failed to summon a challenge. By then the hosts’ lead was already established after Downing’s free-kick beyond the far post was nodded back by James Tomkins for Winston Reid to tap in from close range. The defending at both concessions, with Martin Skrtel so ponderous on his first appearance since the loss at Manchester City last month, was horribly slack, with Liverpool scorched by West Ham’s intent. Javier Manquillo’s departure midway through the first half, a tactical switch to three at the back, felt like a mercy even if Sterling’s immediate reward hinted at a masterstroke. The latter’s goal had been glorious, a delicate and deliberate chip arcing over Mignolet after Alberto Moreno had failed to summon a challenge. By then the hosts’ lead was already established after Downing’s free-kick beyond the far post was nodded back by James Tomkins for Winston Reid to tap in from close range. The defending at both concessions, with Martin Skrtel so ponderous on his first appearance since the loss at Manchester City last month, was horribly slack, with Liverpool scorched by West Ham’s intent.
Adam Lallana was introduced at the interval for the ineffective Lucas Leiva, with the onus on Liverpool to reimpose some order on the occasion, and there was certainly more swagger to their approach play thereafter, even if anxiety in the final pass or shot tended to undermine them at the last. Sterling was a menace whether running from wide or through the centre. Balotelli, booked for an earlier foul and altercation with Adrián, forced the goalkeeper into a sharp save at his near-post while Fabio Borini was marginally off target as he sought to cap off Moreno’s twisting run, then saw Adrián spill a skimmed shot from distance. The urgency was all Liverpudlian even if the home side retained bite on the break. Javier Manquillo’s departure midway through the first half, a tactical switch to three at the back, felt like a mercy even if Sterling’s immediate reward hinted at a masterstroke.
Adam Lallana was introduced at the interval for the ineffective Lucas Leiva, with the onus on Liverpool to reimpose some order on the occasion, and there was certainly more swagger to their approach play thereafter, even if anxiety in the final pass or shot tended to undermine them at the last.
Sterling was a menace whether running from wide or through the centre. Balotelli, booked for an earlier foul and altercation with Adrián, forced the goalkeeper into a sharp save at his near-post while Fabio Borini was marginally off target as he sought to cap off Moreno’s twisting run, then saw Adrián spill a skimmed shot from distance. The urgency was all Liverpudlian even if the home side retained bite on the break.
They might have pilfered a third earlier than they did, courtesy of Valencia’s pace or Kouyaté’s leggy presence, before retreating into their shell to weather the late storm. Yet that offered little more than a point-blank header from Mamadou Sakho which was caught by Adrián. In truth, only Sterling of the visitors’ forward ranks could truly claim to have conjured a display worthy of his talent and there was more pain to endure before the end. When Sakho fluffed defensive duties with a misplaced header, Downing collected and slipped Amalfitano beyond Skrtel and the French midfielder guided his finish accurately beyond Mignolet.They might have pilfered a third earlier than they did, courtesy of Valencia’s pace or Kouyaté’s leggy presence, before retreating into their shell to weather the late storm. Yet that offered little more than a point-blank header from Mamadou Sakho which was caught by Adrián. In truth, only Sterling of the visitors’ forward ranks could truly claim to have conjured a display worthy of his talent and there was more pain to endure before the end. When Sakho fluffed defensive duties with a misplaced header, Downing collected and slipped Amalfitano beyond Skrtel and the French midfielder guided his finish accurately beyond Mignolet.