Liverpool held at West Ham in another blow to fading title hopes

Liverpool suffered one other blow to their dwindling Premier League title hopes as Michail Antonio’s late header snatched a 2-2 draw for West Ham United at London Stadium.

Jurgen Klopp’s aspect disillusioned in Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat in opposition to Everton, with Jarrod Bowen’s aim and help on his 2 hundredth look for West Ham inflicting additional ache for the Reds.

Along with his sixteenth Premier League aim of the season, Bowen moved degree with Paolo Di Canio for probably the most objectives scored by a West Ham participant in a single season within the competitors, set in 1999/00 by the Italian.

Liverpool responded effectively to Bowen’s first-half opener, edging forward by way of Alphonse Areola’s personal aim after Andy Robertson’s Forty eighth-minute leveller, just for Bowen to tee up Antonio’s headed equaliser 13 minutes from time.

The draw leaves Liverpool two factors behind leaders Arsenal forward of the Gunners’ assembly with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and one behind Manchester Metropolis – who’ve two video games in hand on the Reds – whereas West Ham stay eighth.

How the match unfolded

A tepid opening befitted two sides struggling for type as each didn’t carve out any gilt-edged alternatives.

Liverpool needed a Twenty seventh-minute penalty for Angelo Ogbonna’s sort out on Cody Gakpo and, although an offside name in opposition to Luis Diaz silenced these appeals, that passage livened the sport up.

Harvey Elliott’s curling shot was held by Areola after Vladimir Coufal went shut on the different finish, earlier than Diaz blasted a low strike in opposition to the West Ham goalkeeper’s right-hand publish.

Bowen noticed a deflected shot parried behind by Alisson however the West Ham winger headed Mohammed Kudus’ left-wing supply into the far nook from the ensuing set-piece two minutes earlier than the break to place West Ham in entrance.

Ryan Gravenberch flashed a robust half-volley over instantly after the interval – and West Ham didn’t heed that warning signal.

Diaz minimize inside from the left to seek out Robertson earlier than a slight deflection off Lucas Paqueta noticed Areola caught off-guard because the left-back discovered the bottom-left nook through the publish.

Gravenberch arrowed a shot narrowly broad earlier than one-way visitors lastly paid dividends halfway by way of the second half when Gakpo’s miscued effort from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s nook pressured Areola to show into his personal internet after a deflection off Tomas Soucek.

Alisson stored his aspect forward with a exceptional stretching cease to thwart Emerson’s volley, but the Liverpool goalkeeper was powerless when Antonio headed into the top-right nook from Bowen’s right-wing cross.

Elliott nearly snatched all three factors within the 89th minute however his dipping shot discovered the highest of the crossbar somewhat than the right-hand nook from lengthy vary.

Reds falter as soon as once more

Underneath Klopp, Liverpool have received extra Premier League video games solely in opposition to Crystal Palace (13) than West Ham (12).

But the visiting Reds faltered as soon as extra as what seemed to be a promising season continues to unravel in disappointing vogue for Klopp’s remaining marketing campaign.

Having threatened an unlikely quadruple firstly of March, Liverpool now require a minor miracle – and slip-ups from Man Metropolis and Arsenal – to muster a slight shot on the title.

Bowen on goal however West Ham battle at residence

Bowen had already discovered the web within the Premier League and EFL Cup in opposition to Liverpool this season and have become simply the second West Ham participant to attain in three completely different video games in opposition to the Reds in a single marketing campaign – after Geoff Hurst in 1964/65.

His well-taken headed opener eased the nervous residence crowd, but this draw leaves West Ham with just one win from their final 9 Premier League residence video games.

That regarding residence type could also be what prices David Moyes’ aspect a better end. The Hammers path seventh-placed Newcastle United by 4 factors, regardless of the Magpies taking part in one recreation fewer.

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Subsequent Premier League fixtures

Key info

Liverpool have received simply one in every of their final 5 Premier League video games (D2 L2), preserving only a single clear sheet of their final 14 matches within the competitors.

Liverpool have gone 1-0 down in 16 completely different Premier League matches this season. Certainly, it’s the joint-most video games they’ve conceded first in a single league marketing campaign underneath Jurgen Klopp (additionally 16 instances in 2022/23).

Jarrod Bowen grew to become the primary participant to achieve 20 objectives in a season in all competitions for West Ham since each Teddy Sheringham and Marlon Harewood did so in 2004/05.

Following objectives in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen, Crystal Palace and Liverpool at the moment, Michail Antonio has scored in three consecutive video games for West Ham in all competitions for the primary time since August 2021. He has 5 Premier League objectives in opposition to Liverpool, solely netting extra in opposition to Spurs, with six.