Liverpool vs. West Ham result, highlights & analysis as Nunez and Alisson earn win

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ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL — Darwin Nunez ensured Liverpool’s Premier League revival continued as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over West Ham.

The Reds built on an important weekend victory over champions Manchester City as their Uruguayan striker netted a first-half header.

Things should have been more comfortable given the hosts’ general dominance of the game, however, they were ultimately left indebted to goalkeeper Alisson Becker for the three points.

The Brazilian’s first-half penalty save from Jarrod Bowen and a brilliant late stop from Tomas Soucek at close range proved key to the victory.

Liverpool vs. West Ham result

  1H 2H FT
Liverpool 1 0 1
West Ham 0 0 0

Goals

LIV – Nunez (22nd min)

MORE: Andy Robertson: Liverpool ‘brilliant’ against Man City, but it will mean nothing without Premier League consistency

Alisson shows off ‘other’ side

After Alisson set up Mohamed Salah in Liverpool’s win over Manchester City last time out, Andy Robertson was happy to describe his teammate as “the best goalkeeper in the world.”

But it is not just the occasional assist that has earned the Brazilian such status; he is remarkably good at every facet of goalkeeping in the modern era.

As much was evident in his performance this evening, which featured not only a penalty stop but a crucial late save that secured the Reds all three points.

Quite where they would be this season without him is hard to fathom, and supporters will be glad they do not have to find out.

Important night for chaotic Nunez

With Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz sidelined until after the World Cup, Nunez is going to have to give up on any ideas of a gentle introduction to life at Liverpool.

Fortunately, the Uruguayan is starting to show that he can be a key man now, and this evening’s performance summed up why.

Nunez remains a touch rough around the edges in deeper positions – Roberto Firmino he is not.

But the confidence with which he took his headed goal and then hammered the post with a left-footed effort from distance shortly after showed he is going to be a major threat going forward.

Klopp gets away with tough subs call

Were this match to be taken in isolation, then it would be fair to say that Jurgen Klopp nearly threw the game away with his subs.

Liverpool missed Thiago Alcantara’s control, Nunez’s threat in behind, and Fabio Carvalho’s invention when all three were taken off around the hour mark.

However, that they ultimately went on to win the game means Klopp will surely feel that those changes were a risk worth taking.

With injury problems growing again, the German cannot afford to lose any more of his stars in the weeks ahead, and that was clearly his motivation in switching things up here.

Perhaps such risks will go against him in future but, for tonight, the Reds boss will be happy with how things played out.

Liverpool vs. West Ham live updates, highlights from Premier League clash

FULLTIME: All over at Anfield and Liverpool claim all three points thanks to Darwin Nunez’s first-half header.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker certainly deserves his share of the plaudits, though, after making two crucial stops (one from the spot) to keep the Reds in front.

88th min: What a save!

Alisson keeps Liverpool in front as a desperate stop with his knees thwarts Soucek from close range after the ball had fallen to the West Ham man following a scramble. 

85th min: Liverpool just trying to see this out now but West Ham looking to get Antonio or Scamacca away at any opportunity.

A nervy finish awaits for the hosts.

78th min: Liverpool hit the bar!

Zouma stretches to cut out a low Henderson cross and is fortunate to see it clip the top of the bar after a bounce over Fabianski. 

74th min: West Ham enjoying a really good spell here and putting Liverpool under some pressure with balls into the box in blustery conditions.

They’ve also just brought on Antonio, who will be a threat from those types of deliveries.

63rd min: Henderson breaks in behind and pulls back to Firmino but Cresswell does brilliantly to get a block on it.

Liverpool will be desperate for the cushion of a second goal.

57th min: An early triple sub for Liverpool as Nunez, Carvalho and Thiago make way, with Elliott, Jones and Fabinho replacing them.

53rd min: West Ham enjoying their best spell of possession in the match so far but they’re struggling to make anything of it, as shown by Johnson crossing straight out of play after patient build-up.

David Moyes wasn’t happy about that one.

46th min: Back under way at Anfield with Liverpool attacking the Kop end.

HALFTIME: West Ham have a late corner but it comes to nothing and, thanks to Alisson and Nunez, Liverpool go in with a one-goal lead.

45th min: SAVED!

Alisson dives to his right and keeps out Bowen’s spot-kick, which you have to say was neither in the corner nor stuck with real venom. 

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42nd min: Penalty to West Ham!

Joe Gomez makes a clumsy challenge on Jarrod Bowen in the Liverpool box and after Stuart Atwell takes a second look at the VAR screen he awards a spot-kick.

The Reds defender can have few complaints over that one.

40th min: So close to a second for Liverpool and Nunez.

The big striker brings down a headed clearance and lets fly with his left and is so unlucky to see a fine effort come back off the post. He can certainly strike a ball with either foot.

34th min: Liverpool really knocking it about now and causing West Ham problems – they look like a team who have their mojo back after beating the champions.

They’ll have to do better than their latest attempt, however, which sees Mo Salah shoot well over from the edge of the box.

25th min: Watch Nunez open the scoring at Anfield.

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22nd min: GOAL! Liverpool have the lead!

Tsimikas picks out a beauty of a ball from the left-hand side and it’s a perfect header from Nunez, who gets in front of Kehrer and nods the ball into the deck and over Fabianski.

15th min: The first real chance of the match goes to Liverpool, with Nunez forcing Fabianski into a fine save with a left-footed drive from distance.

The Uruguayan hit that well on his wrong foot.

10th min: A strong start from Liverpool, who have had West Ham penned in since pretty much the first whistle.

No major chances, though, and the Reds have just had an early reminder of the threat of Bowen on the break after he raced onto a ball in behind but couldn’t make anything of it.

1st min: West Ham get the game under way through Jarrod Bowen. 

15 mins before KO: A chilly evening here at Anfield and the atmosphere slightly subdued in comparison the madness of Sunday’s game.

Could West Ham capitalise on that?

30 mins before KO: A big night for Darwin Nunez, this.

The Uruguayan has scored goals since his big-money move to Anfield but he has yet to nail down a starting place thanks to a feeling that his contribution to build-up play needs some work. 

Can he stake a claim with Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota sidelined until after the World Cup?

1 hour before KO: Team news is in!

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Henderson, Thiago, Salah, Firmino, Carvalho, Nunez.

West Ham: Fabianski, Johnson, Zouma, Kehrer, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Downes, Fornals, Bowen, Scamacca.

100 mins before KO: Jurgen Klopp has paid tribute to the power of Anfield in his programme notes, writing: “Wow! When Anfield is like it was on Sunday it is the most incredible place.

“If it didn’t exist, someone would have to invent it because that kind of passion is what football was made for.”

120 mins before KO: Welcome to Anfield where Liverpool are hoping to prove that their victory over Manchester City here last time out was no flash in the pan.

MORE: Premier League top goal scorers 2022-2023: Updated golden boot rankings

 

Liverpool vs. West Ham lineups

Jurgen Klopp makes five changes to Liverpool’s line-up for the visit of West Ham, with the absence of Diogo Jota (calf) the only one enforced upon him.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas return in the full-back positions, while Jordan Henderson comes in in central midfield.

Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho are given further chances to prove their worth in a new-look forward line.

Liverpool lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Djik, Tsimikas — Henderson, Thiago – Salah, Firmino, Carvalho – Nunez

Subs: Kelleher, Milner, Jones, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, Clark, Robertson, Elliott, Phillips.

David Moyes is dealt a blow with loss of Lucas Paqueta, who misses out on the squad entirely, but there is an opportunity for youngster Flynn Downes to make a start in central midfield.

Michail Antonio starts on the bench and could be an important option if the Hammers are chasing a late goal.

West Ham lineup (4-3-3): Fabianski (GK) — Johnson, Kehrer, Zouma, Cresswell — Downes, Soucek, Rice — Bowen, Scamacca, Fornals.

Subs: Areola, Emerson, Coufal, Coventry, Lanzini, Antonio, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Randolph.

How to watch Liverpool vs. West Ham

  UK USA Canada Australia
TV channel — — — —
Streaming Amazon Prime Video Peacock fuboTV Optus Sport

UK: This is one of the select Premier League matches to be shown on Amazon Prime this season. Subscribers can watch for no additional fee, while there is also a free 30-day trial for those without subscriptions.

USA: Select matches are televised on USA Network (English) and Telemundo or Universo (Spanish), and all three channels can be streamed on fuboTV. The rest of the matches are streamed on NBC platform Peacock for subscribers.

Canada: Every Premier League game streams live and on demand exclusively via fuboTV.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream matches live and on demand on Optus Sport. 

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