Stubborn Hammers denied Liverpool, keeping them at bay in an entertaining goalless draw at Anfield. Brendan Rodgers' men will see it as two points dropped rather than one point won in their challenge for European qualification. West Ham meanwhile can be happy after fighting on and coming out of this fast-paced clash with a point easing their relegation concerns.
The guests' keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and defender James Collins deserved to share the man-of-the-match award for me with two brilliant, stubborn and solid performances all round by both men, keeping their side in the game throughout.
Anfield remembered the Hillsborough 96 before kick-off with a minute of silence. The home side settled into the game quickly after a sloppy start with fowls and giveaways.
Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge were all denied again and again by Jaaskelainen an the Hammers' back line in a high-pace and action-packed first half.
The second half continued in similar fashion, Sam Allardyce's men keeping the Reds out and eventually threatening to nick something out of this game with Kevin Nolan proving a regular threat and thorn in Liverpool's eyes.Jack Collison came closest when he saw his header cleared off the line by Lucas Leiva with only a couple of minutes remaining.
Both sides battled on and blocked each other out till the final whistle, but the stats don't lie.
The Hammers had the more and harder work to do to hold on to the draw, frustrating the Reds, who remain in seventh, three points behind their local rivals Everton in sixth.
West Ham meanwhile drop to 12th on 37 points, six points clear of the drop zone and three points away from the magical survival line of 40 points.
They haven't won at Anfield in half a century! The gladder they can be with the point!
Liverpool v West Ham:
Liverpool: 25 Reina; 3 Jose Enrique, 5 Agger, 23 Carragher, 2 Johnson; 21 Lucas, 8 Gerrard; 10 Coutino, 14 Henderson (11 Assaidi - 71.), 19 Downing (15 Sturridge - 26.); 7 Suarez. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 Jones, 16 Coates, 30 Suso, 33 Shelvey, 37 Skrtel.
West Ham: 22 Jaaskelainen; 17 O'Brien (booked 85.), 19 Collins, 5 Tomkins (18 Pogatetz - 83.), 20 Demel; 32 O'Neil, 21 Diame; 7 Jarvis, 4 Nolan (14 Taylor - 62.), 12 Vaz Te (10 Collison - 62.); 9 Cole. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 13 Henderson, 11 Maiga, 29 Chamakh, 33 Potts.
1st & 2nd Half Stats:
Liverpool-West Ham
Attempts: 6-8 & 11-4
On target: 3-0 & 4-1
Offsides: 2-0 & 2-0
Corners: 6-1 & 7-1
Free kicks: 1-3 & 4-4
Possession: 84%-16% (16.), 66%-34% (HT), 75%-25% (57th min), 65%-35% (FT)
Sky Stats:
Tackles/Success: 18-28788.9%-86.2%
Passes/Success: 597-314/82.2%-64.6%
Crosses/Success: 21-15/9.5%-40%
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Man of the match: James Collins
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