Liverpool solve West Ham 3-1 as Darwin Nunez scores sensational winner

Here’s Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, via the BBC:

“In moments very good. Tough opponent. I had a long talk before the game with David [Moyes], fantastic guy. It’s obvious how good a team or squad West Ham has now and they can cause each team problems. They did it with us today. We tried to control the game and create chances and that’s pretty tricky you have to be consistent to deal with setbacks.

“Super goals. Love them and really, really good performance and mature performance. That’s it, really happy for today.”

Mohamed Salah’s the key, as he often (always?!) is, but there are no passengers on the day as Alisson made some big saves, Joe Gomez played well at right back, and Alexis Mac Allister had one of his best days in the shirt.

West Ham’s midfield was up for it but Michail Antonio struggled apart from his role in the goal. The Thursday-Sunday ask looked a lot for the Irons to handle this week.

Liverpool vs West Ham player ratings (fotmob.com)

The Irons were pesky but Liverpool at home is back to looking like Liverpool at home.

Mohamed Salah was great, Darwin Nunez scored a special goal, and Alexis Mac Allister was at home in the midfield three.

Liverpool finishes with 3.06 xG (to West Ham’s 1.11) and out-attempts the visitors 22-11 while keeping 64 percent possession.

There can be no questions about where the three points should live after this one, and Liverpool always seemed likely to have the better depth after both teams played Thursday in the Europa League.

Klopp’s pushing the right buttons again.

Virgil van Dijk heads a corner kick back to the near post, where a sea of bodies awaits the ball.

Joe Gomez can’t reach it but Diogo Jota can, slapping home from inside the six for a 3-1 lead and in all likelihood three points.

Liverpool has a good hold of this one but it’s still just a one-goal game.

Jurgen Klopp opts for fresh legs in attack, as the goal scorer Nunez exits along with Luis Diaz. Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota are into the fray, and Ryan Gravenberch had replaced Curtis Jones a few minutes back.

West Ham also has Mohammed Kudus and Pablo Fornals in search of an equalizer as Michail Antonio and Tomas Soucek make way.

2-1 Liverpool.

Darwin Nunez gets it over the line, and this one’s going to count for sure.

It’s a fantastic connection between Alexis Mac Allister and Nunez, one that recalls Bruno Fernandes’ fantastic finish off Jonny Evans long pass on Saturday for Liverpool’s rivals Manchester United.

From closer range, Mac Allister spins a chip over the top of the West Ham back line and an airborne Nunez flicks the outside of his boot to push the ball beyond the reach of Alphonse Areola.

Sensational stuff, and Liverpool deserves its 2-1 lead.

Liverpool keeps pushing the pace, and West Ham is fine with it.

We’ve had chances at both ends and there’s reasonable hope for more goals as these European combatants grow weary after Thursday affairs.

No subs yet from Jurgen Klopp nor David Moyes, as names like Benrahma, Jota, Cornet, Gakpo, Ings, Elliott, and Kudus hope to change the game.

Curtis Jones has his ball in the goal but is just offside, then Darwin Nunez has a shot saved by Alphonse Areola.

Liverpool will have to wait for the second half to find a breakthrough.

The Reds have been very dangerous, leading xG 1.52-0.60 and taking 10 shots, but their only goal has come from a Mohamed Salah won-and-converted penalty.

West Ham’s goal was pretty, and the Irons have managed seven shots. You’d have to say Liverpool has been the better side but West Ham’s right there.

1-1.

Really good effort and desperation from West Ham has led to 1-1.

Oh, and a special header.

Michail Antonio lunges to poke a 50/50 ball wide to a marauding Vladimir Coufal.

The Czech defender curls a pretty cross into the heart of the 18, and Jarrod Bowen dives to turn the ball inside the far post before it can hit the turf.

What a bit of technique. 1-1.

It could’ve been 2-2 after 20 minutes but things settled down a bit for both West Ham and Liverpool at Anfield.

That’s when Luis Diaz took an entry pass and laid off to Salah for a left-footed rip.

It bounds wide of Alphonse Areola’s far post and West Ham will feel relieved to see the scoreboard stay 1-0 to Liverpool.

As Mo goes, so goes Liverpool.

The Egyptian makes his way to the penalty spot, where he touches beyond Nayef Aguerd and goes tumbling over the defender’s leg.

Salah hammers home his spot kick and the Reds have a 1-0 lead over West Ham.

What a save by Alisson Becker.

The (arguable) best keeper in the Premier League gets low as the visitors’ Tomas Soucek turns a header on goal off a clever bit of play up West Ham’s left.

Alisson’s paw saves the ball before it gets to the line, sending it out for a corner. West Ham can’t do anything with it.

And moments later, Michail Antonio is close for the Irons but his header of a Soucek cross is way off the mark and bounds wide.

Shots, quite literally, fired. But 0-0

It is West Ham who have had a few chances early on and have started brightly. Didn’t really expect that.

Mohammed Kudus goes to the bench, and Said Benrahma is there, too, as David Moyes goes defense first aside from his three big counter weapons in Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen, and Lucas Paqueta.

No surprises for Liverpool, who is still without Trent Alexander-Arnold and will see Joe Gomez at right back.

West Ham United injuries

OUT: Aaron Cresswell (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Jarrod Bowen (illness)

Liverpool injuries

OUT: Thiago Alcantara (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Trent Alexander-Arnold (hamstring)