Liverpool 1-0 West Ham United: Sadio Mane earns narrow win for Reds

Sadio Mane’s first-half aim was sufficient to present Liverpool victory over West Ham at Anfield and transfer them again inside three factors of Premier League leaders Manchester City.

The Hammers’ frustrations have been compounded by the lack of in-form Jarrod Bowen to what appeared like a big harm, the ahead helped off the pitch and down the tunnel following a collision with former Hull team-mate Andy Robertson.

Five days earlier than the Europa League last-16 first-leg journey to Sevilla, it was not what supervisor David Moyes wanted.

Liverpool had possibilities to increase their lead, with new signing Luis Diaz significantly spectacular.

However, with the title race as it’s, victory was all that mattered. And now Liverpool followers are within the uncommon place of hoping for a United victory in Sunday’s Manchester derby at Etihad Stadium.

Dazzling Diaz

Life may need been far much less irritating for Liverpool’s followers had Mohamed Salah taken the first-minute probability that got here his approach, as a substitute of firing straight at goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

At occasions, Liverpool’s assault is so quick and fluid it’s inconceivable for opposition defences to manage. And in Diaz, their £37.5m January arrival from Porto, they’ve a participant that matches that template completely.

The Colombian produced a wonderous piece of ability to create an early probability for himself which he drove into Craig Dawson’s face.

Diaz then got here shut twice within the second half too, with the primary of these significantly spectacular in the best way he manipulated Mane’s move right into a scoring probability that went narrowly huge. When he was changed within the closing minute of harm time, his standing ovation was totally deserved.

In the tip, although, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exact low cross created the one second that mattered.

The England man’s sixteenth help of a stellar season was certainly one of his finest, leaving Mane to show dwelling his fourth aim in 5 video games from shut vary.

Hammers worries

West Ham have misplaced 70 league matches towards Liverpool, have now gained as soon as at Anfield in 52 makes an attempt, and Moyes is with out a win in 66 away league video games towards Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, so maybe the end result of the match was not a shock.

But the Scot will however surprise how his facet didn’t capitalise on some wonderful possibilities.

Arguably Fornals had the very best when he was put by by Bowen simply earlier than the break, however as a substitute of making an attempt to beat Alisson in a traditional method, he lofted a chip over the Brazilian that lacked tempo and Alexander-Arnold was in a position to get again and clear.

Lanzini then undid all his good work in creating house on the sting of the world by blazing over with solely Alisson to beat, whereas within the closing phases Michail Antonio was bearing down on aim solely for Naby Keita to get again to disclaim him.

Those frustrations have been solely compounded by the lack of Bowen, who was closely tipped to make Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the friendlies towards Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

Moyes, clearly, will likely be extra involved about that journey to Sevilla and along with sweating on Bowen’s health, should hope skipper Declan Rice has recovered from the sickness that stored him out of this sport in time to be obtainable.

Player of the match

DíazLuis Díaz

West Ham United

1. Squad quantity9Player titleAntonio

2. Squad quantity28Player titleSoucek

3. Squad quantity10Player titleLanzini

4. Squad quantity1Player titleFabianski

5. Squad quantity20Player titleBowen

6. Squad quantity3Player titleCresswell

7. Squad quantity15Player titleDawson

8. Squad quantity16Player titleNoble

9. Squad quantity8Player titleFornals

10. Squad quantity31Player titleJohnson

11. Squad quantity11Player titleVlasic

12. Squad quantity51Player titleChesters

13. Squad quantity22Player titleBenrahma

14. Squad quantity4Player titleZouma