WEST HAM UNITED v LIVERPOOL
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2011
KICK-OFF: 1.30PM
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Final score - West Ham United 3-1 Liverpool
93 mins - Carragher lets the ball run when he thinks it should be a goal kick, but it's a corner. Before the kick can be taken, referee Halsey blows for full-time. That's more like it. West Ham are up to 18th and level on points with 19th-placed West Brom and 17th-placed Wolves. Stay tuned to whufc.com and West Ham TV for exclusive post-match reaction soon!
92 mins - Cripes! Liverpool come close twice to getting a goal back. First Green makes a sprawling save low to his left, then Suarez smashes a shot across the face of goal.
91 mins - GOAL! COLE! That'll do. Cole does superbly to hold off Skrtel. He then romps forward, takes on Carragher before belting a low shot between the goalkeeper and his near post.
91 mins - We're into the first of three added minutes.
90 mins - Cole does well to control on his chest and feed Noble. The No16 cuts inside on his right foot and shoots but Reina is there.
88 mins - Ba's race is run. Cole comes on.
88 mins - Liverpool win a free-kick midway inside the West Ham half as Suarez goes to ground. Gerrard measures it up before curling the ball too far beyond his team-mates. Goal kick.
87 mins - Liverpool fancy nicking an unlikely point here. Ngog has a pot-shot from 30 yards but it's too high and Green watches it sail into the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.
84 mins - GOAL! Former Hammer Johnson scores a goal that should never have been allowed to happen. The Hammers allow the ball to bounce inside their own penalty area before Suarez fires a low cross along the six-yard line and the right wing-back flies forward and slams the ball into the net from close-range.
82 mins - It is all Liverpool at the moment. West Ham look like they're running out of gas a little bit. The Hammers make their first change, bringing on Spector for Piquionne.
80 mins - Liverpool threaten again and Gerrard has the ball 25 yards out. Bridge does well to force him wide before Johnson hangs a high cross up for Green to collect.
78 mins - Johnson prods the ball past O'Neil and goes to ground. It's a cheap free-kick, if it is a foul at all. Suarez curls the free-kick over and Kuyt is penalised for an infringement. West Ham need to find some energy from somewhere, or perhaps make a change?
75 mins - Reina almost has a moment to forget as Noble and Jacobsen break down the right. The ball is played inside to Piquionne who shoots low left-footed. The Spain goalkeeper lets the ball spill past him. He spins and collects with the ball a couple of yards from the goal.
73 mins - A moment of respite for the Hammers as Parker intercepts and drives forward strongly. He tries to play in Ba, but the ball is just too strong and Reina collects.
72 mins - Gerrard! Shooting left-footed on the half-volley from 25 yards. Green tips over. The corner is cleared.
70 mins - Liverpool pressing for an opening inside the West Ham half. First Tomkins gets in a toe to deny Suarez inside the box. Moments later, Ngog drives into the box but Jacobsen is there to make the challenge and Parker clears.
69 mins - Gerrard makes a trademark run into the box and receives the ball. He shoots powerfully but Parker had worked back and blocks the shot.
68 mins - Hitzlsperger has a chance on his left foot this time, but again it's too high from 25 yards. The Hammers could do with a third goal here and they are certainly marginally on top at the moment.
66 mins - Bridge gets past his marker and wins a corner off Johnson. Noble crosses and Piquionne is completely free six yards out, but can only glance his header wide of the far post.
65 mins - West Ham come forward and Noble and Parker are involved before Jacobsen runs at the back four. The space opens up and he shoots, but the ball flies past the angle of post and crossbar.
64 mins - Noble's corner is claimed easily by Reina. Ngog takes on the West Ham defence and wins a corner, which is cleared for a throw by O'Neil on the far side.
62 mins - The second corner is punched clear by Liverpool. The Reds come again but Kuyt's cross is an easy catch for Green. The goalkeeper sends West Ham on the counter. Piquionne's low cross is cleared to O'Neil, whose shot hits Wilson on the knee and flies wide. Corner.
61 mins - The Reds are still a threat, though as Suarez works space on his left foot and lets fly from an angle Green soars to his left and claws the ball behind for a corner. Great save. The first corner is headed behind by Upson.
60 mins - Liverpool have got plenty of attacking players on and it is leaving gaps at the back. West Ham keep the ball well and Piquionne has loads of space to collect wide on the right. He beats one and lays the ball back to Hitzlsperger, who rifles a shot high over the crossbar.
57 mins - Gerrard comes forward down the right and crosses, but Upson is there again to cut it out. Noble then stays calm to complete the clearance and West Ham break forward. Ba collects and holds off Johnson, but his shot is blocked.
55 mins - West Ham come again and Hitzlsperger side-steps a defender before shooting RIGHT-footed. It hits a heel and loops behind for another corner. Hitzlsperger sends over a delicious corner and Piquionne rises high, but the ball is somehow blocked and hacked clear. Close!
54 mins - The noise level goes up again as Bridge crosses and Wilson has to head behind for a corner. Hitzlsperger to take... It is taken short to Noble, but his cross is easily headed clear.
52 mins - Piquionne and O'Neil have switched wings. I think it's because Johnson is now playing right wing-back. Ba gets forward down the middle and shoots powerfully left-footed. The ball flashes a yard wide of the post.
49 mins - Meireles is replaced by Ngog. Another positive change from the Reds manager.
48 mins - Tomkins has to head Gerrard's cross over his own crossbar. The corner is into the near post and Ba heads clear.
47 mins - Meireles might not last too much longer here. He is limping.
46 mins - West Ham get the second half underway...
Half-time score - West Ham United 2-0 Liverpool
48 mins- That's half-time.
45 mins - GOAL! BA! O'Neil crosses from the right and Ba dives and directs a fantastic header into the top right-hand corner. That was another fine goal from the Hammers. Ba has been a livewire this afternoon. He has literally chased every loose ball and anticipated a lot of flick-ons and passes from his team-mates.
43 mins - Kelly is replaced by Joe Cole! An attacking move from Kenny Dalglish.
42 mins - Liverpool break through Kelly down the right but the full-back over-runs the ball before grabbing his hamstring. It looks quite serious as the youngster is down and needs treatment. My guess would be Aurelio will come on and Johnson will switch flanks.
41 mins - Noble shoots but his effort dips wide of the left-hand post. I think Reina had it covered anyway.
40 mins - Liverpool get up a head of steam as Gerrard runs across the face of goal and finds Kelly. The right-back cuts on to his left foot and shoots but Green is there to collect low to his left. West Ham break and Leiva fouls Hitzlsperger 30 yards from Reina's goal.
37 mins - Bridge crosses from deep again and Ba wins the header. The ball drops to O'Neil, whose shot is blocked by Wilson. The midfielder then fouls the Scot.
35 mins - Another penalty shout as Piquionne goes down in the box. Mr Halsey gives handball against the striker and Liverpool have a free-kick. Moments earlier, Suarez had gone down under a challenge from Tomkins. The referee was again unmoved.
34 mins - Jacobsen and Noble work down the right wing and win a throw. The ball is cleared by Noble, who crosses for Ba. The No21 goes to ground under a challenge from Carragher, but referee Halsey waves his arms.
32 mins - West Ham are not controlling the tempo of the game. Another patient spell of possession ends with a throw deep in Liverpool territory, but it comes to nothing. However, the men in claret and blue are looking fairly confident on the ball. When they haven't got it, they are allowing the Liverpool players no time and space.
29 mins - We've got an attendance already - 34,941. West Ham are pushing for a second but Parker is called for a foul on Leiva inside the Liverpool half.
26 mins - So close to a second. Piquionne works some space inside the right channel and fizzes a low cross along the six-yard line. Ba slides in at the far post but the ball is just in front of him.
24 mins - Liverpool win a corner and Ba heads clear before haring upfield and forcing Carragher to turn the ball behind. The corner is cleared and Liverpool break through Suarez. He plays the ball to Kuyt who shoots from 25 yards, The net billows, but thankfully it's the side-netting.
22 mins - GOAL! PARKER! West Ham's goal of the season so far, surely. The Hammers keep the ball for an age. Bridge and Upson work the ball wide right for Jacobsen, who finds Parker. He plays one-twos with two players - the second of whom is Hitzlsperger - before poking an inch-perfect shot past Reina's outstretched right hand and into the far corner. Fantastic goal.
20 mins - Half a chance as Hitzlsperger spins away from a Bridge throw and feeds Parker. The No8 rolls a ball through for Piquionne, but the angle and pace are a bit wrong and the ball rolls harmlessly out for a goal kick.
18 mins - Upson goes in strongly on Kuyt to smash the ball out for a throw. The skipper has looked strong on his comeback, while new signing Suarez has hardly had a kick.
16 mins - This game hasn't really caught light yet. Both sides are probing away but most of the play is in the midfield third of the pitch so far.
14 mins - Meireles crosses and Johnson rises high and powers a header goalwards, but Piquionne is there to block before hacking upfield.
13 mins - Noble receives a throw from Jacobsen and takes on Johnson, who blocks his cross behind for a corner. Hitzlsperger to take left-footed. It is dangerous but cleared and Liverpool break. Kelly crosses towards Gerrard at the far post but Hitzlsperger slides in well to clear behind for a corner.
12 mins - Mr Gold will be pleased to see Green hold a low shot from Meireles from the edge of the penalty area.
11 mins - The club have sent their best wishes to Chairman David Gold, who is in hospital today being treated for cholangitis and septicaemia. The Board and all at the club's thoughts are with the Chairman, who is watching the game on television.
9 mins - Liverpool have some good possession down their left before Meireles is well challenged by Tomkins, who clears to O'Neil. Good alert defending from the youngster.
7 mins - Skrtel goes in the book for bringing down a rampaging Piquionne. The Frenchman was away down the left until he was crudely upended by the Slovakian defender. Bridge's free-kick is cleared and Liverpool try to break but Jacobsen is able to stretch and head the ball safely back to Green.
6 mins - Hitzlsperger is snapping away at Gerrard in midfield. He's not giving the England man a moment's peace.
5 mins - Trademark Gerrard, picking out the run of Meireles with a right-foot ball from the halfway line. The Portuguese can't direct his header on target though.
3 mins - Bridge lifts a cross diagonal into the penalty area and Piquionne recovers the ball before laying back to Parker, who beats one man before conceding a throw. West Ham quickly win the ball back and Hitzlsperger lets fly from 25 yards, but he can't beat Reina.
2 mins - A first chance for Liverpool as Johnson cuts in from the left and tries to lift a pass over the top for Gerrard, but it's too strong and Green collects on the bounce.
1 mins - West Ham have started 4-1-4-1 with Piquionne wide on the left of midfield.
1.31pm - Kuyt and Suarez kick-off...
1.29pm - I think West Ham will line-up with a 4-1-3-2 formation. Parker will shield the defence, with O'Neil, Noble and Hitzlsperger ahead of him. Referee Mark Halsey, who recently recovered from a tumour in his throat, walks Jonjo to the touchline and we're nearly ready to go.
1.26pm - Here come the two teams, led by captains Steven Gerrard and Matthew Upson. Liverpool are in their change strip of white shirts, black shorts and black socks, while West Ham are in claret and blue shirts, white shorts and white socks. I understand the Reds will be employing a 3-5-2 formation today, with Danny Wilson joining Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel in the centre of defence. Martin Kelly and Glen Johnson are the wing-backs.
1.25pm - The Liverpool fans give Jonjo a good round as he passes the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand. Incidentally, Sir Trevor joined Stephanie Moore to see him off at Wembley on Friday morning. The Boleyn is full to bursting this afternoon. The game is a sell-out and the atmosphere is going to be electric, despite the early kick-off time.
1.20pm - SBOBET, the club's Principal Partner, have presented Jonjo and his mother with a weekend away in the Isle of Man - where SBOBET are based - in recognition of their efforts. A nice gesture. Jonjo is introduced to the crowd and then heads off on a lap of the pitch. He is given a proper East End welcome as he strolls around the pitch.
1.15pm - Congratulations to Jonjo Heuerman, the nine-year-old has successfully completed his walk from Wembley to the Boleyn Ground this weekend in time for kick-off. Jonjo has raised more than £12,000 for the Bobby Moore Fund in memory of the West Ham great and his grandmother, who both passed away after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. To make a donation to this worthiest of causes, log on to www.justgiving.com/fornannyandbobby
12.40pm - West Ham hand a Barclays Premier League debut to Thomas Hitzlsperger, who makes his 100th Premier League appearance. Matthew Upson also returns after recovering from an achilles problem, while Frederic Piquionne replaces Carlton Cole in attack. Winston Reid also drops to the bench. For Liverpool, Steven Gerrard is fit and captains the Reds, but Daniel Agger and new signing Andy Carroll are not involved.
12.35pm - Team news! See below...
Hello and welcome to the Boleyn Ground for what promises to be a mouth-watering Sunday lunchtime Barclays Premier League fixture between West Ham United and Liverpool.
The Hammers go into this afternoon's game full of confidence, having scored eight goals in their last 135 minutes of competitive action - a stirring three-goal league comeback at West Bromwich Albion being followed by Monday's 5-1 FA Cup Sponsored by EON fifth-round victory over Burnley.
Should the Hammers win by three goals again today, they would leapfrog Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion and Wigan Athletic into 17th place in the table. However, West Ham have not beaten Liverpool by three goals since a 3-0 home league win on 10 May 1995.
Unfortunately, the match has come too soon for Robbie Keane (calf) and long-term absentees Jack Collison and Peter Kurucz (both knee).
Three points for Liverpool would take the Reds to within two points of fifth-placed Chelsea, although the Blues would have two matches in-hand on Kenny Dalglish's side.
Dalglish's return to management in January has coincided with an upturn in form for Liverpool, who are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions. The Reds have won five and drawn three of those matches, conceding just three goals in the process.
West Ham United: Green, Jacobsen, Tomkins, Upson, Bridge, O'Neil, Noble, Parker, Hitzlsperger, Ba (Cole 88), Piquionne (Spector 82)
Subs: Boffin, Reid, Da Costa, Boa Morte, Hines
Liverpool: Reina, Kelly (Cole 43), Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher, Wilson, Leiva, Meireles (Ngog 49), Gerrard, Kuyt, Suarez
Subs: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos. Spearing, Poulsen, Maxi