Liverpool 0, West Ham 0: Another chance wasted to go clear at top

Dec 1 2008

Liverpool again wasted a chance to take a commanding lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League as brave West Ham produced a minor miracle of their own at Anfield.

It is 45 years since they have won at this stadium, so this first point in nine years at Liverpool was a fine achievement.

West Ham have never been known for their defensive reliability at Liverpool, but they were magnificent as they stretched an unbeaten run to three games.

At the back goalkeeper Robert Green, England defender Matthew Upson and Welshman James Collins stood defiant.

And another Welshman, former Liverpool man Craig Bellamy, came close to breaking the deadlock with a 30-yard shot which crashed against a post.

Liverpool are back on top of the table, but by only one point, and this disappointing display follows hot on the heels of an identical result achieved by Fulham here in the previous home league game.

Liverpool dominated, but West Ham repelled the waves of attacks as they grabbed a crucial point in their own battle for survival.

Liverpool called in veteran defender Sami Hyypia and former West Ham winger Yossi Benayoun, keen to take advantage of Chelsea’s defeat by Arsenal 24 hours earlier.

Robbie Keane and Andrea Dossena replaced the injured pair Fernando Torres and Fabio Aurelio, with Daniel Agger and Javier Mascherano rested to the bench.

West Ham, without a win at Anfield since 1963, brought in Hayden Mullins in midfield for ankle injury victim Lee Bowyer, in the only change from the side that won at Sunderland last time out.

Mark Noble returned to the Hammers bench after a knee injury, while Diego Tristan made his first appearance in the squad since he joined on trial two months ago.

Liverpool had two early penalty appeals turned down by referee Peter Walton when both Benayoun and then Dirk Kuyt drove the ball at Herita Ilunga from close range.

West Ham had looked nervy, and after 14 minutes Green raced from his line to punch weakly away. The ball fell to Albert Riera whose shot was blocked in the six-yard box by James Collins.

Then from a right-wing corner, Hyypia rose to head narrowly over the bar. The Liverpool pressure increased and Mullins was booked after 19 minutes when he tripped Benayoun in full flow.

Two minutes later another header from Hyypia was kicked off the line by Ilunga.