Liverpool beat West Ham United 2-1 at Anfield, after coming from behind, with Diogo Jota scoring a late winner at the Kop End.
Pablo Fornals put West Ham ahead early in the game with a neat strike that gave Alisson no chance in the Reds’ goal. After plenty of huffing and puffing, the Reds were gifted a penalty late in the first half, when Arthur Masuaku fouled Mohamed Salah in the box. The Egyptian made no mistake with the penalty.
When the game seemed to be meandering towards a draw, Xherdan Shqiri produced a moment of absolute quality to play Jota through on goal, and the Portuguese finished the chance off with ease.
Here’s how each player fared for Liverpool.
Goalkeeper
Alisson Becker – 6/10
Alisson had no chance of stopping the Fornals goal, which went in off the inside of the post. He really didn’t have much else to do throughout the game.
Defenders
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6/10
Liverpool kept on probing through Trent down the right flank, but West Ham were stubborn defensively. He also should have done better in preventing the cross from Masuaku in the build-up to Fornals’s goal.
Nat Phillips – 8/10
Phillips had an excellent Premier League debut. He was commanding in the air, and his passing was generally very good as well. He had a couple of iffy moments, such as passing a ball straight at a West Ham player, but that is only nitpicking what was a great performance.
Joe Gomez – 5/10
His weak header allowed Fornals to get the ball in space at the edge of the area and eventually score. He was solid apart from that, but as the senior centre-back, he needs to stop making those mistakes.
Andy Robertson – 6/10
Robertson was very good defensively against Bowen and Coufal. He read the play brilliantly to make crucial interceptions as well. Not as influential going forward.
Midfielders
Jordan Henderson – 7/10
The skipper drove the Reds forward at every opportunity he got. He played a superb lofted pass to Robertson in the second-half, which could have led to a goal. But in general, he ensured that panic never set in throughout the game.
Georginio Wijnaldum – 7/10
Wijnaldum was quietly very good in midfield in this game. His ball-carrying was especially excellent, and he came to life after the break as well, to overpower Rice and Soucek.
Curtis Jones – 6/10
As he continues his development, these were more valuable minutes for Jones. He showed glimpses of promise as well, but it showed that he needed more nous and experience to learn how to break down a low block.
Forwards
Mohamed Salah – 7/10
Won the penalty, scored the penalty, and was generally excellent in the build-up play. He had a chance though, to put Jota through on goal straight after the Reds scored the second, but didn’t see the pass.
Sadio Mané – 5/10
He toiled manfully throughout the game, but in the first half, nothing seemed to be coming off. His shot on goal was followed in by Jota, who put the ball in the back of the net, but VAR denied the Reds the goal (probably fair this time).
Roberto Firmino – 5/10
His performances are becoming a big concern for Liverpool at the moment. He’s not being involved too much in the build=up, he isn’t particularly scoring goals. Is he still a guaranteed starter?
Substitutes
Diogo Jota – 8/10
He loves the Kop End, this little dynamite attacker! That’s four Anfield goals already for Jota, and yet another to give the Reds full points. Priceless.
Xherdan Shaqiri – 7/10
In a game that needed quality to break West Ham down, Shaqiri provided that, with a moment of sheer class to put Jota through on goal.
James Milner – N/A
Came on in injury time.
