Nunez goal enough to see off powder puff Hammers at Anfield
Liverpool 1 West Ham United 0, 19th October 2022.
Liverpool 1 West Ham United 0, 19th October 2022.
This evening’s 1–0 victory over the east London “Hammers” of West Ham United had a feel of “after the Lord Mayor’s show” following Sunday’s crucial 1–0 triumph over Manchester City. A far more muted Anfield was reflective of an insipid second half display from the Reds and after a first half they completely dominated from the first minute through to the last. The second half largely became a game of “Cat and Mouse” with the Reds defending deeper and deeper, allowing West Ham both a start in the game and large possession of the ball whilst the Reds played longer balls from defence or tried to hit their visitors on counter attacks or breakaways and a reversal of roles from the first half. West Ham simply didn’t play (or have the inclination to play) in a first 45 minutes completely dominated by their hosts and after presumably a stern word or three from their manager David Moyes, then controlled vast swathes of the second half as they chased an equalising goal their second half display merited. But despite such second half dominance they couldn’t match Darwin Nunez’s first half goal for the Reds, and after two 1–0 wins in the space of four days the Reds have climbed back to a much healthier 7th place in the Premier League, if still a long way distant from the footballing summit.
Substitutions fracture many games of football entering the second half, but this evening two substitutes changed the game and a veteran old stager kept the Reds “clean sheet” intact and the 3 points for victory safely in the bank. That veteran was James Milner, and had it not been for his intervention and blocked tackle on 87 minutes that ensured Tomas Soucek’s goal bound effort deflected for a corner rather than nestling in the Reds net, West Ham would surely have scored the equalising goal their second half efforts deserved. The substitute who arguably dragged West Ham into the game was the effervescent display from Said Benrahma who was integral to the attacking move that presented Tomas Soucek’s almost certain goal that James Milner denied as well as central to a much improved second half display from his team and, thankfully for the Reds, the man who would miss West Ham’s clearest chance on goal all game. A looping hopeful cross from the Hammers captain Declan Rice on 70 minutes deceived both Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold and as both Liverpool defenders dithered, they left Benrahma alone and with only Alisson Becker to beat in the Reds goal, he scuffed a tame shot straight into the Brazilian’s grateful arms.
Whilst the Reds barely threatened Lukasz Fabianski in the West Ham goal in the second half (the closest they came to a goal was Kurt Zouma’s awkward deflection against his own bar with Fabianski stranded and well beaten), the Polish goalkeeper was outstanding in a first half amid a personal on-going duel with Reds Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez. The gangly 23 year old would score his first Anfield goal on 22 minutes with a beautiful downward header via a perfect curling cross from Kostas Tsimikas and ultimately, this goal would decide the game and the destination of 3 precious Premier League points. The goal itself capped a fantastic 45 minutes from the raw, young Uruguayan and another leap forward in his fledgling Liverpool career. Had it not been for two superb saves from Fabianski as well as the width of his far post when well beaten, Nunez could have bagged two, maybe three goals in the first half alone and his volley that crashed into West Ham’s goal frame on 40 minutes was as pure a strike as you could wish to see and would have made for a picture perfect goal.
Surrounding Nunez’s first half goal was a dominant display from the Reds led by “Man of the Match” and captain Jordan Henderson and a masterclass of sublime skills from his midfield partner Thiago Alcantara. West Ham simply gave these two veteran midfielders acres of space in the middle of the pitch as they retreated with their defensive line as deep as they dared. Every time either Henderson or Thiago received the ball they either exchanged passes between themselves to work an angle they’d turn into free space and a progressive pass forward or they had a ten yard radius around them that allowed for controlled, unhurried possession before an incisive pass “through the lines” for Nunez or Mo Salah. With Thiago substituted early in the second half as Jurgen Klopp clearly wanted the insurance of a firm stable defensive midfield shift from Fabinho, Henderson continued to press his team forward as well as linking with the Brazilian Fabinho to see out a crucial win.
A captain’s performance par excellence.
Shall we talk about the penalty awarded for the clumsy challenge of Joe Gomez on West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and a penalty he’d ultimately see saved by the Reds magnificent goalkeeping custodian Alisson Becker? Or shall we all just agree that I’m right, it wasn’t a penalty, and the constant interference from VAR (Video Assistant Referee) is killing the once beautiful game?
It is. I’ll be proved right. And Becker’s sprawling save was justice served.
This evening wasn’t as high octane, frenetic or of the footballing quality of Sunday’s victory against Manchester City but the 1–0 victory was just as crucial. A raw 23 year old relative youngster scored the winning goal but tonight was an evening for veterans. From Alisson Becker’s penalty save through to the midfield performances of the Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara and the pugnacious, gritty desire to win and defend a winning position at all costs from 36 year old James Milner.
It wasn’t pretty and the Reds were clinging on in the game’s final 10 minutes but cling on they did.
Just.
Thanks for reading. My Liverpool FC archives contain a wealth of articles past, present and often personal, or you can find the three most recently published articles linked below:
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