27 April 2023 , 04:00
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They're coming. Locked and loaded, all guns blazing, Liverpool are thundering down the outside in a top four race that could yet develop into a blanket finish.
Victory avenged a shock defeat for Jurgen Klopp’s side here last season. West Ham had hit ten goals in their previous three. But in the chase for Champions League football, Liverpool are coming in hot.
With owner John W. Henry a guest at the London Stadium, Cody Gakpo wiped out a stunning, first half opener from Lucas Pacqueta with one of his own.
Joel Matip then headed the second half winner to continue the Reds resurgence. With the Hammers denied a stone cold penalty for Thiago’s late handball, Klopp was also a lucky general.
“I thought he just fell on the ball,” he said. “But I can understand that Moyesy sees it completely differently. At the end of the day we controlled the game. It was the best we’d reacted to a setback all season.”
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Asked about the top four he added: “I can’t see the race yet. We are not in position for a race. The only thing we can do is win all of our games.
“We play Tottenham from that area and that’s it. If the others win all their games that’s it for us. I don’t think about that. I want us to finish the season as well as possible. At least for the next few weeks I want us to show our real face. Not the nice one then the ugly one.”
Joel Matip climbs highest for Liverpool (PA)Asked about the Liverpool owner’s presence, he added: “We met already last night and we talked.” Henry will have been pleased with what he saw.
Trent Alexander-Arnold now has seven assists this season, more than any other Premier League defender.
For Liverpool it's now three wins in a row with their next three at home and ALL of their remaining games easily winnable.
Newcastle and Manchester United might be sitting pretty in the top four but neither will be kidding themselves that the job is anywhere near done.
Not with Liverpool firing on the road again. Now it’s game on. Credit to the in-form Hammers, they went down fighting.
Jarrod Bowen had a goal ruled out for West Ham (Getty Images)They’d started fast. Pacqueta drew first blood, 12 minutes in, with a stunning strike, lashing the ball home from distance for his third goal in his last three.
But Trent supplied Gakpo to strike from distance, six minutes later.
Joel Matip then headed the winner with 23 minutes left. Hammers boss David Moyes was right to be furious about the penalty denied to his side from Danny Ings’ effort. What on earth was VAR Neil Swarbrick doing?
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Liverpool won’t care, they are back in the zone.