Liverpool 0-0 West Ham: Hammers earn point as hosts frustrate in front of goal

Liverpool will feel it was an opportunity missed after squandering a number of opportunities to put themselves into the lead against West Ham United, with the London side eventually heading back to the capital with a point.

It was a bad day at the office for Liverpool’s attacking players, with a front three of Luis Suarez, Phillipe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge – who came on for the injured Stewart Downing in the first-half – all floundering in front of goal in the face of a resolute Hammers defence.

James Tomkins and James Collins, West Ham’s centre-back pairing, put in a strong display, denying the increasingly frustrated Suarez, who found chances to be few and far between as poor passing and decision making all too often led to Liverpool attacking moves breaking down before Jaaskelainen could be troubled.

Glen Johnson and Lucas Leiva both put in uncharacteristically poor performances, with the former being particularly wasteful in possession in the opposition half whilst the latter nearly afforded the visitors the chance to take the lead when he gave away the ball in the first-half.

It wasn’t all bad for the Reds, however, with Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher and Pepe Reina all putting in solid performance which helped ensure the hosts kept a clean sheet despite the Hammers forging some good chances as the broke quickly against Liverpool on the counter.

Skipper Steven Gerrard, another who had a decent game for the Reds, may have felt somewhat aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty in the second period when he was brought down by Tomkins, with the seemingly stonewall spot-kick claim being waved away by Anthony Taylor.