Mohamed Salah struck from the spot again while super-subs Diogo Jota and Xherdan Shaqiri guided Liverpool to a 2-1 victory over in-form West Ham United.
Liverpool made it three wins in three as they overcame West Ham United at Anfield, bringing their incredible unbeaten record at home to 63 games on the trot.
Pablo Fornals opened the scoring for the Hammers, slotting the ball past Alisson Becker’s near post from outside the six-yard box. The goal came courtesy of a poor header from Joe Gomez that landed straight to Fornals’s feet for him to hand West Ham the lead.
6⃣3⃣ @premierleague games unbeaten at Anfield, equalling a club record ?
Home ? pic.twitter.com/9NUVG97eaE
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 31, 2020
Just at the cusp of half-time, Arthur Masuaku brought down Mohamed Salah with a challenge from behind and the Egyptian made no mistake in equalising from the spot. Diogo Jota then went onto win the game for Liverpool, after he added the finishing touch to a deft pass by Xherdan Shaqiri. The Hard Tackle now runs the rule over Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Alisson Becker: 6/10
Alisson perhaps could have done a little better with the first goal that went in off the post of the Brazilian’s goal. Alisson offered valuable assistance while playing out from the back, and induces far more confidence in the team in comparison to Adrian. He was even good at anticipating the long balls, often playing the role of a sweeper keeper.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 7/10
Alexander-Arnold was one of the key outlets for Liverpool as usual. The youngster played some dangerous crosses and long balls and looked to get onto the ball more often. Gave a defensively sound performance as well. The aspect that he was abysmal at was set-pieces. Alexander-Arnold took more than three free-kicks but none of them led to any goal scoring opportunity.
Nat Phillips: 7/10
While Rhys Williams was the expected pick going on the basis of his midweek performance, Klopp chose a more experienced Nat Phillips to partner Joe Gomez, and he was quite sound at the back. Winning all his aerial duels (3/3), Phillips was a giant at the back. Could have been slightly better in possession as he lost the ball 16 times, but he did manage to play a couple of impressive passes.
? Man of the Match, Nat Phillips
PL debut & second senior app for @LFC
9 clearances (6 headed), most in match
6 times possession gained
2 Interceptions
1 chance created
96 touches pic.twitter.com/g9NnH2GpcO— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) October 31, 2020
Joe Gomez: 5/10
In the absence of several of Liverpool’s centre-backs, there are a lot of expectations from Gomez. The youngster put in a fantastic performance against Sheffield United but failed to emulate his performance from last week against West Ham. Unable to lead by example, it was Gomez’s inability to clear the ball with conviction that led to the first goal.
Apart from a poor mistake, Gomez had a decent game and played 101 accurate passes. The season is long and without Van Dijk, it is going to feel like a long one for Liverpool. Joe Gomez certainly has some big shoes to fill in the upcoming matches.
Andrew Robertson: 7/10
Robertson was his usual self – bombarding down the left flank and awaiting an overhit Alexander-Arnold cross. While Robertson was not the most effective going forward, the Scot did hit a wonderful volley that everyone should look at. His defensive numbers are not that bad at all, as he made a couple of crucial blocks denying West Ham another goal.
Georginio Wijnaldum: 6/10
Wijnaldum had a largely anonymous game for Liverpool. He shuffled around the field but did not seem to be clear on his role on the pitch. Wijnaldum often played sideways and simple passes and ultimately finished the game with no crosses or key passes. He did well in the defensive phase to win the ball back, but failed to make much of an impact with the ball at his feet.
Jordan Henderson: 7/10
Henderson played at the base of the midfield and pulled the strings with conviction. The Liverpool captain was calm and composed and extremely busy throughout the game. He played some top-class diagonals in behind the defence to Robertson and also came close to scoring from a Salah lay-off. A true captain’s performance, involved in every move and played a key role in piling pressure onto West Ham.
Jordan Henderson vs. West Ham:
◉ 100% aerial duels won
◉ Most touches (150)
◉ Most successful passes (133)
◉ Most passes in opp.half (106)
◉ Most recoveries (8)
◉ =Most tackles (2)A captain’s performance. pic.twitter.com/WkckIea8RK
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 31, 2020
Curtis Jones: 6/10
Jones had a bit of a floater-like role in that midfield three. Unlike Henderson, who played centrally, Jones operated between the lines and exploited forward spaces in the wide areas. Jones attempted to create overloads on the wings with the winger and full-back. Did his role justice but did not make a huge impact on the match. He was eventually subbed off for Xherdan Shaqiri.
Sadio Mane: 6/10
Mane was extremely poor on the ball. Despite the early goal conceded, the Senegalese played with little to no urgency. He moved the ball around the pitch in a very slow manner. Mane did well to combine with his teammates at times, but he also lost the ball several times by dribbling excessively and overrunning the ball into the hands of their opponents.
Roberto Firmino: 5/10
Firmino looks like a mere ghost of his former self and his starting berth has started being questioned. Saturday was another game where the Brazilian’s performance was not up to the mark. Firmino tried his best to operate between the lines and drop as deep as possible to create something.
Is it now time to drop Roberto Firmino? ? pic.twitter.com/aeaWiWZrsB
— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) October 31, 2020
Despite collecting the ball in these dangerous areas, he was not able to impact the game positively and was eventually subbed off in the 70th minute. Firmino has failed to have a shot on target or create a chance for the first time at Anfield in the past two years.
Mohamed Salah: 7/10
Salah scored his seventh goal in as many games in the Premier League, and the Egyptian was the biggest threat on a night of difficulty for the Merseyside outfit. Salah did not get that involved in the build-up as usual, but every time he got the ball, he looked dangerous.
Salah set up Mane well on one occasion at the onset of the match before drawing a penalty later in the first half. He gave the keeper the eyes and went for a penalty at the centre of the goal. Salah also played some exceptional diagonals to the far post from the right flank. The Egyptian always looked like a huge threat in the box with his constant twisting and turning.
SUBSTITUTES
Xherdan Shaqiri: 7/10
Shaqiri completely changed the complexion of the game on his arrival. The Swiss brought creativity in abundance into Liverpool’s midfield and picked out some beautiful passes. Shaqiri’s assist for the winner was simply sublime.
that pass from shaqiri ? pic.twitter.com/kivBJs9q5a
— Josh? (@_lfcjosh) October 31, 2020
Diogo Jota: 8/10
The man of the hour, Diogo Jota, has been in tremendous form for Liverpool. The Portuguese is definitely going to make Klopp question Firmino’s starting berth. His impact on the game was nothing short of extraordinary as he brought directness and raw pace into the game.
Jota also had a goal disallowed because of a foul in the build-up. Despite that, Jota went on to score the winner as Liverpool climbed to the top of the table. With 4 goals already in the Liverpool shirt, Jota has had a fantastic start to life at Liverpool.
James Milner: N/A
Came on late for Salah. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
