Liverpool were facing their personal kryptonite in West Ham United in an FA Cup replay. Liverpool had failed to score in 2015-16 against the Hammers and it was another slow start for Liverpool. The Reds almost conceded a goal when Lucas deflected a shot that almost snuck in near post, but rang off the bar instead. After that string of play that favored the Hammers, Liverpool actually took the momentum for themselves.
Liverpool wasted a chance in the 25th minute when Coutinho's cross slipped under Benteke's foot and Ibe was not ready for it. However, despite that miss, the maligned Belgian striker actually had a good half and deserved more than he received.
Later on, Coutinho evened up the shots off the post in the 34th minute. Benteke had nifty footwork along the endline and slipped it to the top of the six yard area where the Brazilian slapped it off the woodwork. The big Belgian almost put one in himself moments later when he connected with a header off the corner, but the West Ham keeper, Randolph, got a foot to it. It may have been cleared away by the defender at the post as well, but it was a great chance.
The pendulum of momentum began to swing back the other direction toward the end of the half. West Ham almost took the lead on a fantastic free kick from Dimitri Payet in the 38th minute that knicked the goalkeeper's fingers and blasted off the post before Simon Mignolet parried away the rebound. The scorelessness would not last forever though.
Liverpool had defended reasonably well, as a squad, but fell asleep in the 45th minute. The entire back four had settled way too deep in the box, allowing a cross deep into the area. Michail Antonio was on the back side to volley it home, giving Mignolet absolutely no chance to stop it and forcing Liverpool to score just to keep any hope alive. It was a crushing blow against a team that Liverpool had really put on the back foot for most of the half only to see one in the back of their own net. Luckily for the Reds it was only for that one half.
Liverpool came out with good energy from the locker room and were rewarded. The Reds finally smashed the goose egg when Coutinho leveled the game with a sneaky free kick in the 48th minute. Benteke set up the kick drawing the foul just outside the box and Coutinho struck it along the ground just under the jumping wall. It was a good sight for the Liverpool faithful to see Coutinho score in his first inclusion since his injury and to see Benteke show more of why the club brought him in in the first place.
Benteke was still determined to get his own. He was fortunate to not have a handball called in the 56th minute, but he almost smashed one in just moments later after a good bit of skill on the left side of the box by Brad Smith. Unfortunately there were too many defenders around.
More good sights for Liverpool fans as Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi came in in 59th minute. However, despite their inclusion and the potential offensive spark it could provide, Liverpool were extremely fortunate to not concede a penalty in the 67th minute. Thiago Illori tugged on the attacker's arm in the box, which was clearly evident on replay but fortunately not caught by the official or the linesman.
In terms of good sights, it was good to see West Ham take off Cheikhou Kouyate after his head injury. There may have been plans to bring on Andy Carroll anyway, but there is just no sense in keeping a player on who was clearly knocked out and seemed to be struggling afterward. Injuries piled up for both sides as Kevin Stewart took cleats to the ankle a bit later, but he was able to stay in the game.
The momentum swung back and forth wildly as the end of regulation was in sight. Benteke almost slid one in on the free kick in the 79th minute, but Randolph made a good stop after seeing it late coming over the wall. Valencia butchered a header in the 84th minute that should have buried Liverpool since the West Ham attacker was basically wide open on the far side and took a good cross. Liverpool with a great chance to end it in stoppage time. The ball fell to Ibe and he struck it with a strong left foot only to see Randolph push it away, but not quite far enough for Sturridge to get onto the rebound.
Alas, the game would not end in the allotted 90 minutes. This definitely put extra pressure on Sturridge and Origi who were coming in for the first time following their injuries and were going to have to play at least an hour's worth of football. Benteke blasted one wide from basically the middle of the box in the 99th minute and then shot a breakaway right into the keeper moments later. Unfortunately those wasted chances, in addition to several wasted by Sturridge and others in extra time, cost Liverpool.
West Ham waited until the death, but made the most of a foul given against Lucas. Set pieces have been the arch enemy of Liverpool all season long and were again. A good service toward the back post was met with a towering header by Ogbanna, who sliced it back across goal giving no one a chance to do anything about it. Liverpool deserved better due to their overall play, but West Ham were also the deserving winners given their play as well.
In the end, Liverpool won't fret too much since the team played reasonably well and very well in spurts. They lost the match, but have taken fixtures off the schedule and now allow themselves to focus more on the Capital One Cup final at Wembley and the Europa League. It's never pleasant to lose a game, especially in excruciating fashion, but Liverpool needed to have their focus sharpened. Being active in all competitions just wasn't going to allow that to happen, so the loss isn't quite so terrible. From here on out though, it's up to the players to take their individual performances and keep them progressing.
Random Thoughts:
- While the worrisome nature of Daniel Sturridge will never go away, just seeing his abilities on display makes you ponder the possibilities in the future. Since Liverpool seem to want to play an attacking three, just his inclusion gives you so many more options. You could have a top two with Beneteke and Coutinho tucked in behind. You can go with Benteke or Firmino up top and Coutino and Sturridge on the sides. Sturridge could be the main striker with Firmino and Coutinho out wide. It's amazing to think that one man can make you rethink the entire attacking possibilities for this team, however he has to stay on the field and that's been something he hasn't shown an ability to do. Therefore it's impossible to get too excited yet.
- Health is the key all around. I've mentioned that this team needs a complete overhaul, but there's still talent there. Smith and Jon Flanagan give you more options at the wingback position with Nathaniel Clyne a decent talent as well. I already mentioned the attacking possibilities as well. But all of these players have to keep themselves healthy. Whether that falls on the training staff, the coaches or the players themselves is an unknown but they just need to keep this team on the pitch.
- We all knew it would be impossible for Jurgen Klopp to stay calm the entire game. Nevertheless it was good to see him back on the sidelines after an emergency surgery kept him out of the weekend game.
Walk On
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