PLAYER RATINGS: WEST HAM 3-2 LIVERPOOL

Liverpool travelled to West Ham for today’s late afternoon kickoff and succumbed to their first loss of the season. They conceded early when Alisson was adjudged to have scored an own goal. Alexander-Arnold replied with a peach of a free kick and it stayed level at the half. Second half, West Ham went 3-1 clear before Origi pulled one back. Read on for player ratings from the game.

Alisson – 5

Didn’t command his box at all. Weak for the first goal, poor on the second, and distracted by Antonio for the third. Poor day at the office for him. His one good save even saw Fornals flagged for offside. Let his team down today. If you’re going to claim a foul, then at least put some effort into it. Feign injury and roll around a bit. Bounce straight back up and you just look weak on the replay. Weak hand to Fornal’s shot too.

Alexander-Arnold – 7.5

Our best player tonight. Dragged us into the game with an astonishing free kick. Then took on the responsibility again and made a run into the box to inadvertently set up Origi’s goal. He then put one on a plate for Mané in stoppage time. What more is he supposed to do? Defensively, they of course targeted his side. One excellent recovery on Antonio saved his side, but he’s caught ball watching for Zouma’s header.

Matip – 6

Tried playing Antonio offside in the West Ham half, Antonio left him for dead and Van Dijk came across to block. They scored from the resulting corner. Matip had his hands full with Benrahma running at him from the right. Won some, lost some, but not a great day at the office. His passing through the lines was helpful.

Van Dijk – 7

Beast of a tackle on Bowen on the stroke of halftime when it seemed certain Bowen would score or win a penalty. Fantastic tackle. Came to his side’s rescue a number of times in chasing down Antonio and dealing with the threat. His one on one defending was pretty much excellent but his side looked vulnerable at set pieces. Conceding three goals again doesn’t look good either.

Robertson – 5

Wasted about six good crossing opportunities first half. Shocking delivery, absolutely shocking. He emerged second half and did well to hook one back to Mané from Trent’s stupendous diagonal. That aside, he didn’t create much. Should have fouled Bowen but instead allowed him breeze past on the counter and play Fornals in for 2-1. That was his man, it was his responsibility to take one for the team. Poor.

Fabinho – 5.5

Started well, constantly received the ball on the half turn and wasn’t afraid to pass it round under pressure. He seemed to tire though. That was evident when he weakly lost the ball to Antonio and they countered. He’s another who should have fouled Bowen when he burst through from the halfway line to set up their second. Take one for the team, that’s literally in your job description. All he managed was a lazy dangle of the leg.

Henderson – 6.5

The skipper tried his best, worked his socks off and willed his team on the front foot. One cross for Jota early on was our first sight of goal. Was guilty of not tracking his man all the way a few times. Switched on to it though and tracked Cresswell well, turning one dangerous cross behind for a corner. On the ball he tried to get us playing, Moved it side to side to try and find an opening. Played a probing ball to Trent for Origi’s goal.

Oxlade-Chamberlain – 5.5

Just like that he’s let another game pass him by with no impact. He actually started well, played some well disguised passes through the lines to get us up the pitch. Then he went back into his shell. A sideways pass here, a back pass there. Nothing of note in his 60+ minutes on the pitch. Attempted one shot, it was blocked. A player of his shooting ability needs to be taking games by the scruff of the neck more often. Disappointing. Also had the chance to foul Bowen and didn’t.

Salah – 6.5

Didn’t get much change out of Cresswell. He was a bit too intricate at times, trying the fancy when a bit of force wouldn’t have gone amiss. Everything he’s been trying has been coming off this season so I don’t blame him. Second half he turned their defenders inside out a number of times but couldn’t get a shot away. His one chance of note was a tough half volley from the edge of the box under pressure. Three games without a goal now.

Jota – 6.5

Did ever so well to spring and turn Henderson’s cross goalwards. Unlucky it bounced onto the roof of the net. He had another half chance far post but his header was into the side netting. Not a day for forwards, with West Ham defending in numbers. Tried his best, it just didn’t fall his way. Subbed.

Mané – 6.5

Played well enough actually, but that miss at the end there will haunt him for weeks. Stoppage time and Trent curled one over everyone for him at the far post. The ball was dropping and he decided to meet it with a diving header but could only steer it wide with Fabianski beaten. Probably better if he’d have gone for the cushioned volley. He put one straight at Fabianski too from Robertson’s one good ball. Didn’t get much change out of Johnson. It was his loose touch that Bowen pounced on to go past three players to play in Fornals.

Substitutes

Thiago – 6

Showed signs of rust early on as he gave it away a few times. Soon settled into his rhythm and started dictating play. Probed and probed for openings to little avail. Had a chance himself but his shot after Salah’s dribble was too weak to beat Fabianski.

Origi – 8

Came on at 3-1 and showed fight. When Trent deflected the ball into his path, his back was to goal and he had a defender around him. He hooked the ball over his head with a silky flick, before firing hard and low into the bottom corner with his weaker left foot. Classy goal, from a player who seems to deliver when you least expect. Almost equalised in stoppage time too when he pushed Mané out of the way and attacked Trent’s cross, but it was too close to Fabianski. Spirited cameo.

Minamino – 6

Came on for Fabinho and he did well to play the ball off Masuaku and out for a throw down our right. Then he won a free kick in a dangerous area off Soucek with a sharp turn, that led to the Mané miss. He was easily knocked off the ball in stoppage time by Masuaku and he fouled him to help West Ham relieve the pressure.

Jurgen Klopp

Made just the one change from the team that took apart Atleti so convincingly in midweek, with Robertson coming in for Tsimikas. It’s not a decision that paid off as Robertson was below par again, constantly wasting good crossing opportunities. Once again his subs were late. Thiago for Ox at 2-1 down, and then Origi for Jota after going 3-1 down.

Two weeks in a row he’s not been proactive with his subs. Origi came on and made a huge difference, he only had the 15 minutes though. Taking Fabinho off for Minamino was a ‘kitchen sink’ move and at that point in the game, was understandable. His side looked outwitted today. Up against a wall of a defence when going forward, and vulnerable to the counter when they lost possession. Not a good day at the office.