With a 3-1 victory over West Ham United on Sunday, Liverpool extended their winning streak to six games.
Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota scored twice for the Reds in the second half to help them climb up to second in the Premier League after Jarrod Bowen’s header had negated Mohamed Salah’s penalty.
Michail Antonio’s wry smile
On Sunday afternoon, Michail Antonio grinned wryly as he moved into the post-match mixed zone after the game.
After declaring ominously earlier in the week that West Ham will win at Anfield for just the second time since 1963 and that David Moyes’ team will finish ahead of the Reds for the first time in Premier League history, Antonio met with ironic applause when he was substituted out in the second half. He had little effect up against Joel Matip.
After the game, Antonio made his way past the surrounding media and gave them all little more than a knowing smile and a bowed head as he denied their requests for a post-game interview.
Tom Werner was very happy with Liverpool’s performance
Tom Werner, the chairman of Liverpool, was one of the joyful spectators at Anfield on Sunday. The head of the Fenway Sports Group was in Austria for Thursday’s Europa League match against LASK. He then returned to Merseyside to see his first game at Anfield in a while.
Werner would undoubtedly have been encouraged by what he saw from the club’s major summer signings, particularly the first two who started the game. It was his first chance to see players like Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and finally Ryan Gravenberch strutting their stuff at home.
After the game, Werner did not stop to speak with the media. But he wore a beaming smile that more than implied he was pleased with the performance of the players. Werner may have been in town for no other reason than to see a game. But him meeting with Jurgen Klopp would undoubtedly have included an impassioned discussion about the revamped midfield.
Boos showered in for delaying Curtis Jones
As Curtis Jones waited on the sidelines shortly after the half-hour mark, there were some loud boos heard around Anfield due to a combination of uncertainty and annoyance.
While West Ham attacked the Kop End, the Liverpool player who had been pulled off for immediate medical attention on a knock was not allowed to rejoin the game. Liverpool was defending it with 10 men. However, Jones excitedly jumped up and down on the spot, eager to rejoin the action. Despite this, the Hammers kept pushing forward. The boos from Liverpool fans grew louder and louder. Fortunately for Klopp, the attack was successfully stopped before Jones returned to the pitch to mocking applause that was specifically directed at the officials.
Had Jones’ temporary exclusion been used by David Moyes’ team to their advantage, the commotion would have been deafening.
Liverpool Manager was very happy with Gomez’s performance
Joe Gomez put in a standout display on Sunday. He stepped in well for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold in the hybrid full-back position. It calls for him to shift into midfield when the opportunity presents itself.
For Gomez, who is a natural center-back, it’s a totally unfamiliar position for him. But the veteran Londoner succeeded in it. In the second half, one specific play earned Klopp’s enthusiastic applause from the sidelines.
Gomez rushed into a powerful challenge to stop the excellent Lucas Paqueta. West Ham were attempting to counterattack close to the halfway line. He shepherd the ball harmlessly out for a throw-in by the managers’ technical areas.
As he roared in approval of his defender’s tackle, Klopp was evidently enjoying Gomez’s efforts. For a Liverpool player, there is no higher form of acknowledgment.
Liverpool forward Salah praises the clearance of Gravenberch
Ryan Gravenberch was introduced for his senior debut with about 13 minutes left in regulation time. Although, Liverpool continued to retain a 2-1 advantage.
Gravenberch helped ease the pressure of one particular attack. West Ham pushed forward in pursuit of an equaliser when gravenberch gave the ball a no-nonsense swipe clear with his left foot. He ensured the ball soared far away from the Liverpool goal. The new midfielder successfully cleared the threat with a well-placed volley. He earned the praise of Mohamed Salah, who gave his teammate a resounding thumbs up.
Following the clearance, Salah made sure to head straight for his teammate. He told Gravenberch that he should be proud of his defensive work. A few seconds later, Jota scored a close-range goal to put the game away.
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