Live Bloggery: Liverpool v London Bongo

The Great Escape for West Ham once again?

Good afternoon, a meaningful game in the EPL today as West Ham visit Anfield. Of course, Liverpool are chasing 4th place and West Ham are just trying to survive another season in the top-flight.

West Ham have dragged themselves 3 points clear of the relegation zone after beating Sunderland at home and nicking a point on their last visit to Liverpool, to neighbors Everton.

Can West Ham take something at Anfield, where Liverpool have been beaten just twice this season? The Hammers have only won away from home once all term but have drawn on the road six times. A point would be most welcome to the east Londoners.

This is a must win for Liverpool, as they strive to finish fourth. Hopes of that last Champions League spot has been dealt a blow by the superb form of Tottenham lately but fail to win today, and they can realistically forget Champions league football next term.

All the action, starting with the team line-ups, right after the jump. Come and join me.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Agger, Maxi, Gerrard, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Mascherano, Degen, El Zhar, Ayala.
West Ham: Green, Faubert, da Costa, Upson, Spector, Behrami, Kovac, Noble, Stanislas, Cole, Ilan. Subs: Kurucz, Gabbidon, Franco, Mido, McCarthy, Diamanti, Daprela.

Mike and Mike are talking a load of crap about egg-chasing at the moment. I’m ready and excited for this one..How about you?

Basketball jibber-jabber now…Yawn…..Come on ESPN, enough of this–How about some pre-game????

So Aquaman is on the bench? Has 20 million quid ever been squandered in such a display of waste? Benayoun has replaced the Italian as Mascherano is also dumped to the wood as the 5 man midfield of Gerrard, Maxi, Lucas, Benayoun and Kuyt will look to feed Ngog, who is in for the injured (and out for the season) Fernando Torres.

According to the Beeb, it was back in 1963 when the Hammer last won at Anfield and the hapless Hammers have scored 4 in their last 14 visits to the reds. Pah, who needs negative facts like that.

10 mins to go!

Carlton Cole is up front with the in form ilan and I’m getting excited now; the players are in the tunnel! WOOOOOOO.

Hahahah. Upson in the tunnel “Lets go to work”.

The fans are in good voice, as they sing their famous anthem as the spammers fans are trying to drown em out with ‘bubbles’.

And we’re underway; Liverpool kicking off.

4: A few empty seats at Anfield, have the Liverpool faithful given up on this season already? Liverpool have started well, passing the ball from side to side and looking for an opportunity. West ham seem happy to be behind the ball.

The ball breaks on the edge of the box and Benayoun feeds Maxi who has a shot from the right, just inside the box, Green takes with ease.

6: West Ham look a little nervous, and rushed on the ball as Liverpool are closing down Hammers possession efficiently.

Ngog beats the offside trap as a long ball arrives over Upson’s head but Ngog fails to control it and the ball is off his chest and straight to Green.

8: Wow–2 Liverpool players including Kuyt were offside but Green came out for a cross from the right and ended up in no mans land,  stranded with 3 pool players behind him in front of an empty net..

11: West ham are getting into the game a little bit now, with Stanislas finding room down the right.

13: Gerrard is in front of the defence tonight and looks a little uncomfortable as he gives the ball away by passing to the advertising hoardings–Has ever a player been deployed in more positions than Stevie G? Why is that?

14: First corner of the night is pinged into the box by Gerrard and it flies up in the air off a head before coming down at the back post and the waiting Ngog. He’s pants though and heads it back up and out for a goal kick.

17: Gerrard surges up the pitch and gives the ball away again, West Ham break as Behrami picks up the pieces and sets his Hammers away. A good 3 man move, but they can’t find a final ball and Stanislavs pass across the 18 yard box is swept away.

19: GOOOOOOAAALLLL Liverpool

West Ham are napping as Gerrard takes a free kick and puts the ball behind the defence from the right as Benayoun rushes in and chests the ball past Green after it bounces in front of him. One in the eye of his old team mates for the Israeli.

Liverpool 1 West Ham 0

24: Free-kick for West Ham on the left 25 yards out and Stanislas will take it; what can he do? Nothing, he hits it over the bar and into the crowd.

26: Liverpool looking comfortable now as they are passing the ball with confidence.

27: Zorba the Greek is handed a free header in the 6 yard box as a Gerrard corner from the right lands on his noggin–But Kyrgiakos can only head the ball down into the ground and watch as it bounces up and over Greens bar. Rubbish header Zorba, bow your head in shame.

30: GOOAAAALLLLLLLLLL Liverpool.

Benayoun finds Maxi on the right and the Argentinean fires a low cross in to the near post and there waiting is Ngog. The Frenchman sweeps the ball home with his right peg and its 2-0. Crap defending by the Hammers again, they just watched.

Liverpool 2 West Ham 0.

Hey ‘Lennons Eyebrow’…Neither goal was Green’s fault but awful defending in front of him. Green didn’t stand a chance.

34: Cole has a wild shot with his left from 25 yards out and its well wide of Reina’s left stick. Waste of possession and desperate. The Hammers need to get to half time and re-group.

38: Liverpool are dominating down the right with Johnson, Gerrard and Maxi..West Ham are a shambles at the back as Maxi continues to cross balls in from that right side, exposing the Hammers frailties.

41: Now, with a 2-0 advantage, Gerrard is constantly further up the pitch and part of the attack. Still comfortable for Liverpool now as Kuyt strikes a shot from 28 yards, forcing Green to get down low to his left to save and hand Liverpool a corner. The resulting corner is cleared by the Hammers.

45: Liverpool are still doing a very good job of closing West Ham’s possession down. The Hammers need to go for it it the second half and they do have 3 forwards on the bench in Benni McCarthy, Franco and Mido. The pairing of Cole and Ilan has offered nothing for West Ham tonight and they really need a player to hold the ball up top and allow the rest of the team to join them in the final third action.

Half Time.

Liverpool comfortably in control of this one, I’m guessing Zola will go to a 3 4 3 in the second half and introduce a forward. Back in a few, I’m off to make a cup of tea.

Frank LeBeouf and Craig Burley are slagging of West Ham’s defence during the HT coverage, they were rubbish in that half, so I guess its open season and fair.

Upson has really taken his World Cup ticket and ripped it in two during that first half. Capello’s right hand man, Baldini, is at Anfield tonight and you can bet he is taking notes. Feel sorry for Green, exposed by those in front of him.

Right, nice cup of tea in hand and ready for the second half. Will the Hammers come back and stun Liverpool? Will Franco and McCarthy see some action? Will Zola say ‘f**k it’, plop on his boots and show his forwards how its done? We will find out soon enough. Camon the Hammers, at least make a game of it!

Second half underway and Franco is coming on for Stanislas so thats a 4 3 3 now. Curious–But Franco is capable of holding the ball and Cole and Ilan will be pushed in front of him now.

47: Have to say, ESPN’s European coverage is pretty damn good and makes the Saturday morning effort from Bristol look poo.

48: Franco receives a ball over the top and challenges Reina for it, but the Spaniard is out quickly.

51: I’d like to say that West Ham are looking improved, but I can’t– Liverpool have picked up where they left off before the break, pressuring the Hammers.

53: Liverpool continue to have fun down the right as Johnson sets Kuyt away; The Dutchman gets round the back before seeing his low cross met by Green.

55: Liverpool defence having fun with Carlton Cole as they constantly make him run from man to man, toying with him. Cole has done nothing today but run around like a headless chicken– he is still playing too close to his midfield and should be looking to provide an outlet.

57: Upson hands Kuyt the ball and he feeds Benayoun who sets up Lucas for a shot from 23 yards out. Lucas sends his shot into row Z.

59: Free-kick Liverpool on the left, 25 yards out for a Noble push on Kuyt. The cross is deep and GOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLL

Zorba the Greek meets the deep cross with a toe that finds the right post and the ball comes off the stick and hits Green in the back of the leg before settling in the goal. How Kyrgiakos was able to meet that cross is another question for Zola to ask of his horrendous defence. Shocking defending, the kind you would find during a Sunday league match for blind donkeys.

Liverpool 3 West  Ham 0.

63: Liverpool continue to dominate and this one could turn into a rout.

66: What can I say, this is one way traffic. You can actually hear Zola’s teeth grinding on the sideline. Carlton Cole has a chance in the box as he meets a nice through pass,  he tries to chip Reina but his effort is saved well.

70: A rare West Ham cross is met by Reina as no forward is in sight. Mascherano is warming up as Liverpool continue to dominate this one.

72: Gerrard is off and replaced with Mascherano. Carlton Cole is also removed from the evening’s play and replaced by Benni McCarthy.

73: A Maxi Rodriguez cross is headed out to Agger who smacks his volley from the edge of the 18 yard box, high into the sky above Robert Green.

75: Ilan finds Faubert out wide and his cross from the right is met by the diving head of Kyrgiakos…Take note Matthew Upson!

77: Faubert sends a great cross into the boss from the right but McCarthy fails to reach it as he gets in front of his marker.

Liverpool sub: Degan ON, Benayoun OFF.

Well some news from the Colaship–soon to be the Npowership; Newcastle have won the title and relegated Plymouth as they do so, with their 2-0 win over the west country side.

81: Liverpool sub: Nogog OFF. Babel ON

83:Kuyt tries a wild over-head volley, as West Ham are just trying to keep the score at 3-0. This is a stroll in the park for Liverpool now.

85: The East Londoners in the away section are completely bored as they sing songs about Liverpool’s unemployment rate and the fact that the Merseysiders are playing in the Europa Cup and not the Champions League..“Thursday nights..Channel 5″

87:  This is an awful game now, neither side is interested in playing football, but rather just seeing it out. Might as well just blow the whistle ref…

90: Well, times up and we are gonna have 3 minutes of stoppage time.

West Ham have been rubbish tonight, and they’ll have do to better than this is they want to stay up, they have Wigan at home on Saturday. For Liverpool, its a long train and coach trip to Spain for the Europa Cup semi with Athletico Madrid.

Maybe they can stop off and say hello to Alonso at Real? They’ve certainly missed him this season.

94: Corner to Liverpool and no sooner is it taken and the final whistle blows. Second half was a disgrace to football really; West Ham put up no fight at all today. It was easy for Liverpool, Thursday won’t be such a doddle.

Anyway, thanks for joining me, come back tomorrow and on Wednesday when you will be able to enjoy Champions League semi-final first-leg Live Blogs from The NY Kid and The Likely Lad.