SADIO MANE beat the offside trap to give Liverpool the lead against West Ham at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp has started with a front three of Mane, Mo Salah and Luis Diaz at Anfield, with Diogo Jota ruled out.
But Declan Rice is OUT for the Hammers as they look to win here for the first time since 2015.
- Kick off time: 5.30pm UK
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League
- Live stream: Now
- Liverpool team: 1 Alisson, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 5 Konate, 4 Van Dijk, 26 Robertson, 3 Fabinho, 14 Henderson, 8 Keita, 11 Salah, 10 Mane, 23 Diaz.
- West Ham team: 1 Fabianski, 15 Dawson, 4 Zouma, 3 Cresswell, 31 Johnson, 28 Soucek, 11 Vlasic, 8 Fornals, 20 Bowen, 9 Antonio, 10 Lanzini.
Stay up to date with all the action from Anfield in our live blog…
FT: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Jordan Henderson was interviewed by BBC Sport immediately after the match.
The Liverpool skipper said: “It was always going to be a tough game. West Ham are a good team and made life difficult.
“We were prepared for that. It was tough but I’m pleased with the way we reacted.
“We got a clean sheet, which is important and got the three points which is the main thing.
Lanzini had great chance, but we had chances as well in first half. So there were chances at both ends. We dominated the ball for large parts and towards the end we had to grind it out.”
On Luis Diaz’s display: “He’s hit the ground running. He’s been fantastic. He was immense in the [Carabao Cup] final and again today brilliant.
“He’s fit straight in, pressing and winning the ball high up the pitch.”
FT: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
That really is an unbelievable stat. Virgil van Dijk really is THAT important for Liverpool.
FT: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Fellow Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson also spoke to Sky Sports about the match.
The Scot said: “West Ham played a good game but we defended well, put bodies on the line and got the three points.
“Set pieces have been a threat. It was never going to be easy but once we got the goal it was important to keep the clean sheet. Now we need more. We need to keep going.
“Thery are trying to get into European football so we had to help out our centre-backs and we were brave with it.
“Any game you play for this club is special, 200 starts is an amazing thing to do so. Hopefully I can now look forward to 201 but one day when I am older I will look back at what an acheivement it is.
“We have a huge game against Inter Milan on Tuesday, but I’m sure the game [Manchester derby] is going to be on on the background.”
FT: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Trent Alexander-Arnold has given his post-match thoughts after another classy display.
He told Sky Sports: “Both me and Andy (Robertson) tried to get forward when we had the chance, but to keep a clean sheet was our aim.
“We have been able to do that over the last few weeks. Being able to clear one off the line was great as it helped us keep that clean sheet.
“Look at the Burnley game, when we also got a 1-0 win. It’s great to win by a big margin but these are the ones that matter. It doesn’t matter how you do it, you have to get the job done.”
On reaching 16 assists for the season: “I try to contribute as much as I can to the team. We all want to help win games for the team and I am happy to be able to continue.”
FT: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Liverpool remain undefeated at home against West Ham in the Premier League for seven years.
A decent little run, that. The Hammers’ top four chances are dwindling by the week.
FT: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
Liverpool remain well and truly on the heels of Manchester City.
If Manchester United beat their neighbours tomorrow then Liverpool will be three points behind City with a game in hand.
Mouthwatering.
FT: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
West Ham put up a real fight there. They have to be given props, particularly without Declan Rice.
But there finishing HAD to be better. They had the chances and spurned them.
FT: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
A huge win in the title race.
Over to you Manchester City…
Full-time: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
That’s it! Liverpool have done it. It was messy at times, but they got there in the end thanks to Sadio Mane’s first half goal.
West Ham had more than enough chances to equalise through Michail Antonio and Pablo Fornals. But it wasn’t to be for the Hammers.
Liverpool move THREE points behind Manchester City ahead of the Manchester Derby tomorrow!
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
90+5 mins: The free-kick is headed clear and Liverpool break. Jota can only hook an effort over the top, but they may have secured all three points anyway.
Luis Diaz makes way for Curtis Jones. Running down the clock a little more.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
90+4 mins: Free-kick for West Ham just inside the Liverpool half. One last chance to load the box.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
90+4 mins: Konate thumps it into touch as if he were in the 80th minute of a rugby game.
Anywhere will do now for the title chasers.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
90+3 mins: Fornals tries a crossfield pass for Johnson who is waiting at the back post but the right-back can’t control it. Liverpool goal kick.
Oh, here comes Dan Chesters! He replaces Fornals and in turn makes his Premier League debut!
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
90+2 mins: Brilliant drive from Robertson and Mane picks it up before firing into the arm of Zouma. Penalty shouts but that would be ridiculously harsh.
We go on.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
90+1 mins: Five minutes of stoppage time to be played. More than enough time for another goal.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
90 mins: Another change for Liverpool. James Milner enters the fray as Naby Keita makes way.
Doesn’t look like Dan Chesters is going to get on, by the way. No sign of him coming on (it looked like he was going to 10 minutes ago).
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
89 mins: Cresswell takes but it hits the first man. It comes back out to the West Ham left-back but he then whips one in which Alisson can punch away.
Liverpool break in numbers by Jota can’t find Mane and Diaz in the middle.
Jota then gets booked for a foul on Fornals as he stops the counter-attack. Cynical but smart at this point.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
88 mins: West Ham break after Robertson slips and it’s another corner for the visitors…
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
86 mins: It’s West Ham who have the momentum now. They are coming forward looking for an equaliser.
All hands to the pump now for Liverpool. Could be a huge few minutes in the title race.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
84 mins: Dan Chesters looks set to come on for West Ham here. It will be his Premier League debut. At Anfield! Some start.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
83 mins: Antonio holds the ball up well and lays it off to Benrahma on the left-hand side of the penalty area. He whips a dangerous ball in but no one is there to meet it.
Liverpool and their supporters are feeling the nerves.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
83 mins: A little dip in the game as both sides ready themselves for the final seven minutes plus stoppage time.
He has the feeling of late drama.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
81 mins: OH DEAR! It’s another huge chance for West Ham!
Noble produces a wonderful pass with the outside of his boot. He finds Antonio in acres of space on the right but there are no Liverpool players between him and the goal! He looks like he is going to burst the net but takes too long and when he checks back inside Konate gets across to block.
Again, West Ham waste a golden chance in front of goal.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
79 mins: Great chance for Liverpool! Diaz the creator once more as he wiggles his way into the box. He pulls it back for the unmarked Salah but his shot is blocked inside the six-yard box.
And that is Salah’s last action! It is he who makes way for Portugal’s Diogo Jota.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
78 mins: Diogo Jota is getting ready to come on. You imagine that could be for Luis Diaz – who has been utterly superb today. Probably the best player on the pitch.
Liverpool taking the sting out of the game once more.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
