Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scored two penalties that led his club back on top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win.
In a match between Liverpool and West Ham on Sunday wherein Liverpool got a sweet victory, it put the club two points above Chelsea and four points ahead of Manchester City.
Maintaining the top spot will depend on the result; Manchester City will battle against both Liverpool and Chelsea in the coming weeks.
Liverpool’s midfielder, Steven Gerrard gave the visitors the lead a minute before half-time at Upton Park after James Tomkins handled in the box while Luis Suarez played the ball forward.
Time is the Hammers’ best weapon to grasp an equaliser before half-time.
It appeared that former Reds striker Andy Carroll had knocked the ball out of the club’s goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet’s grasp, after throwing a hand in his face, before Demel stabbed home in first-half stoppage-time.
The play forced the linesman to flag, but, after consulting with his officials, referee Anthony Taylor counted the goal in despite the Reds’ fuming protests.
The referee, Anthony Taylor created more controversy when he awarded Liverpool a second penalty from which Gerrard made it 2-1 in the 71st minute.
Hammers goalkeeper Adrian came off his line to take the ball, but then made contact with Jon Flanagan in his follow-through, having Taylor point out the spot harshly.
Liverpool’s manager, Brendan Rodgers said, “There were bad decisions both for and against us.”
“In all fairness the referee came out after the game and said he got it wrong for their goal.”
The frustrated Hammers manager, Sam Allardyce said: “Unfortunately we are talking about the officials and not the game. There were fouls given by the referee when he was 60 yards away, the second penalty was not a penalty, Adrian plays the ball.”
“It looked like Andy Carroll fouled the goalkeeper for our goal but we got it. We don’t want that, nobody wants that. We don’t have enough quality referees,” as Allardyce continue with his frustration.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton reinforced their hopes of Champions League football next season by moving to within a point of fourth-placed Arsenal Gunners after they beat the club.
A 3-0 goals from Steven Naismith, Romelu Lukaku and an own-goal by Everton veteran Mikel Arteta saw the Toffees, who have a game in hand over Arsenal, record a convincing victory.
Everton’s manager, Roberto Martinez said, “It was a very good performance.”
“The most pleasing aspect had to be the manner in which we defended, our concentration and discipline off the ball,” Martinez added.
Unhappy Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger accepted that his side had showed a “lack of fight” and that the manner of this defeat was a “massive worry” for club.
Catat Ulasan