WHUFC.com
West Ham face three titanic ties for survival after a miserable Monday night
in Liverpool
19.04.2010
Liverpool 3-0 West Ham United
West Ham United's 47-year run without a win at Anfield will continue for
another season after Liverpool cruised to victory on Monday night.
First-half goals from former Hammers midfielder Yossi Benayoun and David
Ngog, the Reds' replacement for the injured Fernando Torres, destroyed the
visitors' hopes of a third match unbeaten. An own goal from the unfortunate
Robert Green made it 3-0 in the second half. That summed up the lack of luck
but, in truth, the home side were always in full command.
The defeat leaves West Ham just three points clear of the relegation zone
ahead of a huge home date with Wigan Athletic this Saturday, with the Latics
boss Roberto Martinez among the Anfield crowd. Scott Parker will return from
suspension and will hope to galvanise the side for the crucial final three
matches.
Gianfranco Zola had gone into this contest with the luxury of an unchanged
team for only the third time in a frustrating Barclays Premier League
campaign. In fact, Mido's return from a virus on the bench for youngster
Jordan Spence was the only alteration in his matchday 18, with the squad
having driven up from London rather than flown on Sunday.
With West Ham reluctant to throw men forward, Liverpool were also slow to
find first gear but eventually took control inside the first 20 minutes.
Maxi Rodriguez tested Robert Green with a third-minute drive and N'Gog then
had all the time in the world when put clear by Jamie Carragher, only to
head tamely into the England No1's hands.
Kyrgiakos was inches away just after that from Dirk Kuyt's flick-on and only
brief flashes from Julien Faubert and Junior Stanislas on the right wing
looked like giving the Hammers any joy. Stanislas had a sight of goal on 17
minutes after a breakway from Valon Behrami and Ilan but there was no end
product.
It was a different story at the other end two minutes later. Steven
Gerrard's free-kick found the unmarked Benayoun and he was able to glance
the ball in off his midriff with the help of a post. The goal briefly
galvanised the away side and Cole was soon twisting and turning past Jamie
Carragher before forcing Pepe Reina's first save.
The rest of the first half was a display of Liverpool dominance, punctuated
by Ngog's sweet finish after Benayoun had run across midfield and slipped in
Maxi to cross for the striker. Chances also came and went for Kyrgiakos,
Gerrard and Ngog before Kuyt had Green sprawling low to save from 30 yards.
Something needed to change and the manager did just that at half-time,
introducing Guille Franco for Stanislas. The Mexico striker formed part of a
three-man attack with Ilan and if it was support the visitors needed, they
were certainly not left wanting by the travelling fans who were relentless
with their singing.
The hosts were slower out of the blocks in the second half, and only as the
hour-mark approached did they turn the screw. A long-ranger from Lucas was
the sighter before Gerrard was given another free-kick opportunity. In the
ball came and Kyrgiakos stabbed it goalwards. The ball crashed against the
post and then in off Green's heel. It was rotten luck on the England man who
had performed gamely.
The Reds were rampant and only a last-ditch block from Da Costa denied
Gerrard from inside the area. West Ham's frustration was summed up by
Radoslav Kovac getting a yellow card for dissent although there was the
brief bright spot of Ilan and Franco combining before Cole was slipped in,
but Reina was too alert in goal.
Cole was substituted for the final 18 minutes, perhaps with Wigan in mind,
with Benni McCarthy entering the fray. Liverpool had already taken Gerrard
off by that point - Javier Mascherano coming on against his old club - and
were then able to rest Benayoun to allow Phillip Degen to get a rare taste
of Premier League action.
Green did well to avoid a fourth from Maxi's fizzed effort on 79 minutes
just before Fabio Daprela replaced Jonathan Spector. The changes were coming
thick and fast - the next to arrive was Ryan Babel for Ngog just after
Faubert's yellow for a foul on Maxi - but thankfully there was to be no more
scoring.
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Spence leads from the back
WHUFC.com
Reserve-team captain Jordan Spence said the club's youngsters are learning
much in the run-in
20.04.2010
Jordan Spence believes his young West Ham United team-mates are learning
much for the future in their final Barclays Premier Reserve League South
outings this season.
Many of the Hammers second string know that strong performances between now
and the end of the campaign could help them to hit the ground running when
the 2010/11 campaign comes around. The reserves may have been beaten 4-1 at
Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, but they were far from outclassed by
a home side boasting nearly 2,000 senior league appearances between them.
In contrast, aside from Luis Boa Morte - who enjoyed a successful 45-minute
run out on his return from eight months out with a knee ligament injury -
Alex Dyer's team could muster just 57 league games.
Despite the gulf in experience, the visitors held firm for more than an
hour, and were the better side for long periods both before and after Sergio
Sanchez had equalised Sam Vokes' early opener.
Indeed, it was only a piece of Premier League class from Republic of Ireland
left-back Stephen Ward that finally broke the Hammers' resistance with 25
minutes remaining. Set-piece goals from Greg Halford and Richard Stearman
then gave the final scoreline a rather one-sided appearance.
"We're disappointed with the start we made," admitted captain Spence,
"conceding a scrappy goal from an early set-play. We maybe should have
reacted quicker, but after that setback, we did really well and put some
pressure on them and found out feet in the game.
"We thoroughly deserved our equaliser. Sergio won his first header really
well and reacted superbly to head in the rebound when the ball came back off
the post. We then finished the first half the stronger of the two sides
against what was a very experienced Wolves team.
"We went in at half-time and discussed that we wanted to be solid and push
on from where we had left off, but we didn't find the same form and conceded
two sloppy goals from set pieces and were also disappointed with the second
goal we conceded. The difference in the scoreline was three set-pieces and
were therefore avoidable."
Despite being just 19, Spence was again handed the armband by Dyer. Playing
at the centre of a back-three alongside first-year scholar Sanchez and
second-year scholar Callum McNaughton, the skipper was conscious of the need
to lead his inexperienced defensive colleagues.
"I like to think I can help the players around me with my relative
experience. Further to that, Sergio has played four games in a row and looks
very accomplished at this level considering his age. Callum was outstanding
too.
"We tried to set a firm footing for the rest of the team and, although we
conceded four goals, we didn't defend badly in open play. They had two very
experienced forwards in Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Sam Vokes and it was a great
experience for the boys to face them.
"We had Boa in midfield to give us some experience, and he was good for Josh
Payne and Olly Lee. The challenge for the young players is something for
them to enjoy. They had nothing to lose. The result was not as important as
what they learned from the game, because you don't get to play against
players of that standard in youth football."
Spence himself returned from a four-month loan spell at Championship side
Scunthorpe United in December. His form since then has seen him involved in
Gianfranco Zola's first-team squad in recent weeks, but the defender has
also enjoyed being part of Dyer's reserve team.
Now, he is aiming to finish the season with victory over Fulham in the
reserves' final league game of the season on Tuesday 27 April.
"In the weeks since I've come back from Scunthorpe, I can't think of a time
when the performances haven't been of a good standard. We've had a young
side that has stuck together and it would be a fitting reward for them to
finish the season with a win and move into the summer knowing we've equipped
ourselves well in the second half of the season."
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Zola sets sights on Wigan
WHUFC.com
Although frustrated by another away reverse, the manager has to focus fully
on the weekend date
20.04.2010
Gianfranco Zola has said his players cannot dwell for too long on the
disappointment of defeat at Liverpool with Saturday's "massive game" against
Wigan Athletic to come.
The 3-0 reverse at Anfield on Monday night meant the Hammers missed the
chance to extend their three-point advantage over Hull City in 17th spot.
Although that was not forthcoming, Zola believed this weekend's encounter at
the Boleyn Ground would give his men the chance to quickly make amends.
"We expected better from our performance," he said in a stark assessment of
a match that saw Yossi Benayoun and David Ngog score in the first half
before Robert Green's unfortunate own goal after the interval. "It's
important that we don't make the same mistakes on Saturday. We know what we
have to do and I know we can react to this result and get back on track."
To help in that regard, the manager will have the pivotal Scott Parker back
from suspension while he admitted Carlton Cole was substituted in the
closing stages on Monday as a precaution. The top scorer should be fit to
play next time, but whoever wears the shirt will have to rise to the
occasion.
"The only way to deal with pressure is to work hard. We were under pressure
at Everton [in drawing 2-2 earlier this month] but we went there and worked
hard. That's what we'll be doing on Saturday, too. We'll be focusing on our
job and doing it with everything we've got.
"We started well against Liverpool and we were quite comfortable on the
pitch but the first goal changed the game completely. Until then, they were
missing a lot of passes and they were probably a little bit frustrated by
the way we were covering the pitch.
"The first goal was strange because we have been defending quite well on
set-plays so I was quite surprised. I didn't expect them to score in those
circumstances. There was a chance for a reaction but Junior Stanislas passed
it when he should have had a shot and sometimes things like that happen.
"After that, it was difficult because Liverpool are one of the best teams in
the Premier League when it comes to keeping the ball. We are frustrated but
we have to move on quickly because we have a massive game coming up on
Saturday.
"I've told the players that we cannot afford to do that again. We made
costly mistakes and didn't play very well and now we need to react straight
away because Saturday is very, very important for us.
"When I walked into the changing room after the match I didn't even need to
say anything because they said 'we're sorry we made mistakes.' We didn't
play the way I know we can play and that is frustrating. Sometimes it's not
your day - now I'm looking for a reaction.
"We all know how important the Wigan game is. We will be ready. We have four
days to prepare and we will be doing it in the best way possible. None of us
are pleased about this performance. We can only react, play better and win
the game on Saturday."
Zola's final word went to the supporters, with 1,500 fans drowning out the
home support with noisy and passionate backing from start to finish. "They
are fantastic. We have really good supporters who follow us everywhere. I am
sorry that we couldn't offer them more than what we did. We will put that
right next time."
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Liverpool 3 - 0 West Ham
BBC.co.uk
By Jamie Lillywhite
Liverpool moved back into sixth place after an emphatic win over West Ham,
who remain one place above the relegation zone. Yossi Benayoun put them
ahead in unusual fashion, diverting a Steven Gerrard cross in off his
stomach. David Ngog added a second with a fiercely struck snap shot from a
Maxi Rodriguez cross as the Reds dominated. After the break a Sotiros
Kyrgiakos header came back off a post and in off the leg of Hammers keeper
Robert Green. It was a wretched display from West Ham, who have not won at
Anfield for 47 years and may not have the chance to play there next season
if their fortunes do not improve, having succumbed to their seventh defeat
in the last nine games. They now face a critical home fixture with Wigan on
Saturday mindful of awkward closing games away to Fulham and home to
Champions League-chasing Manchester City. Liverpool, who plan to set off for
Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday
lunchtime because of the volcanic ash saga, are now a point clear of Aston
Villa having played a game more. They have a home match with Chelsea either
side of winnable away trips to Burnley and Hull. With both sides having
plenty to play for the opening exchanges were remarkably tame, anguished
cries from the players were often audible on the rare occasions when West
Ham's vociferous 1,500 travelling contingent were not making themselves
heard. Benayoun teed up an early chance for Rodriguez but his shot was
easily saved by Green. The Hammers enjoyed some comfortable early possession
in midfield but posed little direct threat and the kind of cunning invention
typified by their manager Gianfranco Zola as a player. Benayoun ghosted
between the defenders and was completely free on the edge of the six-yard
box as Gerrard's free-kick from the right-hand touchline bounced just in
front of him.
The industrious Israeli diverted the ball in off the post with his stomach,
carefully keeping his hands out of the way, despite appeals to the contrary
from West Ham defenders.
More atrocious defending from the visitors gave Liverpool another golden
opportunity, but from inside the six-yard box Kyrgiakos somehow headed a
right-wing Gerrard corner into the ground and the ball bounced over. It did
not prove at all critical as with the move of the match Liverpool doubled
their lead shortly before the half-hour. Benayoun's quick pass found
Rodriguez on the right and his first time cross was met instantly on the
half-volley by Ngog, whose shot was too fierce for Green to keep out, even
though the England goalkeeper got a hand to the ball. The remainder of the
match was merely a procession for Liverpool, who might conceivably have had
three penalties - two for handball and one for a foul on Ngog. West Ham,
badly missing the purpose of the suspended Scott Parker, introduced
Guillermo Franco at half-time but Liverpool extended their advantage as
another teasing Gerrard free-kick, this time from the left, caused more
distress in the visiting defence. Kyrgiakos met the ball from close range
and West Ham's misfortune was summed up when it rebounded off a post on to
the back of Green's leg and into the net. Liverpool could even afford to
take off Gerrard, Benayoun and Ngog to allow them a rest ahead of Thursday,
while West Ham suffered even greater misery when Carlton Cole went off with
a knee injury.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez: "We have to keep doing our job. It will be
more difficult now [to qualify for the Champions League because Tottenham
won [against Chelsea], normally you would not expect them to win. "But we
have to be in a good position if they make a mistake. "West Ham started the
game pushing but as soon as we scored the first goal it was easier, we had
more chances and we scored the second goal and the third one killed the
game."
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola: "We started well. We were quite
comfortable on the pitch. We suffered on dead balls - normally we are very
good defending against them but not today. "The first goal was a killer, I
felt we were on top of the game. "The second was a distraction, that was a
killer. After 2-0 it was difficult for us. "In the second half we tried to
have a go and press them hard but they scored on a dead ball."
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Reds march to easy win
Reds win after Benayoun and Ngog efforts and Green own goal
Last updated: 19th April 2010
SSN
Man of the match: Yossi Benayoun: Ran socks off, scored and passed for Maxi
Rodriguez to cross for the second goal.
Moment of the match: Benayoun's goal. Liverpool never looked back after the
Israeli's opener in the 19th minute.
Attempt of the match: Dirk Kuyt tried a low long range effort which Robert
Green did well to turn around his left post.
Save of the match: As above - Green's from Kuyt.
Talking point: Why were West Ham so poor? They should have been fighting for
their lives and instead rolled over very tamely.
Goal of the game: David Ngog's. He finished well from Maxi's cross after
Benayoun cut inside from the left.
Liverpool easily beat West Ham 3-0 at Anfield to keep their European hopes
alive and leave the Hammers in deep relegation trouble. Former Hammer Yossi
Benayoun put the Reds ahead in the 19th minute when chesting home a Steven
Gerrard free-kick from close range. David Ngog then doubled the advantage 10
minutes later when finishing from a Maxi Rodriguez cross. The Hammers' night
then got worse on 59 minutes when Gerrard's free-kick was met by Sotirios
Kyrgiakos at the far post and his shot hit the post and rebounded off keeper
Robert Green into the net. The win moves Liverpool up to sixth in the table
while West Ham remain three points above the drop zone, having played a game
more than third-from-bottom Hull but having a vastly superior goal
difference. A 10th successive home league victory was rarely in doubt
against a club whose last win at Anfield came in September 1963 and who have
much more important battles to win in the last few weeks of the season.
Having dropped to seventh after the weekend's games, Liverpool's hopes of
UEFA Champions League football appeared to be over. And with Fernando
Torres' knee operation ruling him out for the remainder of the season, the
suggestion was their chances of rolling over opponents had gone with him. If
his stand-in Ngog's first attempt on goal was anything to go by that seemed
a fair assessment.
The 21-year-old Frenchman, often criticised for his decision-making,
attempted to beat Green with a header from the edge of the penalty area from
Jamie Carragher's long pass when he had time to bring the ball under control
after springing the offside trap. But having barely threatened, Liverpool
then took the lead in the 19th minute with a piece of quick thinking by
Benayoun. Gerrard's right-wing free-kick bounced in front of the Israeli and
he allowed it to deflect off his chest and in off Green's right-hand post.
From some angles it looked like it could also have brushed his arm but there
were very few protests from the visitors. West Ham's response was brief,
with Carlton Cole firing in a shot which Jose Reina did well to hold.
Despite their lead the atmosphere inside Anfield seemed to reflect the
team's forlorn hopes of fourth place and it was not improved when unmarked
centre-back Kyrgiakos headed Gerrard's 27th-minute corner down and over the
crossbar from close range. But a surprisingly smart finish from the raw Ngog
eased those worries two minutes later. Reina played the ball out and the
Reds fed it up to Benayoun on the left and he cut inside before passing to
Maxi on the right, whose cross was converted with a first-time shot by the
French striker. Ngog was not nearly as clinical with his next chance,
ballooning a header up in the air after Dirk Kuyt had nodded back Glen
Johnson's hanging cross to the far post. Kuyt's 30-yard half-volley was much
better, forcing Green to tip the ball around his left-hand post as Liverpool
ended the half in complete control.
West Ham replaced Junior Stanislas with Guillermo Franco for the second half
but in truth everyone except Cole could have been substituted without
complaint. Kuyt's quick break and cross from the byline almost picked out
Ngog at the near post as the hosts continued to dominate. Having experienced
mostly bad luck in a season which saw early exits from the Champions League
and Premier League title race and numerous injuries to key players,
Liverpool enjoyed another kindly bounce of the ball. If Benayoun's goal was
fortuitous the third was even more lucky as Kyrgiakos' shot from Gerrard's
59th-minute free-kick crashed back off the post, hit Green and bounced back
into the net.
Gerrard was denied a fourth only by the slightest deflection off centre-back
Manuel da Costa. West Ham's frustrations continued to grow but referee Peter
Walton showed leniency to Robert Kovac by only booking the midfielder when
he grabbed the official's shoulder and gave him a push. Even with the game
over the hosts still pushed forward and Rodriguez's whipped near-post shot
had Green scrambling to keep the ball from crossing the line at the second
attempt while Kuyt's ambitious overhead kick showed confidence was certainly
not lacking. Unfortunately for both Liverpool and West Ham, they will need
much more than that if their seasons are not to end in disappointment and
heartbreak respectively.
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Zola wants a reaction
West Ham boss wants side to bounce back against Wigan
Last updated: 19th April 2010
SSN
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola wants his side to react straight away after
the Hammers lost 3-0 to Liverpool at Anfield. The Reds won after first-half
efforts from Yossi Benayoun and David Ngog, while a 59th minute own goal
from Robert Green then put the issue beyond doubt. Following the defeat, the
Hammers remain three points above third from bottom Hull but have now played
a game more, although Zola's side have a better goal difference. While Zola
admitted his side were way off the pace at Anfield, the West Ham boss could
not dwell on the defeat ahead of the crucial home clash with relegation
rivals Wigan on Saturday. He said: "I don't think it was our best
performance. I think we started well and were comfortable on the pitch but
the first goal changed things completely. "I think we felt we couldn't come
back from it. We are all disappointed but it is not a moment to think too
much about that. "We made mistakes today. They were very costly and we
didn't play very well. "But we need to react straight away because on
Saturday we have a very important game."
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Time for change at West Ham United
Admiral Lard - Tue Apr 20 2010
West Ham Online
It's simple really, at the end of the 09/10 season Zola has to go and a
complete change of the back room staff must ensue.
This defeat to Liverpool was as predictable as the turning of the tide,
however it wasn't the inevitable that hurt so much as the manner. West ham
were abysmal, they quite simply did not turn up.
From the moment Yossi scored the game was lost. The players of west Ham
United simply rolled over and died, without so much as a whimper. Liverpool
had 65% possession and shot count was 17 to 6, it would have been a great
deal more had Liverpool not taken their foot off the gas at 3-0.
If last night's performance was a one off perhaps we would tear it out of
the book, however it wasn't. This season we have seen such abject displays
against Wolves and Bolton at Home, at Wigan away at Manchester United and
Chelsea we simply gave up.
Too many weak performances by players with world cup pretentions are simply
unacceptable.
It's all about leadership, from top to bottom. Zola is not a leader, that's
obvious. Skilled coach, world renown striker, nice guy, admired by many? All
that counts for nothing if you're the manager of a premier league club.
GFZ has been let down by his players but he cannot blame them. A strong,
successful manager would remove the bad element or alter it. Captain Matthew
Upson's leadership appears non existent and so many other players have had
in and out seasons.
With 3 games left there is no point in removing GFZ, we are stuck with him
and his team, no one of any worth would come to us until our fate is known.
Let's hope that both Hull and Burnley remain even worse than us. At least
then we can have a close season clear out and a new regime to start us back
on the road to prosperity both on and off the field.
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Liverpool 3 West Ham 0
From PHIL THOMAS at Anfield
The Sun
Published: 19 Apr 2010
GETTING kicked in the guts by one of your former golden boys is bad enough.
When he uses his own to do so, now that's REALLY rubbing salt in the wounds.
And let's face it, as far as West Ham are concerned there are plenty of
them. Yossi Benayoun spent two years hailed a hero by Irons fans before he
ruined that relationship by packing his bags for Merseyside. Last night they
would happily have wrung his neck after the little Israeli quite literally
showed he had the stomach for a fight after all. Certainly a hell of a lot
more than his old team-mates. For it was Benayoun's midriff which set his
old side sliding towards yet another defeat while keeping Liverpool's own
faint hopes of a fourth-placed finish alive. And if that wasn't bad enough,
he also had a hand in the move which saw David Ngog blast the second to
effectively end it as a serious contest. To be honest, whether it ever was
is open to debate, so poor were the Hammers. The only silver lining for
Gianfranco Zola's boys was the fact Liverpool themselves were not on top
form or the end result could have been anything.
As it was, respectability was about all Zola and Co had to take away from a
game which leaves them still hovering one place above the drop zone. And in
truth, if they do stay up, you'd have to say it will be as much by default
as their own ability - because against the Reds they did not show a great
deal of that. They face a huge relegation battle at home to Wigan on
Saturday and Zola knows there must be a dramatic improvement. He admitted:
"Clearly, it was not our best performance. After we went 1-0 down I don't
think we felt we could come back. "But the important thing is how we react,
and I could see that would not be a problem as soon as I went into our
dressing room. "I did not even have to say anything - the players said they
made mistakes, they were sorry and they will put it right on Saturday."
On this display you would have to say Nat King Cole - even now - would have
offered a more potent threat up front than wannabe England star Carlton. Now
if they ever decide to hold a World Cup for sulking, he's a banker for the
squad. He was not the only one, though, and if Matty Upson goes to South
Africa in this form, the nation had better pray nothing happens to captain
Rio Ferdinand or John Terry. Upson was nowhere in sight when Benayoun came
up trumps, and equally AWOL as Ngog pounced for the second.
And while the Hammers can point to a slice of good luck in Benayoun's
opener, the foundations were laid by their own stupidity. Or, to be precise,
Jonathan Spector's. The West Ham left-back needlessly conceded a 20th-minute
free-kick out wide by chopping Ngog to the floor when there was no need to
dive in. Steven Gerrard was not about to pass up the chance, and when he
whipped the ball across, Benayoun stuck out his chest and saw the ball
glance his stomach and in off the post. Benayoun pointedly did not celebrate
the goal in front of the visiting fans, because of his old club's position
on the brink of the relegation abyss. Yet Ngog had no such qualms when he
drilled in the second 10 minutes later, after Benayoun picked out Maxi
Rodriguez, and the Argentinian delivered the perfect cross. For a team
without an away win since the opening day of the season, that was pretty
much curtains for West Ham after only half an hour. In all honesty it should
have been far worse, too, and Sotirios Kyrgiakos will be scratching his head
as to exactly how he managed to nod one over from six yards. At least the
Greek centre-back put that one to bed on the hour when he stretched to reach
Gerrard's free-kick and it rebounded off the post and back in off Robert
Green's leg. So now it is off to Madrid, and that potential journey from
hell. At least Liverpool will have the energy for the trip - let's face it,
they didn't exactly use it all last night.
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Rafa: Hammers will stay up
The Sun
Published: 19 Apr 2010
RAFA BENITEZ has backed West Ham's bid for Premier League survival.
Benitez's Liverpool side host the Hammers in a vital clash for both sides
tonight. The Reds still have faint hopes of landing fourth spot to claim an
unlikely place in next year's Champions League. Gianfranco Zola's side are
battling against the drop and a shock victory would go a long way to sealing
their top flight status. Liverpool boss Benitez said: "One win should be
enough to keep them up. I just hope it's next week and not against us. "I
think that they have a great manager and a good team. "It is tough for teams
at the bottom but I think they can stay up."
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Old boy Yossi Benayoun helps to rumble dormant West Ham United
Liverpool 3 West Ham United 0
The Times
Tony Barrett
It may be a time of great upheaval for Liverpool but amid all the
uncertainty surrounding their future it appears that one thing can be relied
upon — West Ham simply do not win at Anfield.
Victories as comfortable as this last night have been as hard to come by as
potential investors for Liverpool this season. If only benevolent
billionaires with an overwhelming desire to bail out financially stricken
football clubs were as accommodating as West Ham, the Merseyside club would
not have a care in the world.
So poor was the visiting team's performance, it was hard to escape the
feeling that the Icelandic volcano that has played havoc with Liverpool's
travel plans for their Europa League semi-final, first leg away to Atlético
Madrid on Thursday has caused them more problems than Gianfranco Zola's
side. Jamie Carragher's post-match assertion that "it is always tough when
you are playing teams who are fighting for their lives" was more a
sympathetic assessment of the match than a statement of fact.
The problem for West Ham was that they did not fight for their lives.
Rather, they allowed Liverpool to dictate proceedings to such an extent that
their glaring defensive deficiencies were always going to cost them dearly.
With no apparent guard to protect West Ham's protruding glass jaw it was all
Liverpool could do to keep on hitting them hard again and again.
The three goals they eventually settled for was an accurate reflection but
Zola could not hide his dismay at the manner in which they were conceded,
each owing a good deal to West Ham's generosity. "We made mistakes and they
were very costly, everyone in the changing room knows that," Zola said.
West Ham will also have been aware that a failure to do their jobs at
setpieces, from which Liverpool scored two of their three goals, was the
greatest cause of the damage that was inflicted on them. "We have been
defending quite well on set-plays so I was quite surprised for them to score
from such circumstances," Zola added. But his need to keep confidence as
high as possible may have overridden any justifiable desire he might have
had to offer a more withering critique of his team's obvious failings.
In front of their lowest home league crowd since December 2004, when Rafael
Benítez's reign was in its infancy, Liverpool at least gave the 37,697
present a professional display on a night when they could easily have been
distracted by their impending epic journey to Madrid. From the moment Yossi
Benayoun, a former West Ham player, bundled home Steven Gerrard's free kick
it was apparent there would only be one winner. The goalscorer's reaction
was muted. "It touched my chest, not the hand," Benayoun said, a viewpoint
that Zola shared. "I didn't celebrate because I still have feelings for West
Ham and I hope they stay up."
If they are to do so then they will need to tighten up considerably,
something they had not managed to do when David Ngog, once again acting as a
willing understudy for the injured Fernando Torres, was afforded the freedom
of the penalty box to make the most of Maxi Rodríguez's creativity.
"When you play instead of Fernando, people always talk," Benítez said. "But
I have confidence in David and he can score goals, although it depends if
the team plays well. Maybe some of the pressure is off him because of the
goal."
What the goal did for the pressure on Robert Green is, perhaps, another
matter entirely. The West Ham goalkeeper did not cover himself in glory in
front Ray Clemence, the England goalkeeping coach, who watched him get his
hands to Ngog's shot but fail to divert it. His evening was to get worse
when a Sotirios Kyrgiakos shot from another Gerrard set-piece rebounded into
the net via his left foot, but on that occasion the blame lay solely with
his defenders, who had failed to offer him any protection.
"It was comfortable in the end," Benítez said. "We were doing well. West Ham
started by pushing forward but as soon as we got the first goal it was
easier and we had more chances. We scored the second and the third goal
killed the game. We could have had more, but we have another game in a few
days and a long journey ahead."
Liverpool are five points behind Tottenham Hotspur, who occupy the fourth
Champions League qualifying place, but Carragher has not given up hope of a
top-four finish. "It hasn't gone," he said. "We know it's going to be
difficult. Other teams have done well. Tottenham have done really well but
they have a tough game against Manchester United so hopefully they will slip
up."
"It wasn't our best performance," Zola acknowledged. "The first goal changed
the game because we started well. I don't think we could have come back from
that. But it wasn't our best performance, we all know that.
"Now we have to look forward to Saturday's game against Wigan Athletic,
which is very important. The players are ready to react because we realise
that we didn't play well."
It is now 47 years since West Ham have won at Anfield. The challenge now for
Zola is to ensure that they have at least a chance of ending their hoodoo
next season.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): J M Reina — G Johnson, J Carragher, S Kyrgiakos, D
Agger — Lucas Leiva, S Gerrard (sub: J Mascherano, 71min) — M Rodríguez, D
Kuyt, Y Benayoun (sub: P Degen, 77) — D Ngog (sub: R Babel, 81). Substitutes
not used: D Cavalieri, A Aquilani, N El Zhar, D Ayala.
West Ham United (4-4-2): R Green — J Faubert, M Da Costa, M Upson, J Spector
(sub: F Daprela, 80) — J Stanislas (sub: G Franco, 46), M Noble, R Kovac, V
Behrami — C Cole (sub: B McCarthy, 72), Ilan. Substitutes not used: P
Kurucz, D Gabbidon, A Diamanti, Mido. Booked: Kovac, Faubert.
Referee: P Walton.
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There's no defence for Zola, but West Ham should still stay up this season
Published 08:43 20/04/10 By David Anderson
The Mirror
When West Ham dodged a bullet in 2007 and stayed up on that amazing final
day of the season, it's fair to say the nation did not rejoice. The Carlos
Tevez affair left a bitter taste in the mouths of many who felt the Hammer
deserved to go down for all their shenanigans. The well of public resentment
was so deep that some even felt sorry for relegated Sheffield United boss
Neil Warnock – which was a first. Three years on and West Ham are fighting
for their lives again. This time, though, it is different and most neutrals
are not hoping they go down as they battle to avoid following Portsmouth
into the Championship. That is a testament to Gianfranco Zola, one of those
football figures it is impossible to dislike. He sums up everything that is
good about the game. He played it the right way and his footballing ideals
are evident in the way West Ham play. Unlike Fulham, who parked the bus in
front of goal when they came here the other week, Zola was not prepared to
sacrifice his principles. He went with Carlton Cole and Ilan up front,
believing attack is the best form of defence. But sometimes the best form of
defence is defence and West Ham were badly exposed for Yossi Benayoun's
goal, statuesque for David Ngog's second and completely embarrassed for the
third. Zola's players seemed to accept they would lose. They probably
reasoned that their fate would not be decided by how they fared at Anfield,
where they have not won since September 1963 when JFK was still A-OK. They
have the insurance policy of games against Wigan and Fulham next to get the
win which will surely secure their status. Bubbles will still be blowing in
the top flight in August.
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Reds deliver Hammer blow
Published 22:11 19/04/10 By Pa Sports
The Mirror
Liverpool cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over West Ham at Anfield to
keep their faint Champions League qualification hopes alive and leave the
Hammers with three games to secure their top-flight survival Former West Ham
midfielder Yossi Benayoun and David Ngog gave the hosts a 2-0 lead in a
low-key first half and goalkeeper Robert Green's unfortunate own goal
finished off his side. However, both teams still have a great deal to do to
achieve their aims as Liverpool are still five points adrift of fourth place
while West Ham are only three above the drop zone. Having barely threatened,
Liverpool took the lead in the 19th minute with a piece of quick thinking by
Benayoun. Steven Gerrard's right-wing free-kick bounced in front of the
Israeli seven yards out and he allowed it to deflect off his stomach and in
off Green's right-hand post. West Ham's response was brief, with Carlton
Cole firing in a shot which Jose Reina did well to hold. Despite their lead
the atmosphere inside Anfield seemed to reflect the team's forlorn hopes of
fourth place and it was not improved when unmarked centre-back Sotirios
Kyrgiakos headed Gerrard's 27th-minute corner down and over the crossbar
from six yards.
But a surprisingly smart finish from the raw Ngog eased those worries two
minutes later when he converted Maxi Rodriguez's cross with a first-time
shot after Benayoun had begun the move by cutting in from the left. If
Benayoun's goal was fortuitous the third was even more lucky as Kyrgiakos'
shot from Gerrard's 59th-minute free-kick crashed back off the post, hit
Green and bounced back into the net. Even with the game over the hosts still
pushed forward and Rodriguez's whipped near-post shot had Green scrambling
to keep the ball from crossing the line at the second attempt while Kuyt's
ambitious overhead kick showed confidence was certainly not lacking.
Unfortunately for both Liverpool and West Ham, they will need much more than
that if their seasons are not to end in disappointment and heartbreak
respectively.
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Gianfranco Zola: West Ham must not dwell on 'very costly' mistakes against
Liverpool
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has warned his players not to dwell on
their 3-0 defeat against Liverpool on Monday night and instead focus on the
club's remaining three fixtures as they battle to avoid relegation.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Giles Mole
Published: 7:48AM BST 20 Apr 2010
Defeat at Anfield has increased the pressure on West Ham United, who are
three points above the relegation zone having played one match more than
18th-placed Hull.
West Ham next host fellow strugglers Wigan at Upton Park on Saturday before
travelling to Fulham a week later and then hosting Manchester City in their
final game of the season. Premier League fixtures After losing to
Liverpool, Zola said: "I don't think it was our best performance. I think we
started well and were comfortable on the pitch but the first goal changed
things completely. "I think we felt we couldn't come back from it. We all
disappointed but it is not a moment to think too much about that. "We made
mistakes. They were very costly and we didn't play very well. "But we need
to react straight away because on Saturday we have a very important game."
Liverpool made it 10 successive victories at Anfield as former West Ham
midfielder Yossi Benayoun and David Ngog put the hosts 2-0 up in the first
half, before goalkeeper Robert Green's unfortunate own goal finished off
Zola's side after the break. That lifted Liverpool to within five points of
fourth-placed Tottenham and Benitez has still not given up snatching
Champions League qualification, despite there being only three games left.
"We have to keep doing our job. It will be more difficult now because
Tottenham won (against Chelsea), normally you would not expect them to win,"
he said. "But we have to be in a good position if they make a mistake. "West
Ham started the game pushing but as soon as we scored the first goal it was
easier, we had more chances and we scored the second goal and the third one
killed the game. "It was important to score and control the game."
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