Today before the start of the game Liverpool had 15/2 odds to win the match according to goal.com and in the minds of many West Ham supporters that fear was enlarged when thinking about our back line and not to be too specific, but the center back combo.
After 93 minutes and a solid outing, it’s safe to say that the combination of Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, and Cresswell became the lead foreman for West Ham in building a wall against Liverpool.
No Trump pun intended, but it was huge!
Movement
The movement of the match was fast-paced from the start, and the back line was clearly up to the task today. The backline was so in sync that it created three offsides, and if there was a replay or VAR would’ve been five and more importantly a West Ham win. One of the big things I was looking forward to seeing was how the defense and Fabianski played as a unit and I couldn’t have been more pleased. It was refreshing to see the unison in their movement forward or in their coverage for an overextended player.
The Liverpool onslaught
In typical Liverpool fashion, the Reds attacked with pace and persistence, totaling 73% possession and six shots on goal. At any point in time, the score could’ve erupted in their favor if not for the solid angles provided by outstanding defending and a steady hand of Fabianski. You could’ve seen the end result easily be 3-1 or 4-1 but they stood up to the challenge and played a full 90-minute game. For the majority of the match Salah was handcuffed into shots he didn’t want or that he couldn’t get time to set up, also a result of the defense and the placement of Fabianski.
If you would’ve told me that with Zabaleta and Balbuena out and Fredericks and Ogbonna in that we would get a better result I would’ve laughed in your face, or at least your twitter account. It’s fair to say that this West Ham team was night-and-day better than on matchday 1 or in recent history as this was the first time in four matches where the Hammers didn’t give up 4 goals or more to the Reds. Many will count this as the West Ham way (me included) but I am sure many will hope this is a sign of things to come. On to the next as we face Palace in just a few days’ time and as always…
COME ON YOU IRONS!