West Ham United vs Liverpool
Match pulse
WHUAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Liverpool 3-0
Liverpool beat West Ham United 3-0 on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at Boleyn Ground. Goals for Liverpool: Steven Gerrard (2', 38') and Ryan Babel (84').
Play by play
- 92'
FULL-TIME: A handsome win for Liverpool who are top tonight on goal difference. A stroll really for the Anfield outfit who will be hoping the sky blue half of Manchester can do them a big favour tomorrow.
- 92'
Liverpool are keen to add to their goal tally here and Gerrard (with an eye on Liverpool's goal difference) indicates he will not be taking the corner, presumably to make the most of his abilities in the box. He will be delighted then that the corner is played short and possession lost to West Ham almost immediately. Full-time here.
- 90'
Gerrard's shot is blocked by Noble as it hits the sidenetting and Liverpool have the corner. West Ham clear and then Kuyt caps a fine game by falling on his derriere after he mishits a shot.
- 89'
Ilunga does well to block Kuyt's cross out on the right. Not many West Ham fans are left to see it though as the home crowd head for the exits with their side well beaten.
- 88'
Dossena clatters in to Lucas Neill who had provoked him with a couple of firm challenges prior to that.
- 86'
Some rather faint chants of 'We're gonna win the league' can be heard from the Liverpool fans. You suspect even they know that is unlikely but if Manchester City can do them a favour in the derby tomorrow then it will certainly be an interesting run-in.
- 85'
Great tackle from Upson on Gerrard who looked poised to add gloss to the scoreline as he raced towards goal.
- 83'
GOAL: Three for Liverpool as Ryan Babel bags his first goal of the year. It came from a sweeping break from Liverpool with Gerrard finding Kuyt who had time to look up and pick out Babel. Green blocked his header but was helpless to prevent Babel blasting home the loose ball from close range.
- 81'
Benayoun is now off and Andreas Dossena is on. Josh Payne has also replaced the fuming Luis Boa Morte who has not had the best of days the poor little lamb.
- 78'
Great one-two between Gerrard and Benayoun with the Israeli showing a nice touch to find his skipper.
- 78'
Boa Morte is moaning once more after Mascherano went to ground following his challenge.
- 76'
Diego Tristan is fractionally offside as he looked to race through on goal.
- 75'
Noble - who has been the pick of the West Ham players - finds space out on the right but can't get his foot around the ball to direct his cross towards the Liverpool box. Goal-kick to Liverpool.
- 74'
Benayous is lucky to avoid a booking for a late tackle on Noble.
- 72'
Nippy bit of play from Sears to get in behind the Liverpool defence and put in a cross but he overhits it and nobody in a West Ham shirt had bothered to get in the penalty area anyway.
- 70'
Boa Morte threads a ball through which Skrtel belts behind for a corner. It comes to nothing as a West Ham player had strayed offside. Fernando Torres departs and is replaced by the speedy Ryan Babel.
- 69'
Kuyt tees it up for Gerrard who fails to control it adequately allowing Tomkins to slide in for a well-timed tackle. Meanwhile Di Michele is taking out of harms way and Freddie Sears will take his place.
- 67'
The atmosphere at Upton Park is as flat as a bottle of champagne opened in Holland three weeks ago. The Hammers crowd seem to know this game is passing them by. Meanwhile Di Michele shoots wide.
- 64'
Benayoun slinks through the middle and throws a couple of feints before curling a shot just wide.
- 64'
Ilunga is well forward and advances in to the Liverpool box before Reina puts a stop to his attacking intentions with a clearance.
- 63'
Di Michele - again - shows terrible control and you can sense the Upton Park crowd losing patience with their misfiring front man.
- 61'
And there indeed is the stern looking figure of Fabio Capello taking notes on the game from the stands.
- 60'
Noble curls it over but Liverpool clear and tear up the park with Gerrard on the ball. He finds Kuyt but he tries to lift it over Green and the England man makes a good save.
- 59'
Boa Morte is bundled over by Skrtel then holds his hands up in expectation of a free-kick which he receives.
- 58'
Stanislas is off and Collison is on to huge cheers of approval from the Upton Park faithful.
Leaders
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