By Grant James

Liverpool dropped points from a winning position for the second game running, as West Ham took advantage of defensive mishaps to climb out of the relegation zone with a spirited 2-2 draw.

The home side took the lead after just five minutes through a controlled low strike by Adam Lallana. Liverpool looked confidently on top until the goal scorer needlessly gave a foul away on the edge of the box after 27 minutes. Dimitri Payet buried the resulting free kick from 25 yards, with goalkeeper Loris Karius hardly covering himself in glory as he palmed the ball into the side netting. It was an effort he really should have saved.

The German shot stopper was beaten again 12 minutes later, after Joel Matip failed to clear the danger from a deflected ball over the top. Michail Antonio, who had started up front, latched onto the loose ball and flicked it past Karius with the outside of his foot, putting the Hammers 1-2 up. Karius was less culpable for the goal, but he still should have done better.

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In first half stoppage time Liverpool had strong a penalty shout waved away by referee Mark Clattenburg as Dimitri Payet and Adam Lallana tussled on the by-line. The resulting corner was cannoned onto the bar after a stooping header by Joel Matip, creating panic in the West Ham box. West Ham managed to clear their lines as Clattenburg blew for half time.

Within three minutes of the restart, Divock Origi drew the hosts level after a costly mistake by West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph. Sadio Mané chipped a delightful ball into the box from the left hand side and Randolph misjudged the flight, fumbling it into the path of Origi, who made no mistake from five yards. West Ham have now conceded four goals in the opening five minutes of the last six halves.

Midway through the second half Randolph had atoned for his earlier mistake with a contender for save of the season. Jordan Henderson’s stunning striker was bending into the top corner, but Randolph met it with a magnificent one-handed save to tip it over the bar.

With Slaven Bilic substituting Andy Carroll on against his former club, West Ham had more of a presence up front as he switched to a back five, happy to preserve the point. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp did not make any more substitutions with a sincere lack of firepower and experience on the bench through an accumulation of injuries.

The change of formation did not seem to steady the ship for West Ham, as Liverpool dominated possession and looked threatening going forward. Georginio Wijnaldum was denied by a fantastic block by West Ham’s Havard Nordtviet, as Mané also had a shot blocked by Winston Reid minutes later.

West Ham took advantage of Liverpool’s weary legs and hit Liverpool on the counter attack with five minutes left. The attack came to nothing however as Karius raced out of his goal to punch clear, cutting Andy Carroll’s head in the process.

Liverpool continued to swarm the West Ham half in the dying embers of the game with a flurry of corners and crosses. West Ham dealt with them well and cleared their lines efficiently, securing an excellent draw on the back of a 1-5 drubbing at home to Arsenal.

Liverpool will see the result as two points dropped after losing more ground on Premier League leaders Chelsea. West Ham may also feel slightly disappointed as Darren Randolph’s early mistake in the second half gifted the Reds an equaliser, but would have taken a point before kick-off hands down.

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