West Ham 2 Liverpool 2

Diamanti made his first start for West Ham. Behrami and Illunga were back in the starting line-up and Hines also kept his place.

The first half was all about Hines and Torres. Hines in particular made mugs of the Liverpool defence and, as the half progressed, Liverpool resorted to just hacking him down every time he got the ball. As early as the second minute Hines stole the ball off Carragher's toe just outside the area, he ran into the box and tried to curl the ball around the out-rushing keeper, only to see his shot rebound back off the post.

However it was Torres who got the opening goal. In the 19th minute he received the ball to the left of the West Ham area about twenty five yards out and dribbled past Tomkins before beating Green inside his near post from 6 yards. Even worse Upson was injured trying to block the shot and had to be replaced by Gabbidon.

Six minutes later and Behrami was also forced off to be replaced by Kovac. In the 28th minute, in an almost carbon copy of the Torres run before he scored, Hines received the ball on the left wing, dribbled into the box and was pushed over by Carragher. The ref gave the penalty and Diamanti scored, despite falling over just as he struck the ball.

In the 41st minute Gerrard rose to meet a corner with his head, eight yards out. His header was poked home by Kuyt at the far post from two yards. West Ham only took three minutes to respond. A Diamanti freekick was deflected off the wall for a corner. Cole headed home the corner at the near post six yards out.


The second half saw mainly Liverpool possession for the first thirty minutes. Despite the possession Liverpool didn't look particularly threatening until Babel received the ball on the right wing and crossed into the box. Torres rose between Tomkins and Faubert to head home from 8 yards.

West Ham almost responded immediately when Cole headed a cross from wide left of the goal back across the six yard box and Kovac's flicked header was saved by Reina. From the corner Tomkins rose and headed just wide from 10 yards.

That, however, was about it as West Ham were unable to craft any more chances in the remaining minutes.