Liverpool go top of the Premier League table with a hard-earned 2-1 victory against West Ham United on Saturday at Anfield.
The Reds came from behind to seal all three points, with summer signing Diogo Jota scoring for the third straight game.
The Hammers – who were undefeated in their last four Premier League games prior to their visit to Anfield – took an early lead through Spanish midfielder Pablo Fornals, taking full advantage of a poor headed clearance by Joe Gomez.
Liverpool restored parity shortly before the break. Arthur Masuaku committed a foul on Mohamed Salah (which David Moyes interpreted as a dive from the Egyptian after the match) that allowed the Reds talisman to equalise from the penalty spot.
With five minutes remaining from the normal time, Jota found the net after being laid off with a delightful pass by Xherdan Shaqiri – moments after already seeing a goal disallowed for a foul.
Here’s how Liverpool players reacted to the win after the game:
Impressive night at Anfield ✨#YNWA pic.twitter.com/WpKHbB66N8
— Jordan Henderson (@JHenderson) October 31, 2020
Uau @XS_11official 👏
Great night ⚽️💪 pic.twitter.com/tQAMhKiWzM— Diogo Jota (@DiogoJota18) October 31, 2020
🤜🏼🤛🏼👀🔥👌🏼💪🏼 #XS23 #YNWA @LFC pic.twitter.com/6bDswAHaZT
— Xherdan Shaqiri (@XS_11official) October 31, 2020
100 club. Proud. pic.twitter.com/WNI3bYOWhD
— Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA) October 31, 2020
Jota goal ✅
Nat Phillips MOTM ✅
Big win ✅
Great Saturday ✅ pic.twitter.com/NEWQXKdy6q— Andy Robertson (@andrewrobertso5) October 31, 2020
GET IN Reds!💪🏾 Exciting game with a great result 🔴🔴🔴 and congrats to Nat with his excellent @premierleague debut 👏🏾🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/86fQlXWTrt
— Gini Wijnaldum (@GWijnaldum) October 31, 2020
Three observations from the game:
a) Worrying defence: While Liverpool continue to find a way to grind out results, it’s their leaky defence that remains a major concern, with the Reds having now conceded 15 goals in seven games this season.
The performance of debutant Nathaniel Phillips has been really encouraging, and he is expected to get more game time in coming weeks in the absence of Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Joel Matip.
Stat from BBC: Only Aston Villa in 1897-98 (17) have conceded more goals in their first seven league matches as reigning top-flight champions than Liverpool this season (15). The Reds took 23 games to concede 15 Premier League goals last season.
b) Good performance from the visitors: It was an impressive away performance from West Ham, with Fornals putting in yet another solid effort. He was denied a second goal by Andy Robertson’s important block and looked lively throughout the game. The Hammers deserve praise for their hard work, and Moyes reflected that it’s a good sign that his squad felt they should have taken something from the game.
c) Anfield Fortress: One of the major reasons behind Liverpool’s dominance under Klopp has been their enviable record at home. The Reds are now undefeated in 63 league games at Anfield, equalling the club record set by Bob Paisley’s all-conquering side between 1978 and 1981.
