Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes took another huge blow on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw with West Ham United.
A poor first-half showing saw them deservedly fall behind to Jarrod Bowen’s strike, but Andy Robertson equalised early in the second half before an own goal gave Liverpool the lead.
Jurgen Klopp’s side couldn’t hold on, however, with Michail Antonio heading home an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining to almost certainly end any slim hopes of a triumphant farewell for the Liverpool boss.
How the game unfolded
Liverpool made a lively start and the first real sight of goal fell to Harvey Elliott, whose strike from a tight angle went crashing into the side netting ten minutes in, but West Ham offered plenty of threat down the other end as well.
Mohammed Kudus saw a strike deflected wide before Bowen’s effort from distance ultimately ended in a routine save from Alisson as the game started to become somewhat turgid.
26 minutes in, there was some confusion when Cody Gakpo went down in the box seconds before a clear handball from Angelo Ogbonna. The flag was raised and referee Anthony Taylor initially pointed to the spot, before realising the call was actually for offside. A VAR check confirmed Luis Diaz had made his run too early.
Vladimir Coufal stung Alisson’s gloves with a fierce strike on the half-hour mark, before Diaz cut inside from the left wing and fizzed an effort against Alphonse Areola’s near post.
With two minutes left of the first half, West Ham snatched the lead as Bowen headed home from a quick corner which left Liverpool flat-footed.
Clearly on the receiving end of a tough team talk, Liverpool came out strong after the break. Ryan Gravenberch thumped a volley over the bar but the equaliser came in the 49th minute when Robertson managed to squeeze an effort into the back of the net.
15 minutes later, Liverpool were in front in the ugliest of fashions. Cody Gakpo poked a volley towards goal and the ball crashed off Ogbonna, Tomas Soucek and Areola before crossing the line.
Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister both missed chances to make it 3-1 shortly after, with the latter’s timid header particularly disappointing.
Alisson messed up a simple catch and invited a chance from Emerson, whose powerful strike drew an impressive save, but the passage of play ended in heartbreak for Liverpool when Antonio rose highest to head home a cross from Bowen, tying things up with 15 minutes to go.
Elliott clipped the top of the crossbar with a strike from range in the dying embers but Liverpool could not find a third goal and remain behind both Arsenal and Manchester City with three games left to play.
