By Ayeotan Shola
When the fixture list pits Liverpool against west Ham at Anfield, the result is usually a foregone conclusion: three points for the home team and a long, miserable trip back to the capital following an afternoon of disappointment.
Not this time. Not by a long way. West Ham, for the first time since September 1963 when the Beatles topped the charts with ‘She Loves You’, have been victorious in this part of Merseyside and how emphatically they ended their hoodoo, with three unanswered goals.
West Ham, despite finishing with 10 men after Mark Noble was sent-off for a wild challenge on Danny Ings, were outstanding and secured victory thanks to first-half goals from Manuel Lanzini, Noble and another in injury time from Diafra Sakho.
Liverpool, who also finished with 10 men after Philippe Coutinho was given his marching orders for two bookable offences, were absolutely wretched and this result punctures the early cautious optimism that had started to grow after their unbeaten start.
To make matters worse for Rodgers, he will now have Coutinho suspended for the trip to Old Trafford after the international break. The Brazil international was foolish and once he walked down the tunnel, Liverpool’s hopes of a comeback disappeared. West Ham took full advantage.
