Sturridge made a long-awaited return to competitive football in Liverpool’s unsuccessful bid to reach the FA Cup fifth round, as the club dropped a 2-1 extra-time loss to West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground. “Dimitri Payet is our best player”.
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Liverpool were rejuvenated. Smith was causing more problems in an advanced position and soon Sturridge was on. “2-0 in the lead (against Sunderland), manager in hospital, out of the FA Cup, but tomorrow when we get up the sun will shine” – Jurgen Klopp.
The fourth-round replay was heading for a penalty shoot-out when centre-half Ogbonna, thrust into attack as a final throw of the dice, headed in the victor. This is the third time we have played Liverpool and they have had different line-ups. Christian Benteke has been extremely poor up-front and missed several chances to give Liverpool the lead against West Ham and settle the game in the 90 minutes itself.
The match was worthy of the occasion, as well.
And, once the action got started after former England manager and West Ham defender Ron Greenwood was remembered with a minute’s applause a decade on from his passing aged 84, it took 15 minutes for their battle to reignite with the Ireland stopper beating away a volley from the Belgian at his near post.
Philippe Coutinho played in a clever free kick under West Ham’s defensive wall three minutes into the second half.
The two sides come into the match in similar form, each with just one win in the last five matches.
Watch the live stream of the fourth round F.A. Cup matchup between West Ham and Liverpool.
French playmaker Payet is reportedly the subject of a £38million bid from an unnamed Chinese club, as the transfer window in China does not shut until the end of this month.
“I can say that because he is also working hard for the team, and the team appreciate that of course”.
“It’s a good result for us and we have to look forward to the next step now”. We must do everything we can to keep our best players, and he is our best player.
“I am very proud of the guys they left their hearts on the pitch”.
The Anfield chief picked a youthful side again and they were desperately unlucky to come up short.
West Ham vs Liverpool tonight at Upton Park and both teams need the win.
“We did a lot of things really good, we played the game in the right direction”, added Klopp.
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West Ham, which is three places above Liverpool in the Premier League standings, had already completed its first league double over the Merseyside club since the 1963/64 season. Our goal was great, a high-quality goal of Phil Coutinho. Then still we did well, created chances and put up a big fight. We couldn’t use our chances, they got a free-kick without a foul and we conceded a goal.
