Pressure mounts on Avram Grant as Reds maul Hammers - Part 1
Finally, Liverpool had something to cheer about as their side thrashed a West Ham side missing its most influential player, Scott Parker. Reds started the game on front foot with right-back Glen Johnson, who just returned from injury, racing down the right
flank and taking a shot at goal which was palmed away by West Ham keeper, Robert Green. This gave Liverpool their first corner of the game with just one minute on the clock. Manager Roy Hodgson, who has witnessed Liverpool slide to the bottom of the table
before slowly working their way to recovery, must have hoped that this was a sign of things to come.
With just ten minutes on the clock, Reds had another chance to open the scoring when the young Frenchman, David N’Gog cut in from the right hand flank and dribbled his way past four defenders to lay the ball off for Fernando Torres. The fans though were
left gaping as his shot missed the left goalpost by mere inches. Liverpool were fully dominating the game by controlling the midfield and were breaking forward in numbers to attack on a regular basis. Johnson once again linked up well with Torres who laid
off a shot for Kuyt but Green managed to save the shot. Next, the new recruit and Portuguese midfield enforcer, Raul Meireles, tried his luck from the edge of the penalty box but once again Green was able to get a hand to it.
It was from the resulting corner that Liverpool finally broke the deadlock and had something to show for their dominance in the game thus far. Meireles fizzed the corner in towards the penalty box and Glen Johnson smashed the ball past Green and into the
back of the net after confusion amongst the West Ham defenders. The hesitation of Hammers' backline was punished by the right back who could not have asked for a better way to return to the fold after injury.
As Hammers fans began to boo Avram Grant and show their frustration at conceding so early, Liverpool added to their misery by doubling their lead. Reds were awarded a penalty when Torres chipped a ball into the area that bounced up off centre back Upson
and onto the hand of Danny Gabbidon. The referee, after some consultation with his linesman, gave the penalty to Liverpool despite vocal protests from the West Ham players and fans. The Dutchman, Dirk Kuyt stepped up and coolly slotted the penalty past Green.
After going down by two goals, West Ham began to get out of their shell and tried to exert their influence on the game. The extent of Liverpool domination till then could be seen clearly by the fact that Hammers fans had to wait till the thirty-fifth minute
to see their side muster their first attempt on goal. It was nothing to cheer about though as a simple header from striker Carlton Cole was easily grabbed by Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.
As if to show that they were not done, the Reds then scored their third goal before the first half ended. Once again, West Ham defence were to blame as they were unable to clear the ball after Torres had shot towards the goal. From the resulting scramble
left-back Paul Konchesky, another one of the summer recruits, crossed towards the goal and his ball was met by a header from Maxi Rodriguez. Hammers fans had seen enough and were disgusted as they left the stadium early.
The first half ended with Liverpool taking a three goal lead into the break.
To be continued in Part 2...
Tags: