Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw by West Ham United in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie, provoking widespread criticism from a frustrated support.
Liverpool 0-0 West Ham United
FA Cup Fourth Round – Anfield – Saturday 30th January 2016
Liverpool welcomed West Ham to Anfield for the second time in 2015/16 with a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup at stake.
Looking to improve on a pair of defeats against the Hammers previously this season, Jurgen Klopp steeled his side for a tough outing on Merseyside.
While a result will have been at the forefront of supporters’ minds ahead of the Saturday evening clash however, a measure of the pre-match focus was on Joe Allen.
The Welshman was rewarded for his winning penalty in Tuesday night’s League Cup semi-final win with a starting role and the captaincy.
Joe Allen will captain Liverpool tonight. pic.twitter.com/45cTdRaG09
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) January 30, 2016
The renaissance of Joe Allen. It sounds like an Oscar Wilde production.
— Kristian Walsh (@Kristian_Walsh) January 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/TheKop/status/693479296200019969
https://twitter.com/Sennesation/status/693471755118231552
Christian Benteke came closest for the Reds in the first 25 minutes, glancing a header on goal after an inch-perfect delivery from Cameron Brannagan, drawing criticism from supporters.
https://twitter.com/dc23__/status/693492416570118144
needs to get more on that, Benteke
— Karl (@__karl__) January 30, 2016
That is inch perfect. Benteke needs jibbing.
— Dan (@DACrookster) January 30, 2016
Actually feel for Benteke,He has no idea what's going on around him,Just stands and points at things,Cmon Big Ben get us a goal #LFC
— AnthonyLFC (@AnthonyStackLFC) January 30, 2016
Brannagan—the star of the first half—almost opened the scores 10 minutes later, lashing a powerful effort from outside the area that was just tipped wide by Darren Randolph.
Cameron Brannagan is boss!
— Red (@TaintlessRed) January 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/AcademyLFC/status/693495288087076865
https://twitter.com/jon_townsend3/status/693495007135809536
No side was able to find a decisive opening, but as Martin Atkinson blew for half-time, Klopp will have been impressed with how his young Reds had performed.
1st half over. Fairly even. So that's the best we've played vs Hammers all season.
— Red (@TaintlessRed) January 30, 2016
0-0 half time. Not a classic. Brannagan continues to show real promise for me.
— Kristian Walsh (@Kristian_Walsh) January 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/DHardayal/status/693498980332912640
Brannagan just bossing it.
— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) January 30, 2016
Brannagan>Allen>Pirlo>Xavi #LFC
— Stephen McGarty (@stephenmcgarty) January 30, 2016
Kev Stewart and @Cameron246bran have been excellent first half ?
— Rob Jones (@RobjonesLFC2) January 30, 2016
A strong challenge from Dejan Lovren in the second half saw ex-Reds loanee Victor Moses limping.
https://twitter.com/LFCChris_/status/693505112828940288
Dejan Lovren absolutely obliterating Victor Moses. Always knew that I would like him
— Anton (@Antonstotle) January 30, 2016
Lovren doing what we all wanted to do to Moses after that miss against Palace.
— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) January 30, 2016
Lovren still remembers Moses' miss against Palace
— ?? (@DjimiTraore) January 30, 2016
Lapping up the adulation of the Kop, a confident Allen attempted an ambitious bicycle kick towards the end of the second half, taking everyone by surprise.
Allen bicycle kick, would have deactivated and moved country
— Dinesh Kumar (@DHardayal) January 30, 2016
"Joe Allen was lining himself up for a bicycle kick"
— Ben McAleer (@BenMcAleer1) January 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/EmreCxn23/status/693510172858302473
Allen scores that bicycle kick and every Liverpool fan on the planet descends on town and drinks until the eventual heat death of the earth.
— Si (@PhantomGoal) January 30, 2016
The sight of Sheyi Ojo brought Anfield to their feet, with supporters applauding Klopp’s decision to bring him on in place of Ibe, and the 18-year-old showed a welcome intensity.
This kid is good #Ojo ?
— Kauser Soze (@NinaKauser) January 30, 2016
Ojo has Benteke's missing confidence
— Fergal Hanna (@Fergal_H) January 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/OfficialKojo/status/693512408820793344
But Liverpool were unable to break down West Ham‘s solid defence and breach the impressive Randolph’s goal, and the Reds must now prepare themselves for another FA Cup replay.
Well that was painful. A lot of players on the pitch during that game which simply must not remain on LFC payroll after June.
— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) January 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/MrBoywunder/status/693515830575927296
So even the #LFC youngsters will have backaches from carrying £32.5-million on their backs. :)
— Leroy | LFC Impulse (@LFCImpulse) January 30, 2016
Stewart was man of the match for me. Brannagan & Texeira not far behind. Horrendous performance by Benteke.
— Paul Grech (@paul_grech) January 30, 2016
Replay not ideal but fair play to the kids. Some assumed they'd get hammered
— Kauser Soze (@NinaKauser) January 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/Chris78Williams/status/693515291213565952
Wasn't expecting us to completely outplay West Ham with that squad, no idea how we didn't score. Yet another match..
— Dinesh Kumar (@DHardayal) January 30, 2016
That's 3 games at anfield without a goalThe young lads did OK to be fair.Again inspiration in front of goal needed.Be very tough the replay.
— John Aldridge (@Realaldo474) January 30, 2016
While Klopp’s young stars earned their praise, Benteke bore the brunt of the criticism as one of Liverpool’s most senior players at Anfield on Saturday night.
This is a performance that will have provided Klopp with much food for thought, as well as an unwanted headache, with the draw giving Liverpool yet another fixture to add to their ever-congested fixture list.
- MATCH REPORT: Reds held for East London replay
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