Liverpool come from behind to beat West Ham

West Ham 2 Noble (pen) 36, Gerrard (OG) 43
Liverpool 3 Johnson 11, Cole 76, Collins (OG) 79

Premier League, Sunday, 9th December 2012

Liverpool came from behind to beat West Ham and record their first victory of the season following a Europa League game.

After a strong start, that saw Glen Johnson hit a beauty to put the Reds ahead, West Ham ended the first half 2-1 up courtesy of a dubious penalty and Steven Gerrard‘s own goal.

Again, Brendan Rodgers showed his tactical nous and bringing on Jordan Henderson in the second half, coupled with injury to West Han’s influential Diame, swung the game in Liverpool’s favour.

Henderson set-up the winning goal when Jonjo Shelvey forced Collins into putting the ball into his own net.

Liverpool’s equaliser had arrived when Joe Cole, on for the injured Jose Enrique after half an hour, finished expertly when put through by Raheem Sterling.

Referee Lee Probert did everything possible to prevent Liverpool from winning this – awarding the home side a penalty when the ball struck Allen from a yard away, later denying a clear penalty on Jonjo Shelvey, then adding 5 minutes of stoppage time and playing over 7. Liverpool are still to have been awarded a penalty this season.

Liverpool weren’t at their best but a first come-from-behind victory away from home since 2009 is a welcome one. They are now just four points off a Champions League place, with some favourable fixtures over the festive period.

The match also means Liverpool have won two consecutive Premier League games for the first time in 2012.

West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O’Brien, Collins, Demel (McCartney 46), Nolan, Jarvis, Taylor, (Maiga 86), Noble, Diame (Tomkins 73) Cole.
Subs not used: Spiegel, Spence, O’Neil, Moncur.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique (Cole 27), Lucas (Henderson 71), Allen (Coates 86), Gerrard, Downing, Shelvey, Sterling.
Subs not used: Jones, Carragher, Suso, Morgan.

Referee: Lee Probert
Attendance: 35,005