Liverpool title hopes end as Salah's frustration boils over - 5 talking points

27 April 2024 , 13:25

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Jarrod Bowen ended Liverpool's title hopes (Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool's Premier League title hopes were all but ended as West Ham held them to a draw at the London Stadium.

The Reds were beaten 2-0 at Everton on Wednesday and dropped yet more points to leave Arsenal and Manchester City in a two-horse title race. Jurgen Klopp's side showed spirit to come from 1-0 down to take a 2-1 lead but conceded a late equaliser.

After a drab opening 30 minutes, Luis Diaz showed the first signs of life when he cut inside and hit the post. But it was West Ham who woke up first, as Jarrod Bowen headed in Mohammed Kudus' cross from a quickly-taken corner which caught Liverpool off-guard.

Ryan Gravenberch blasted over shortly after the break and it appeared Liverpool's wayward finishing would continue until Andy Robertson's weak effort somehow got past Alphonse Areola at the near post to make it 1-1. The Reds kept up the pressure and took the lead when Cody Gakpo's scuffed shot from a corner bounced off three Hammers players and crossed the line.

The momentum seemed to have shifted, but Bowen produced a moment of magic to puncture it, crossing onto the head of Michail Antonio, who headed in to equalise.

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Mohamed Salah, dropped from the visitors' starting lineup, argued with Klopp on the touchline as he waited to enter the fray while that goal went in and the Egyptian couldn't inspire his side to find a winner, despite Harvey Elliott clipping the top of the bar late on.

Here are the talking points from east London.

1. Klopp’s changes don’t work

Liverpool were lacklustre in the first half (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Klopp made a statement when picking his starting XI, dropping Salah, Darwin Nunez, Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai from the team which played against Everton on Wednesday. In came Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, but to little effect.

Liverpool were lacklustre in the first half, having 76 per cent of the ball but doing nothing much with it. There were glimmers, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alexis Mac Allister trying hard to fashion chances, yet their trademark high-tempo fast-pace play was sorely lacking.

Elliott hit the side-netting with a good opening and curled another first-time effort straight at Alphonse Areola, while Diaz was offside from an Alexander-Arnold cross. By half-time, they had attempted 11 shots without really threatening, while their problems at the back continued. The Reds were still organising themselves when Kudus’ cross came in and Gakpo didn’t even jump to challenge Bowen as he headed past Alisson.

2. The Moyes debate

David Moyes is likely being replaced at the end of the season (Vince Mignott/Getty Images)

There has been a debate ongoing at West Ham for some time among fans and pundits. Some think the club should move on from David Moyes and appoint a more forward-thinking manager. Others have warned they should be careful what they wish for and have accused fans of disrespecting what Moyes has achieved in east London.

Moyes is a vastly experienced manager who won the Europa Conference League title and has brought plenty of pragmatic, steady if unspectacular success to the London Stadium. There was likely to be plenty of discontent in the stands, right up until Bowen nodded in the opening goal, and it re-emerged after Liverpool fought back to take the lead.

The debate will go on, but it seems those who matter have made up their minds, with Moyes expecting to be replaced at the end of the season, with his contract expiring. They have held talks with Sporting’s Rubem Amorim and Julen Lopetegui – and The Guardian says Lille’s Paulo Fonseca, Stuttgart’s Sebastien Hoeness, Hansi Flick and Fulham ’s Marco Silva are also on the shortlist.

3. Trent takes responsibility

Trent Alexander-Arnold was influential after the break (Vince Mignott/Getty Images)

Commentating for TNT Sports, Ally McCoist was shocked when Klopp decided not to make any changes at half-time. The Liverpool boss had no doubt given his players a rocket during the break and it had the desired effect, with the away side much better right from the off.

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Both of Liverpool’s goals owed plenty to good fortune and West Ham mistakes. Areola should have saved Robertson’s effort and the second goal was like a pinball machine in the box, with Gakpo’s scuffed effort bouncing off Angelo Ogbonna, Tomas Soucek and Areola before crossing the line.

But what was also noticeable after the break was the influence of the Reds’ right back. Alexander-Arnold is generally at the forefront of Liverpool’s build-up and that was turned up a few notches at the London Stadium as he came in field more often and pinged his trademark passes out to Robertson on the opposite flank. Alexander-Arnold was made vice-captain by Klopp in the summer and his leadership qualities are growing to match his technical ability.

4. Bowen shows his class

Jarrod Bowen scored and assisted for West Ham (Vince Mignott/Getty Images)

Liverpool know very well just how good Bowen can be. They have kept an eye on the West Ham star for some time and have earmarked him as a potential replacement for Salah, with the Egyptian about to enter the final year of his contract amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

And it was Bowen who was the architect of their downfall. His first-half header showed his vastly-improved movement and gave him his 16th Premier League goal of the season, matching Paolo Di Canio's high-water mark for the Hammers.

West Ham's second saw Antonio bamboozle Quansah with his movement. But it was Bowen's run and pinpoint cross which made the goal which put the nail in the coffin of Liverpool's title hopes. The way he cut inside from the right and crossed on his left foot bore the hallmarks of prime Salah.

5. Salah and Klopp argue

Jurgen Klopp and Mo Salah argued

Klopp made a statement by leaving Salah on the bench and there were signs of frustration between the manager and his star player in the second half. As Salah stood on the touchline with Joe Gomez and Nunez, waiting to come on, he was seen having a feisty disagreement with Klopp.

Salah will not have been happy to have been left on the bench - even if he played badly against Everton - and he was seen letting his manager know. The Egyptian showed flashes once he was on, but his cross towards Nunez was cut out by Vladimir Coufal.

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Felix Keith