Premier League
Liverpool 4-0 West Ham United 

Sunday, 12th August 2018
by Staff Writer

West Ham came crashing back down to earth with a bang as Manuel Pellegrini's new-look squad were thrashed by Liverpool at Anfield.adium.

Despite spending in the region of ??100million during pre-season, Pellegrini's squad were no match for an ebullient Reds side who swept West Ham away with two goals either side of the half time interval.

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Having ignored several early warnings, West Ham found themselves behind after just 19 minutes when the prolific Mo Salah converted Andy Robertson's low cross totap the ball into an empty net.

And criminally West Ham allowed the hosts to add a second on the cusp of half time when Sadio Mane finished off James Milner's centre to give Liverpool a comfortable lead going into the interval.

Despite being clearly offside - and with no VAR in the Premier League this season - Mane added a second when he turned and finiahed past debutant Fabianski despite being a clear yard offside.

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And Daniel Sturridge, with what was essentially his first touch of the ball after entering the fray as a late substitute added insult to injury with just two minutes of normal time remaining when he added a fourth to give the scoreline a comprehensive look and one that Liverpool probably deserved, such was their dominance.

West Ham, who started with five of their ten summer signings (Fabianski, Balbuena, Wilshere, Anderson and Fredericks) managed just two efforts on taarget throughout the game, both in the first half.

The defeat leaves West Ham bottom of the Premier League after the opening weekend. Bournemouth provide United's next opposition, at the Olympic Stadium next weeked.

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Player Ratings

Lukasz Fabianski
A baptism of fire for the Pole on his competitive debut - although there was little he could do about any of Liverpool's four goals.


Ryan Fredericks
Caught too narrow, too often - although this was mainly due to tactical reasons. His opportunities to bomb forward were too limited, so there was little chance to utilise his pace.


Arthur Masuaku
Once again his ability to defend competetnly as this level has been called into question. Targeted specifically during the first half, he endured a torrid time.


Angelo Ogbonna
The only player at the heart of the West Ham defence with any semblence of longevity in the team, and it showed.


Fabian Balbuena
'The General' also endured a difficult start to his Hammers career, ebing caught flat-footed on occasions and slightly off the pace during others. It will take time to adjust to the frenetic nature of Premier League football and higher grade.


Mark Noble
Chased shadows for much of the first half as West Ham simply failed to get to grips with 'Pool's midfield. Improved slightly after the break as Pellegrini adjusted his formation.


Declan Rice
Grooming the teenager as a future defensive midfieder will take time - and on reflection, Pellegrini may well agree that today probably wasn't the best occasion on which to gain experience.


Felipe Anderson
Saw too little of the ball but worked like a Trojan assisting in both defence and attack. Few positive signs today, but you can see he's a player.


Michail Antonio
Too often relied on brawn rather than brains to try and unlock Liverpool's defence and outshone by his replacement.


Jack Wilshere
Looked completely out-of-sorts in the first half but like Noble alongside him, better after the break.


Marko Arnautovic
Hardly involved and too isolated too often, but still managed to fashion a chance or two in the first half.



Substitutes

Robert Snodgrass
(Replaced Rice) Well who'd have thought Snoddy would be back in team for the first game of the season? Replaced Rice and helped the Hammers look a little more solid in the centre of the park.


Javier Hernandez
(Replaced Anderson) Replaced Anderson. Was barely involved.


Andriy Yarmolenko
(Replaced Arnautovic) Looked lively and the Hammer most likely to create something noteworthy. A promising start and his cameo was one of few positives to take from the game.


Adrian San Miguel del Castillo
Did not play.


Pablo Zabaleta
Did not play.


Issa Diop
Did not play.


Pedro Obiang
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Lukasz Fabianski, Ryan Fredericks, Arthur Masuaku, Angelo Ogbonna, Fabian Balbuena, Mark Noble, Declan Rice, Felipe Anderson, Michail Antonio, Jack Wilshere, Marko Arnautovic.

Goals: None.

Booked: Michail Antonio 52 Fabian Balbuena 55        .

Sent off: None.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Salah (Sturridge 87), Mane (Shaqiri 81), Firmino (Henderson 69).

Subs not used: Karius, Clyne, Fabinho, Lallana.

Goals: Salah (18), Mane (45), Mane (53), Sturridge (88).

Booked: Alexander-Arnold (21).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.

Attendance: 53,235.

Man of the Match: Andriy Yarmolenko.