A DRAW was a fair result in this hotly contested game between Liverpool and West Ham at the London Stadium but not enough for the ambitions of either side.

The draw means Liverpool are practically out of the title race, while just a point for West Ham further dents their hope of a fourth successive season in European competition.

It was Liverpool who dominated possession for much of the first half but lacked end product.

Early on, Harvey Elliott hit the side netting, after a nod down from Cody Gakpo.

Then, Luis Diaz was put clear with a long ball from the back but he fired over.

On the half hour, it looked as though Liverpool had been awarded a penalty for a foul by Angelo Ogbonna on Gakpo but VAR ruled there was an earlier offside.

Diaz hit the post, after turning Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek. West Ham then put the pressure on, Bowen forcing a save out of Alisson Becker, after a deflection.

But a short corner from Emerson saw Mohammed Kudus’s cross headed home by Bowen.

The second half was minutes old, when Liverpool equalised via full back Andy Robertson.

Trent Alexander Arnold then brought a save from the busy Alphonse Areola.

Liverpool took the lead when West Ham players seemed frozen, allowing a shot from Gakpo to deflect off Ogbonna, Soucek and finally Areola into the net.

Areola then twice denied Diaz, when the Colombian striker was through on goal. Alisson pushed an Emerson shot around the post. West Ham though were not to be denied, Bowen crossing in for Antonio to rise and head home.

In the final minutes, Liverpool came closest to stealing the points, when Elliott saw his shot bounce off the bar. West Ham manager David Moyes was pleased at the character shown by his team.
He cited how well West Ham had done this year against the big teams like Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham.

The manager, though, admitted Liverpool were the better team but as happened against Everton during the week, that does not mean they get the result.

Moyes paid tribute to outgoing Jurgen Klopp, putting him up with the greats who endure, like Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola.

“He has been immense for Liverpool, able to control a big football club,” said Moyes.

Liverpool manager Klopp was resigned to the fact that his team’s chances of winning the Premiership now lie with other teams. He confirmed that he would be trying to get nine points from the final three games.

Amid speculation about Moyes’s future at West Ham, Klopp paid tribute. “He has done an incredible job. He is a great guy, a character,” said Klopp, who would not comment on the conjecture.