PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool fall off the pace after being held by West Ham
Origi scored for the fourth game running to save a point for Liverpool as they were frustrated in their attempts to stay in touch with leaders Chelsea on Sunday
Held at Anfield
Divcock Origi found the net to save a point for Liverpool who lose ground on leaders Chelsea after drawing 2-2 with West Ham on Sunday afternoon.
Jürgen Klopp's side took an early lead through Adam Lallana's neat finish, but frailties in defence allowed West Ham to go in at half-time with a surprise lead at Anfield
Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius was at fault for Dimitri Payet's goal – his positioning and wall-building will surely be under the microscope, while another mix-up at the back allowed Michail Antonio to put the Londoners ahead.
Lallana opener
It looked like being a gloomy day for Slaven Bilic's side when they conceded a well-worked goal in the first five minutes, as Mané crossed from the left and Lallana took a touch to control before steering a shot low past Randolph. Yet even in the early stages of the game Liverpool looked disjointed and lacked concentration – the same symptoms which were behind their shocking 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth last weekend.
Reds defence, a mess
Antonio found space too easily as he sprinted between centre-backs Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip to collect Winston Reid's long ball over the top, but Karius turned aside the shot at his near post. Karius was then caught out as West Ham drew level in the 27th minute; he managed to get a hand to Payet's free-kick as it was floated over the wall, but had positioned himself too far away from his right-hand post to get across his goalline in time.
Off-kilter
That equaliser affected Liverpool's rhythm, and they went behind six minutes before half time to another soft goal. This time Havard Nordtveit's long diagonal pass out of defence flicked off Henderson to wrongfoot Matip, and Antonio came running in to flick the ball beyond a stranded Karius.
Liverpool could have been level by the interval but Firmino glanced wide from Georginio Wijnaldum's cross and then Lallana had a penalty appeal rejected after tumbling with Payet's arm across his chest. Referee Mark Clattenburg gave only a corner and from it Matip nodded Henderson's delivery on to the face of the crossbar.
Origi levels
Klopp's team were though level within three minutes of the restart. Mané spun to cross from the left, and the ball spilled out of Randolph’s hands to Origi for a simple tap-in.
Spirits restored, Liverpool almost regained the lead when Henderson sent a fine 25-yard piledriver towards the top corner, only for Randolph to magnificently tip it over.
The 2-2 draw lifts West Ham out of the relegation zone, and sees Liverpool fall six points behind leaders Chelsea who won by the minimum at home to West Brom. Klopp may be more concerned at his team’s alarming defensive figures – six goals conceded in the last two games.