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Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 12
Oct 19, 2022 at 7.30pm UK
Anfield
West Ham logo

Liverpool
1 - 0
West Ham

Nunez (22')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Jurgen Klopp hails "exceptional" Liverpool showing in West Ham United win

Jurgen Klopp hails
© Reuters
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pays tribute to his side's "exceptional" performance in their 1-0 Premier League victory over West Ham United at Anfield.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to his side's "exceptional" performance in their 1-0 win over West Ham United at Anfield.

The Reds were aiming to keep the momentum going from their narrow victory over champions Manchester City and went ahead in the 22nd minute through Darwin Nunez's header.

The Uruguayan was a constant threat in the final third during the opening stages, also striking the post and forcing saves out of Lukasz Fabianski in the West Ham goal.

However, David Moyes's side did not give up the ghost and had the chance to draw level through a Jarrod Bowen penalty just before the break, but Alisson Becker guessed correctly and saved well.

A combination of the Brazilian goalkeeper and James Milner also kept Tomas Soucek's late effort out, but Klopp was nevertheless overjoyed with what he saw on Wednesday evening.

"I think the first half was a really good first half, with a bad ending for us with the penalty... but then with a good ending because Ali could save the penalty," Klopp said. "It still left a bit of a bad taste like we were lucky, but first half we were not - we played an exceptional game.

"We played really good football, we created, we scored a wonderful goal, hit the post, Fabianski with great saves and big blocks in the decisive areas from West Ham, but we didn't play that well in the second half, so that's why the game opened up.

"In the end, we needed Ali, we needed Millie's big toe and we needed a couple of things. Overall, I think it is a deserved three points."

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring against West Ham United on October 19, 2022© Reuters

Nunez's downward header marked his first goal at Anfield since joining from Benfica for an initial £64m in the summer, although he was then surprisingly taken off with just 57 minutes gone.

Explaining his decision to withdraw the 23-year-old, Klopp revealed that he had been nursing some muscular tightness at half time and was not prepared to risk adding to his already lengthy injury list.

"It is important. He has scored now a couple of times in the last few games. He arrived 100 per cent, now even with numbers, which is fine," Klopp said of Nunez.

"He felt a little bit the muscles at half-time but it was all fine and after five minutes [of the second half] I was just a bit concerned about long sprints for him and balls where he stretches his legs.

"I thought, 'Come on, we cannot take that risk' and that's why we changed. No [it is not a concern], I think we caught it at the right moment."

Liverpool have risen above Brighton & Hove Albion into seventh in the Premier League table following Wednesday's win, and four points separates them from Chelsea in the final Champions League spot.

A trip to 19th-placed Nottingham Forest now awaits Liverpool on Saturday as they aim to record a third successive win in the English top flight.

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Liverpool's Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring against West Ham United on October 19, 2022
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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