Match Summary
Liverpool went back into 6th place in the Premier League with a comfortable, although unattractive, 3-0 victory over relegation battlers West Ham at Anfield on Monday night.
With Fernando Torres out injured for the rest of the season, David N’gog started up front for the Reds, supported by Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun, whilst Lucas was preferred to Javier Mascherano alongside Steven Gerrard in the middle of the midfield.
After a dreary, non-atmospheric, start to the game, Liverpool found a breakthrough just after half-way through the first half.
Steven Gerrard‘s whipped in free-kick from the right was met by the chest of Benayoun, scoring against his former club to give Liverpool the lead and let the pressure off.
The second was to come shortly after when Benayoun turned provider, playing in Maxi Rodriguez, who’s cross found David N’gog who finished well on the half-volley.
Half-way through the second half, Liverpool’s lead was extended when Hammers keeper Rob Green saw Kyrgiakos’s shot rebound off the post, hit him and go in to round off the visitor’s misery.
The victory was comfortable for Liverpool, who now face a long journey down to Madrid for Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg with Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Gerrard (Mascherano 71), Benayoun (Degen 77), Maxi, Lucas, Kuyt, Ngog (Babel 81)
Subs not used: Cavalieri, Ayala, Aquilani, El Zhar.
West Ham: Green, Upson, Spector (Daprela 80), Faubert, Da Costa, Kovac, Noble, Behrami, Stanislas (Franco 46), Ilan, Cole (McCarthy 72)
Subs not used: Kurucz, Gabbidon, Daprela, Alessandro Diamanti, Mido.
Ref: Walton
Att: 37,697
