PLAYER RATINGS: Jarrod Bowen excels with goal and assist to bolster England Euro chances, but Liverpool looked listless in one area in particular as they waved white flag in title race

Liverpool’s Premier League title ambitions took another serious dent as they were held to a 2-2 draw at West Ham on Saturday lunchtime.

Jurgen Klopp took the decision to start Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez on the bench and they looked listless as the Hammers led at half-time thanks to the impressive Jarrod Bowen. 

The Reds turned the contest around thanks to Andrew Robertson’s equaliser, before a fortunate own goal, credited to keeper Alphonse Areola, put them in front. 

However, Michail Antonio then headed West Ham level to leave Liverpool trailing Arsenal and Manchester City.

Here’s Mail Sport’s player ratings from the game at the London Stadium. 

Antonio’s equaliser came moments before Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Klopp clashed on the touchline after the Egyptian winger had been dropped from the starting line-up

WEST HAM UNITED

4-2-3-1

Alphonse Areola – 6

Might have done better for Andrew Robertson’s equalising goal, which squeezed through a narrow gap, but couldn’t do much about their second as it pinball around in his six-yard box. Busier with saves after the break to keep West Ham in it. 

Vladimir Coufal – 5.5

Found it a struggle to keep a lid on Luis Diaz‘s attacking threat when directly attacked one-on-one but made a vital intervention to put off Mohamed Salah late on. Did show his own threat with a deflected first-half shot that Alisson had to react to.

Kurt Zouma – 6

The odd important block and necessary clearances, especially one on Diaz in first-half stoppage time that led to a counter-attack. However, guilty of gravitating too readily to the ball at times, leaving gaps, and poor organisation for Liverpool‘s goals.   

Angelo Ogbonna – 6

Came up with a number of vital blocks and clearing headers to keep Liverpool at bay and was unfortunate Cody Gakpo‘s wayward shot deflected off his body towards goal for the second. Had made a superb block to thwart Gakpo just before.

Angelo Ogbonna can’t quite close down Luis Diaz during Saturday’s match 

Emerson – 6

Struggled to contain Harvey Elliott, who proved a threat for Liverpool in the first-half. But forced an excellent save from Alisson with a powerfully-struck shot not long before Antonio’s equaliser for 2-2.  

Tomas Soucek – 5

Workmanlike but lacking authority as Liverpool bossed the midfield and possession for large spells. Unlucky with Liverpool’s second goal as he wasn’t quite able to block on the goalline after Gakpo’s shot came off Ogbonna and towards him at pace. 

Edson Alvarez – 6

Not especially prominent in proceedings given he was forced most of the time to contain Liverpool and stay disciplined rather than work offensively. 

Jarrod Bowen – 8

An excellent afternoon and the continuation of a very fine season personally for the England man. Brilliant header to put West Ham in front late in the first-half, having seen an effort saved one-handed by Alisson just before. Then supplied the perfect cross for Antonio to make it 2-2. Is it possible Bowen will benefit from the expansion of Gareth Southgate‘s Euro squad from 23 to 26 players? 

Jarrod Bowen celebrates his header which gave West Ham the lead late in the opening half

Lucas Paqueta – 6.5

Should have received at least a yellow card for his early tackle on Alexis Mac Allister’s ankle – and some would argue it was worthy of a red. Involved fleetingly thereafter but offered much-needed grit.  

Mohammed Kudus – 6

Supplied the ball for Bowen’s opener but didn’t get too many sights of goal as Liverpool controlled proceedings without fully capitalising.  

Michail Antonio – 6.5

Barely involved in the game at all before his goal for 2-2. Indeed, Antonio only touched the ball 11 times in the opening hour. But when a chance presented itself, his header from Bowen’s cross was perfect. Couldn’t quite win it with the last kick.

Michail Antonio soars above the Liverpool defence to earn West Ham a point 

SUBSTITUTIONS

James Ward-Prowse (for Soucek 74) – 6

Manager

David Moyes – 6.5

A game plan of containment saw West Ham cede the lion’s share of possession and chances to Liverpool, as might be expected. Given that, West Ham did very well to stay in the contest and come back after Liverpool went ahead. You do wonder if it’ll do much to convince the doubters, however, as the end of his time at the London Stadium potentially draws to a close. 

David Moyes set his team up to contain Liverpool and they rode a storm before getting a point

LIVERPOOL

4-3-3

Alisson Becker – 6

Didn’t have too much work to do for the most part but saved well from Coufal during the first-half. Bowen’s headed goal wasn’t his fault by any means.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6

Required no second invitation to come inside and make things happen early on, testing Areola with an angled drive that was punched out and curling a free-kick over. After testing the Hammers keeper after the break, he faded a little. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold plays a pass during a match in which his threat faded a little

Jarell Quansah – 6

Didn’t have a whole load to deal with but there are certainly big question marks over the nature of how West Ham’s two goals were conceded from headers from crosses.  

Virgil van Dijk – 6

The big Dutchman won’t be happy at all with the manner of the two West Ham goals, especially in switching off for Bowen’s header as the man-marking was all wrong.  

Andrew Robertson – 6.5

Switched off when West Ham took the short corner that led to Bowen’s opened just before the interval, but atoned when he squeezed home the equaliser with a rare goal early in the second-half.  

Andrew Robertson celebrates pulling Liverpool level in the opening minutes of the first-half

Alexis Mac Allister – 5

Took a painful early blow on the ankle from Paqueta which was worthy of more punishment. Battled on, enjoyed a few more tangles but unable to make a defining contribution as tow points were dropped.

Wataru Endo – 5

Booked for a shirt-pull on Kudus as the West Ham man tried to break away. Kept things ticking over in midfield when Liverpool bossed the ball but lacked the extra gear and was eventually sacrificed for Darwin Nunez with 11 minutes remaining. 

Ryan Gravenberch – 5

Found himself with a good few sights of goals but was unable to take advantage. There was a wild blast over the bar from a really good position and a bizarre attempt at flicking the ball home, where he didn’t make any contact.

Harvey Elliott – 7

Full of energy and bristling with menace, especially in the first-half as his crosses troubled West Ham. One early delivery should to Mac Allister should have led to better, while he also found the side-netting. Struck the crossbar from distance as Liverpool tried to snatch a late win. 

The lively Harvey Elliott curls a shot towards West Ham’s goal during the opening half

Cody Gakpo – 6

Infuriating at times, genuinely dangerous at others. Got lucky when his driven shot that was going wide deflected off three West Ham players to find the net. 

Luis Diaz – 7

His electric movement in the first-half caused plenty of problems for West Ham and he came very close when striking the base of the post. Diaz also strayed marginally offside ahead of a first-half penalty shout. His influence waned in the end and was replaced by Mohamed Salah. 

SUBSTITUTIONS

Mohamed Salah (for Diaz 79mins)

Joe Gomez (for Alexander-Arnold 79mins)

Darwin Nunez (for Endo 79mins)

Dominik Szoboszlai (for Quansah 90+1mins) 

Manager

Jurgen Klopp – 6

The volume of games led to the brave decision to start Salah and Nunez on the bench, but the gamble didn’t pay off. Liverpool were unable to raise the tempo above that of a meaningless end-of-season fixture in the first-half when their title chances remained very much alive. Better after the break but couldn’t get the win and it seems the white flag has been waved in the title race now. Argument with Salah only made the day worse.