24 mins The resulting corner is headed past the goal by Diaz.

23rd minute: Good save from Areola Mac Allister wins the ball on the halfway line and shoots a pass to Jones. He pushes the ball left to Diaz, who cuts inside Kilman and fires an early shot that is tipped over by the stretching areola. That’s another pretty good rescue.

19 mins It seems like a matter of time before Liverpool score. Mac Allister floats a dangerous ball towards Salah, which is blocked by Diaz from a less favorable position. He couldn’t have seen Salah.

18 mins Gakpo hits the turn from the left side of the penalty area, although I think he was offside anyway.

15th minute: Good save from Areola! Alexander-Arnold plays an excellent early pass down the right to Salah, who is able to isolate Alvarez while Wan-Bissaka is trapped upfield. Salah goes inside and synchronizes his short through ball perfectly with Jones’ late run into the box. Jones shoots for the first time and Areola blocks with his chest (I think). He was quick off the line and that was a pretty good save.

15 mins Bowen gives West Ham a breather with a good run that results in a foul.

13 mins West Ham have the wherewithal to hurt Liverpool in transition, as they showed with Paqueta’s chance, but they are not seeing much of the ball at the moment. Salah’s brisk cross outside the boot is somewhat clumsily blocked by Areola.

Speaking of OOTB: the research was fun.

10 mins Liverpool are busy now, passing the ball with the swagger of a runaway leader. Their results have been great all season, but it feels like the performances have increased manifold in the last six weeks or so.

8 mins Another chance for Liverpool. Salah, found by Mac Allister on the right side of the penalty area, shoots a cross shot that narrowly evades Gakpo and goes past the far post. It was an uncomfortable height for Gakpo and he couldn’t decide whether to go with his head or his foot.

6th minute: Great save from Areola! Gakpo moves into the field from the left and plays a devastating diagonal pass to Salah, who shoots towards goal for the first time from six meters. Areola brilliantly manages to dive the ball and push it around the post.

6th minute: Big chance for Paqueta! Robertson farts around in a dangerous area and is robbed by Kudus, who gives the ball to Bowen. His low cross is perfect for Paqueta – or would have been if Paqueta hadn’t slipped and shot the ball wide. If he had stayed on his feet he would certainly have scored a goal.

5 mins See 3 min.

3 mins A slow start, nothing to report except that there is nothing to report.

1 minute Yes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka started at left-back in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

1 minute West Ham kick from left to right as we watch. Liverpool wears their black and turquoise alternate jersey.

A quick reminder of the teams

West Ham (possible 5-2-3) areola; Coufal, Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Mavropanos, Emerson; Alvarez, Soler; Paqueta, Bowen, Kudus.
Substitutes: Cresswell, Foderingham, Ings, Fullkrug, Todibo, Summerville, Luis Guilherme, Scarles, Irvine.

Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo.
Substitutes: Kelleher, Danns, Jota, Elliott, Endo, McConnell, Nunez, Quansah, Tsimikas.

West Ham can also line up in a 4-1-4-1 as follows: Areola; Coufal, Kilman, Mavropanos, Wan-Bissaka; Alvarez; Kudus, Soler, Paqueta, Emerson; Bowen.

From the archive

Today’s Premier League results

West Ham play in a back four with Aaron Wan-Bissaka at left-back. That would make sense given the threat of Mo Salah, although it would also mean Emerson playing in midfield. At this point, only time will tell.

55 points from 21 games seal the decision

Team news

preamble