English FA Premiership/ Liverpool 2 West Ham Utd 1: Alan Pardew was still coming to terms with defeat when it was suggested to him this forward-thinking Liverpool side might actually be more beatable than their miserly team from last term. "Last year everyone was moaning about how they don't throw enough men forward," he offered. "This year they're 'more vulnerable' because they're attack-minded." The sigh that followed reflected the reality that, either way, neither Rafael Benitez nor West Ham can win.
Benitez has injected pace, width and real bite into the side that claimed the FA Cup against these opponents in May. At the moment the balance between an eagerness to attack and the ability to suffocate at the back remains skew-whiff, though with each game, Benitez's side are learning. By the time these teams next meet - in late January - an equilibrium should have been restored.
That is a frightening prospect. The home side were a strange mixture of vigorous offence and uncharacteristic susceptibility at the back on Saturday but the signs are promising.
"Their style hasn't weakened them in any way, though there is a different emphasis in their play," said Pardew.
"Last season the two central midfielders just sat, while, today, Steven Gerrard broke forward, so there were openings for us. I don't think we exploited them as well as we could. Given their strength in depth, Rafa'll probably change things depending upon who they play."
The locals had turned up hoping to witness a multi-million-pound new boy scoring a great goal. They did not depart disappointed, though they were surprised it was Daniel Agger, a ball-playing centre back, who had belted Liverpool level from 30 yards.
Peter Crouch capitalised on slick approach play from Gerrard and Luis Garcia to ease them ahead three minutes later, though by the end the Kop were cooing at the striker who they originally envisaged would illuminate this occasion.
Dirk Kuyt's introduction to the Premiership was as explosive as he would have hoped, even if it lacked the goal he deserved. He might have scored twice in his first 120 seconds on the pitch. Liverpool thrilled at the Dutchman's bustle and slicing menace through the centre. Craig Bellamy buzzed at his side, with Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez tormenting on the flanks. The directness of the Merseysiders' approach took the breath if not the manager's plaudits.
"I'm not very happy," muttered Benitez through a head cold. "We created lots of chances, but we need to finish games. A third goal and we could have relaxed, but we were left nervous at the end."
Had their central midfield duo played to their customary level this might have degenerated into a rout. West Ham were generally excellent. Hayden Mullins and the outstanding Nigel Reo-Coker imposed a stranglehold on midfield for long periods, the latter daring even to dwarf Gerrard with a fearsome performance that deserved better than a tactical substitution eight minutes from time and ultimate defeat.
West Ham had had survived an early battering and prospered when Jose Reina, who in Cardiff in May treated the Londoners to the best and worst he has to offer, palmed Bobby Zamora's cross into his own net at the near post.
Marlon Harewood, liberated by Yossi Benayoun's diagonal pass, should have added a second within minutes but for all their industry thereafter, their efforts were undone spectacularly in the five minutes before the interval.
Even so, they could have equalised before the end with Lee Bowyer, moving on to John Paintsil's low centre, clipping a post.That left Pardew cursing and Liverpool relieved but if neither manager departed wholly satisfied, seeds of promise are obvious.
- Guardian Service
