Premier League
West Ham United 2-3 Liverpool 

Saturday, 19th September 2009
by Gordon Thrower

I’m never optimistic for matches against this lot. Whatever happens you just know that they’ll get the rub of the green that they scarcely deserve somewhere along the way and it was no different for this one. Team news was that Diamanti had done enough up at Wigan to earn a starting spot whilst there was a welcome return for Behrami in the middle and Ilunga at the back giving us a starting line-up of Green, Faubert, Ilunga, Upson, Tomkins, Behrami, Parker, Noble, Hines, Diamanti, Cole.



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Player Ratings

Robert Green
Bossed the box well though some might wonder how Torres?EUR(TM) first got in at the near post.


Julien Faubert
Good game again. At this rate he?EUR(TM)ll soon be good enough to flog to Real Madrid.


Herita Ilunga
Just back from injury and it showed. However, there were a few signs that there could be a bit of a partnership developing with Hines.


James Tomkins
Given a torrid times by Torres and must bear a bit of responsibility for the first goal.


Matthew Upson
Barely lasted 20 minutes before injury.


Scott Parker
One header apart he kept the (admittedly overrated) Gerrard pretty quiet. (If you don?EUR(TM)t count the whining noise aimed at the referee for 90 minutes).


Mark Noble
Doesn?EUR(TM)t seem at home on the right. In the unlikely event that we ever get all our midfield fit at the same time he may be due a rest.


Valon Behrami
Was just beginning to show what we missed for much of last season when ping out went his back.


Alessandro Diamanti
Really needs to get a bit of fitness but when he does there were enough touches to suggest he could be useful.


Zavon Hines
Faded in the last quarter by which time the foul count on him was in double figures. Early days but if he can keep this progress rate going he could become very influential.


Carlton Cole
Battled manfully against the, usually illegal, attentions of the Liverpool defence. The booking was a complete joke.



Substitutes

Danny Gabbidon
(Replaced Upson, 25 mins) A bit off the pace ?EUR" understandably so under the circumstances.


Radoslav Kovac
(Replaced Behrami, 27 mins) It doesn?EUR(TM)t usually work with him and Parker together but this was one of his better games ?EUR" his strength in the air was an asset.


Kieron Dyer
(Replaced Diamanti, 65 mins) Some good touches and one potentially devastating run. Let?EUR(TM)s hope that hasn?EUR(TM)t set him back a few more weeks.


Peter Kurucz
Did not play.


Jonathan Spector
Did not play.


Josh Payne
Did not play.


Frank Nouble
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Julien Faubert, Herita Ilunga, James Tomkins, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Valon Behrami, Alessandro Diamanti, Zavon Hines, Carlton Cole.

Goals: Alessandro Diamanti 29 Carlton Cole 45                .

Booked: Scott Parker 31 Julien Faubert 36 Carlton Cole 90      .

Sent off: None.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua, Mascherano, Gerrard, Benayoun, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres.

Subs not used: Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Degen, Dossena.

Goals: Torres (20, 75), Kuyt (60)..

Booked: Carragher (29), Skrtel (44), Mascherano (50).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Andre Marriner.

Attendance: 34,658.

Man of the Match: Zavon Hines.