Liverpool’s dreams of clinching the Premier League title suffered a devastating blow as they were held to a 2-2 draw by West Ham United, extending their winless streak to one victory in their last five league matches.
Coming off a disheartening 2-0 loss to Everton in the Merseyside derby, Liverpool entered the clash at the London Stadium desperately needing a win to stay competitive in the title race against Arsenal and Manchester City.
However, a lackluster first half saw them trailing as Jarrod Bowen broke the deadlock for West Ham just before halftime, capitalizing on a swift corner kick to head home.
Liverpool’s fortunes improved after the break, with Andy Robertson restoring parity three minutes into the second half by converting a well-worked opportunity.
The Reds seized the lead when Cody Gakpo’s strike ricocheted off Alphonse Areola and into the net, putting them in the driver’s seat in the 65th minute.
But their hopes of securing three crucial points were dashed once again as Michail Antonio rose unmarked to nod home the equalizer for West Ham in the 77th minute.
The draw leaves Liverpool trailing Arsenal by two points and Manchester City by one, with both teams yet to play their respective fixtures this weekend.
Reflecting on the setback, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp remained pragmatic, acknowledging the need to focus on winning upcoming matches rather than dwelling on the title race.
“I don’t think about it really. I said before, we need to win our games. We didn’t win the game. That doesn’t improve our situation now massively,” Klopp commented.
He also addressed concerns about team morale, stating, “We spoke already in the dressing room. For me, that’s done.”
Meanwhile, star forward Mohamed Salah declined interview requests, hinting at the frustration within the Liverpool camp by stating, “If I speak today there will be fire.”
As Liverpool grapples with the disappointment of dropping points, their resolve will be tested as they aim to bounce back in their pursuit of silverware.
