WEST HAM UNITED v LIVERPOOLBARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
BOLEYN GROUND
SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2014
KICK-OFF: 5.30PM
REFEREE: CRAIG PAWSON
Final score: West Ham United 3-1 Liverpool
FT: That's it and what a way for the Hammers to claim their first home points of the campaign. Goals from Reid, Sakho and Amalfitano are enough to secure a fantastic season over last season's runners-up and move into the top half of the Barclays Premier League table. We go to Manchester United next weekend full of optimism and confidence after another energetic, action-packed attacking display. The first half, especially, was superb. Stay tuned to all of our media channels for exclusive reaction and highlights from today's wonderful win!
90: Four minutes of stoppage time for the Hammers to see out.
88: GOAL! Game over! Liverpool may have done he pressing since half time, but they are caught on the break by the Hammers and surely that's enough. Downing feeds the ball to Amalfitano, who makes a run cutting in from the left channel and he meets it with a calm finish, stroking into Mignolet's bottom left corner.
87: The Hammers are caught a little deep as they deal with cross from the left. Allowing Skrtel to pick up possession 30 yards out. Roll the ball forward with his studs and strike for goal. It's not directed well enough though and Adrian can just watch it wide.
84: Sakho is receiving treatment now after his Liverpool namesake lands on his leg when the pair go up for a header. We may have a fair few minutes of stoppage time here.
80: Kouyate goes down again in similar fashion to the first half, hurting himself when clearing the ball. The Hammers have used all their subs so they don't want a problem here, but he goes back on to continue.
76: Close! Reid close to scoring at both ends there as he got up to defend Gerrard's corner but headed back towards his own goal. Luckily it was pretty much straight at Adrian, who plucked the ball out of the air.
76: West Ham also make a change, with James Collins replacing Enner Valencia.
75: Liverpool make their final substitution, with Rickie Lambert coming on for Fabio Borini.
73: Lallana starts a Liverpool move and nearly ends it too, throwing himself at the ball as Moreno played it square across the six yard box. Had he reached it surely he'd have scored but 2-1 it remains.
69: Sakho is continuing to buzz around in the attacking third and he picks up the pieces as a ball rebounds into his patch. He looks up and tries to loft over Mignolet but sends the ball over the bar.
68: Morgan Amalfitano becomes the third Hammer to make his home debut this evening, as he replaces Alex Song in the Hammers' second substitution.
67: Jenkinson is yellow carded after going in for a robust challenge on Moreno by the touchline. No arguments there.
64: Borini causes Adrian to worry for a moment with a long range shot which takes a deflection en route to goal. Adrian bats the ball away before pouncing on in as Borini closed in.
62: Carl Jenkinson is on for the home Hammers debut. He replaces Guy Demel, who leaves the field to a warm ovation.
61: Inches away from Borini as he lashes a shot just over the top after the referee allowed a good advantage following Song's foul on Lallana on the edge of the area.
59: Balotelli has the space on the edge of the area to line-up a shot, but the curl on his effort takes it towards Adrian and it's a comfortable gather into his midriff.
57: A bit of handbags between Valencia and Lovren after the Hammers man challenged the defender for a header. Lovren took exception over something but it's just a talking to for the pair of them from referee Craig Pawson.
56: The visitors have certainly been sharper since the game's resumption and Sterling's dart to the byline needs to be cut out. It means Gerrard has a corner but again West Ham defend the set piece well.
54: A West Ham attack breaks down and three passes later Liverpool are in the home side's box. Balotelli's ball finds Borini, but the angle quickly goes against the Liverpool forward and he can only shoot into Adrian's hands by the near post.
52: Cresswell is penalised down by the corner flag, allowing Gerrard to deliver a free-kick. The Hammers clear and break quickly, but Valencia's attempted cross-field pass to Downing is cut out.
51: Liverpool have started the second period well and Cresswell has to be strong at the far post to clear under pressure from Balotelli. He may have been fouled, but he makes the clearance in any case and the Hammers avert the danger.
48: Sight of goal for Raheem Sterling on the edge of the Hammers box, but he cannot get hold of his left-footed shot and the ball dribbles wide of the near post.
6.36pm Liverpool get the game started again. Can the Hammers approach this half with the same vigour as they did the first? We'll soon find out!
6.35pm Now the match officials make their return and Lallana replaces Lucas in the Liverpool midfield.
6.34pm Both teams are back on the pitch - before the match officials! Adam Lallana is coming on for the visitors, but he can't do so until we have the referee back.
HT: Referee Craig Pawson brings a hugely entertaining opening 45 minutes to a close with West Ham holding the advantage. It was a hugely-positive first half from the Hammers, who were rewarded by early goals from Winston Reid and Diafra Sakho. In truth, it could have been more as the Hammers drove forward with real pace and purpose. However, Raheem Sterling pulled one back on 26 minutes with a crisp finish and Liverpool's challenge certainly cannot be discounted. Join us in 15 minutes for the second half.
45+4: Free-kick to the Hammers after Moreno handles 25 yards out. Again Valencia lines it up, but he can't get it over the wall and he ball deflects behind for a corner.
45+1: Sterling makes a run down the right and Song nudges him to the ground as he tries to get back to support Cresswell. Free-kick which Gerrard delivers, and Sakho heads clear as Balotelli challenges.
45: Six minutes of added time have been signalled by the fourth official. There's still some way to go in this first half yet.
43: What a ball that is from deep from Aaron Cresswell. He spies Sakho making a move in the right channel and, despite his relatively central positon, finds the angle to deliver. The Senegal striker is ready to pounce, but Lovren flicks the header away and Liverpool get away with the concession of a corner.
41: Close from Enner Valencia as Kouyate passes to Downing to set a quick Hammers attack in motion. Valencia peels off his man to receive the ball from Downing and shoot back across goal with his left foot. Mignolet gets down well, though, to save.
40: Lovely turn from Sakho to get away from Moreno down the right hand side and create space for a cross. Unfortunately the delivery doesn't match the first bit of skill though as it goes beyond the far post and out for a goal kick.  Meanwhile, Lovren is back on with a new shirt and sporting a bandage.
39: And we're back underway.
36: This doesn't look good for Dejan Lovren. He's clattered by teammate Mamadou Sakho as the pair both go for a header. The stretcher's been called for and he's still receiving treatment. It's a head injury, but he's able to leave the pitch on his feet and looks able to continue once he gets the wound stitched.
34: Adrian comes flying out of his goal to punch Moreno's cross away as Balotelli threatened to get in round the bal. The goalkeeper's clearance is more up than out, but the Hammers deal with it.
33: Free kick 25 yards out for the Hammers and Valencia lines up a shot. His effort wobbles through the air and worries Mignolet in the Liverpool goal as it bounces. He's very watchful though and parries behind.
30: Bad news for the Hammers as Kouyate overhits a cross from the right and immediately goes to ground holding his groin. He's back on the pitch though following treatment and is ok to continue for now.
27: West Ham try to get back on the front foot straight away and Kouyate is only inches away from getting on the end of Sakho's neat backheel inside the box. Alberto Moreno does well to clear under pressure and Kouyate is booked for his challenge on the Reds defender.
26: Goal! Liverpool are back in it. Tidy finish from Raheem Sterling to drill beyond Adrian and into the bottom right hand corner after Cresswell got in the way of Balotelli's initial strike. Great play from Balotelli to pluck the
24: Is Sterling starting to find his range? He gets behind Cresswell to receive a through ball in space down the right. He crosses instantly, but Reid is there to clear. That's the first time the visitors have been able to get round the back though, it's been very much the West Ham show so far.
22: Brendan Rodgers needs to make an early change, with Mamadou Sakho coming on for Javi Manquillo. The substitution is to accomodate a change in system, with the visitors now utilising a back three.
21: Sterling gets his first opportunity to shoot for goal as a Liverpool break takes them to the edge of the box. His effort is blocked by Tomkins at the cost of a corner. West Ham survive it though. Still 2-0.
19: Balotelli hasn't had the best couple of minutes and his swipe of a clearance from a Hammers corner doesn't really go anywhere. Luckily for him, his teammates are able to get him out of trouble and clear the danger.
17: Yellow cards for both Adrian and Mario Balotelli as the striker catches the Hammers keeper after he gets the ball out of his feet and clears. Balotelli was late and Adrian didn't like it. He's booked for his reaction and Balotelli for the foul.
16: Liverpool are being thwarted in their efforts to build up a head of steam for the first time as Alex Song is fouled by Jordan Henderson and gives the Hammers a chance to regroup at the free-kick,
12: Oooh! Another moment for the Hammers as referee Craig Pawson gets in the way of the ball and lets Kouyate attack. He is halted by Lovren, but the ball comes out to Downing, who passes wide to Cresswell and his 25-yard drive wobbles in the air before being pushed behind by Mignolet.
11: Liverpool are stunned by the Hammers' quick start and the hosts look very capable of creating chances. Driving out of midfield with pace and using Downing as an outlet.
7: GOAL! The Hammers keep up the pressure though and are rewarded with a second goal. What a start! Noble carries the ball through the midfield and spreads play out to Sakho in the right channel. He spots space beyond Mignolet and clips a perfect shot over the Belgian's head and in at the far post. Valencia was there to nod home had the chip been off target, but it was absolutely inch perfect. Three goals in three Hammers starts for the Senegal man.
7: The crowd are up here, buoyed by the Hammers' fantastic start, and Downing does well to get around his man and lay back to Valencia, but he is closed down and the chance passes.
4: Winston Reid picks up an early booking for going in late on Fabio Borini. He'll have to be careful for the rest of the game now.
3: The Hammers are nearly caught out at the other end as Mark Noble leaves a pass slightly shot for James Tomkins, but the defender stands strong to make a block tackle and ensure the lead is kept.
2: GOAL! Dream start for the Hammers! After winning a free-kick down the right, Stewart Downing delivers to the far post, where James Tomkins has found space to head back across goal and leave Winston Reid with the simple task of completing the job from a couple of yards. His header actually hit Dejan Lovren on its way in, but as Reid was so close to him, the defender was never going to be able to prevent the goal.
5.30pm Alex Song and Stewart Downing get the game underway. Come on you Irons!
5.26pm Bubbles is ringing around the Boleyn Ground and that means the players are emerging. The Hammers are led by skipper Mark Noble, while Liverpool - in their yellow away kit - are skippered by Steven Gerrard.
5.25pm The players are lining up in the tunnel and the atmosphere is building inside the Boleyn Ground. It's nearly time for action!
5.20pm Both sides have completed their warm-ups with the players returning to the dressing rooms for their final pre-match words. Kick-off is only 10 minutes away! Remember to join in the conversation on Twitter using the matchday hashtag #WHULIV
4.55pm Here's some pre-match stats to whet the appetite for today.
- Our starting line-up against Hull City had an average age of 26y 355d - our youngest in the Premier League since May 2011.
- SInce the start of last season, the only English player to create more goalscoring chances than Stewart Downing (75) is Steven Gerrard (78).
- We've scored four goals from outside the box this season, matching our total from 2013/14 already.
4.40pm: So, what do you make of Big Sam's starting XI? Are you excited by the prospect of seeing Alex Song in action from the kick-off? Can Valencia and Sakho rekindle their potent partnership on home turf? Can Sakho make it three in three starts? Let us know now on Twitter and Facebook using #WHULIV
4.30pm: The team news has been confirmed and West Ham make one change from the side which drew 2-2 at Hull City on Monday evening, with Alex Song making his full debut in place of Mauro Zarate. The Argentine drops to the bench. For Liverpool, there are four changes - Skrtel for Sakho, Lucas for Coutinho, Borini for Markovic and Sterling for Lallana.
West Ham United: Adrian, Demel, Reid, Tomkins, Cresswell, Noble (c), Kouyate, Song, Downing, Sakho, Valencia
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Jenkinson, Collins, Amalfitano, Vaz Te, Zarate, Cole
Liverpool: Mignolet, Manquillo, Moreno, Lovren, Skrtel, Gerrard (c), Lucas, Henderson, Borini, Sterling, Balotelli
Subs: Jones, Enrique, Toure, Sakho, Lallana, Markovic, Lambert
Good afternoonfrom the Boleyn Ground, where today the Hammers host last season's Barclays Premier League runners-up Liverpool, with Sam Allardyce's men looking for their first home points of the campaign.
Following defeats by Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton in E13, the Hammers will hope to bring their form on the road to their own patch, with all four of the points gained this season so far coming on the road.
The most recent away game ended in a 2-2 draw at Hull City, as Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho hit the target to cancel out efforts from Abel Hernandez and Mohamed Diame.
Liverpool, meanwhile, left it late to defeat Bulgarian side Ludogorets in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. Mario Balotelli put the Reds in front on 82 minutes, but it took a Steven Gerrard penalty to win it at the death after the visitors equalised late on.