Liverpool recall key forward for tonight’s replay with West Ham

Bilic added: “Ogbonna’s goal is a great header, but it was not just about the goal”.

West Ham and Liverpool are no strangers.

Angelo Ogbonna headed an injury-time victor as penalties beckoned in the fourth-round replay at Upton Park, punishing Liverpool and Christian Benteke in particular for their wastefulness to book a trip to Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the last 16. With Coutinho back in the team, the Reds had a more natural set-piece taker, and the Belgian got on the end of a couple towards the back post, forcing Darren Randolph into two early saves.

“I am really pleased for the supporters, for my team because everybody wants to go through so I am really happy”. You have to go on, there’s no other situation. There was an element of luck about it, as Enner Valencia’s cross deflected off Jon Flanagan into Antonio’s path. There was nothing lucky about the finish though, with Antonio moving his body brilliantly to volley past Mignolet.

However, the Hammers have won three of their last five meetings with Liverpool, including two league victories this season – a 3-0 win at Anfield back in August and a 2-0 victory at home in January. We couldn’t use our chances, they got a free-kick without a foul and we conceded a goal.

Another positive for Liverpool would be the return of Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi as the trio could effectively return the zing in the team’s attack once again.

Philippe Coutinho, playing for the first time in a month following a hamstring problem and having also struck the upright during the opening 45 minutes, clipped a free-kick under the West Ham wall to level matters three minutes after the restart.

“I just told Angelo the goal came as the cherry on the pie of his game because his game was simply magnificent as a centre-half and he deserved to score that goal in the dying seconds of the game”. “It’s a little bit complicated because extra-time is possible”. It was a white shirt down this time, as Kevin Stewart went down under the force of Pedro Obiang. Payet whipped a free-kick in from the right flank and Ogbonna rose highest to head the ball back across goal and into the corner. Payet lined up a shot from a free kick but curled it onto the frame of the goal. “We will know that one hour before the game and it is not a big problem”.

West Ham captain Mark Noble admitted he was already planning for a penalty shoot-out. Liverpool will be glad of Daniel Sturridge’s impressive return, but the profligacy of Christian Benteke late on ensured an exit for a fledgling side that had performed admirably in the face of a high-octane display by the Hammers.