Jurgen Klopp ‘angry with himself’ after Liverpool defeat

Antonio had only scored his first Hammers goal in their last EPL game in 2015 against Southampton on Monday.

Some supporters may say they were unlucky to be behind, as Alberto Moreno appeared to be fouled high up the pitch before West Ham broke away to score their opening goal.

Unfortunately the Argentinian midfielder, who had been the game’s most influential player, limped off just before half-time with what looked like a recurrence of his thigh injury.

Manuel Lanzini, who was forced off with injury shortly before the break, hit the post with a swerving effort that bamboozled Mignolet, but the Belgian responded and saved smartly from Aaron Cresswell’s deflected effort.

The visitors emerged for the second half early, presumably with a flea in their ear from frustrated boss Jurgen Klopp.

His Reds were like heavyweights without a punch, even though the inspirational Noble was called on to clear off the line form a Lucas header.

Fair question. Liverpool know better than most that to get the best out of the big striker, you have to play in a certain manner.

Victories over Leicester and Sunderland were fuelled by the energy and dynamism of Liverpool’s two-man midfield of Emre Can and Jordan Henderson, with the pair enjoying a strong understanding of when to push, when to drop and when to change the tempo. While two narrow one goal wins have given the Reds some respite after a brief tumultuous period, a shambolic performance against West Ham will surely concern the former Borussia Dortmund boss. We always had the ball, we could have made much more chances but we didn’t. The decisive moments we were there, but we were not there 100 percent.

“In each moment in this game we could have come back but we didn’t”.

Liverpool legend Roy Evans wants to see the Reds lift the Premier League title during his lifetime.

“You can not win a football match with 90%, you have to do everything, I don’t like it”. But then you have to use your chance more, with more will than we did today. “Two-nil – it’s deserved”.

“We defended well because you have to”. To keep a clean sheet and to win in front of the home fans means it’s a good day for West Ham.

“It’s our responsibility and it’s not a day for being disappointed, only a day for being angry about ourselves – and that’s what we are”.

Lanzini has proved a fine addition to West Ham since joining the club on-loan from Al Jazira, and as revealed by The National, the Argentine is expected to make the move permanent at the end of the season. We have a very good atmosphere in the team and all the players are fighting for each other and help each other.

“We’ve got a new game coming up very early, the semi-final, so hopefully we can put things straight there because it’s very important”.