Liverpool FC crest
Liverpool FC

Salah (19), Mane (45, 53)
Sturridge (88)

FT
4 - 0
Premier League
13:30 Sun 12th Aug 2018
Location: Anfield
West Ham United crest
West Ham United

13:30 Sun 12th Aug 2018
13:30 Sun 12th Aug 2018 Anfield

Liverpool v West Ham United: Live matchday blog

Liverpool kicked off their 2018-19 Premier League season with an excellent 4-0 victory over West Ham United at Anfield.

  • Salah taps Liverpool in front on 19 minutes
  • Mane doubles lead on stroke of half-time and adds third after break
  • Sturridge bags fourth seconds after coming on
Post-match

Here are the full-time stats from Anfield...

Full Time

Liverpool 4-0 West Ham United

That's exactly the kind of start the Reds wanted, with Salah, Mane (two) and Sturridge the goalscorers in an impressive win over the Hammers at Anfield.

88

Goal

GOALLLLL!!! STURRIDGE!

Well, that's a way to make an impact.

A corner in from the left finds its way to the back post and, under pressure from a defender, it's Sturridge who gets the final touch into the net.

Liverpool 4-0 West Ham.

87

Substitution

Third and final sub for Liverpool - Sturridge on for Salah.

81

Substitution

A second change for Liverpool and it's a competitive debut for Shaqiri, who comes on for two-goal Mane.

78

The Reds aren't settling for what they have here and a quick counter sees Keita hold off pressure to release Robertson for a cross into the middle that just evades Salah.

We're heading into the last 10 minutes...

73

Nimble dribbling from Mane in the West Ham half opens up a chance for Wijnaldum to strike at goal but the Dutchman's effort is off target.

69

Substitution

And now a first Liverpool switch - Henderson replaces Firmino.

67

Substitution

Final West Ham change - Yarmolenko on for Arnautovic.

65

Milner tries his luck from a free-kick right on the edge of the area and it's blocked by Wilshere before Noble does the same to deny Salah on the rebound - with both men down as a result.

62

Substitution

Hernandez is on for Anderson for West Ham.

58

Match shot

Sadio strikes again.

55

Yellow Card

Balbuena is booked.

53

Goal

GOALLLLLL!!!!! MANE!!!!

That should really be that for Liverpool.

Firmino runs through the centre and holds the ball waiting for an opening, before prodding it through to Mane. The No.10 cracks in a first-time finish on the turn into the bottom corner. Replays show he was offside but the goal stands.

52

Yellow Card

Antonio booked for a foul on Alexander-Arnold.

49

Chance for West Ham.

Anderson wins the flick-on at the near post from a corner on the right but the unmarked Antonio can't quite wrap his foot around the ball at the back post to send it towards goal.

Kick-Off

Mark Noble gets the second half under way.

Half-time

Substitution

Snodgrass replaces Rice for West Ham.

Half-time

Stat

James Milner played more passes than any of his Liverpool teammates during the first half (52) but it was Georginio Wijnaldum who played the most in the opposition half (31).

Half-time

Match shot

Sadio celebrates.

 

Half-time

Take a look at all the stats from the first half at Anfield...

Half Time

Liverpool 2-0 West Ham

A fine opening 45 minutes of the Premier League season for the Reds, who lead by two at the break courtesy of goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

45

Goal

GOALLLLLL!!!! MANE!!!

And now it is two.

Robertson's deep cross from the left corner of the area finds Milner unmarked - and onside - and the No.7 cuts it back for Mane to sweep home from yards out.

Liverpool 2-0 West Ham.

44

Salah almost scampers onto a Mane header over the West Ham backline but Fabianski is quick off his line to smother the ball before the Liverpool man can pounce.

37

Should be two!

More neat approach work from Liverpool gets Firmino into space at the right edge of the box but Salah's close-range strike from the cross is blocked by the reflexes of Fabianski.

34

Stat

Andy Robertson now has six assists for Liverpool and three of those have been for Mohamed Salah, who has now scored 20 goals in his 20 league games at Anfield.

30

Liverpool almost suffer a bizarre goal.

As Wijnaldum attempts to carry play away from the Reds box, the ball gets stuck under the feet of the referee and West Ham seize it. But, thankfully for all concerned apart from the Hammers, Arnautovic drags his shot wide.

28

Match shot

The Egyptian King.

27

Chance for West Ham.

Arnautovic gets in behind with a smart run to reach a long ball forward and his pace takes him through to goal along the left. Gomez recovers well, though, and slides in to block the shot for a corner.

24

What an effort!

Alexander-Arnold steps up to swerve a free-kick towards the top left corner and it's absolutely perfectly placed... until Fabianski stretches to claw it away from goal. So unlucky.

21

Yellow Card

Alexander-Arnold is booked for a high arm on Anderson.

19

Goal

GOALLLLLLLLL!!!!! SALAH!!!!

He has started again.

A lovely move sees Keita find space in the centre and spread the ball wide for Robertson with freedom. The Scot serves a cross to the back post, where Salah has the simple task of tapping in.

Liverpool 1-0 West Ham.

18

How hasn't that gone in?

Milner curls in a perfect cross along the six-yard box but none of Salah, Firmino or Mane can connect for what would surely have been a tap-in.

14

Liverpool threaten to punish West Ham - from their own corner - but Salah's diagonal through to Mane lacks enough power and the forward is crowded out, with Anderson diligently tracking back.

13

Match shot

Plenty of play in West Ham territory so far, but no goals yet.

8

Unlucky!

Keita fires it forward to Salah, who waits for the supporting run of Firmino, with Mane already offside, and threads a pass to his fellow attacker. But Antonio gets a timely foot in before the No.9 can shoot.

5

The Reds work the ball nicely from left to right and get Alexander-Arnold into space on the flank but his cross is over-hit and flies over his teammates waiting in the area

2

Analyse this

Reminder that you can track all the stats of the game with our Opta chalkboard below.

1

Fast start from the Reds here and a quick throw frees Firmino inside the box. The Brazilian lofts the ball over his head into the area but Mane can't quite reach the pass at the back post.

Kick-Off

Here we go!

James Milner kicks off for Liverpool, who will be attacking towards the Kop end in the first half.

Come on, Liverpool!

Pre-match

Here come the two teams....

Great noise heralds their walk out onto the pitch. This is it!

Pre-match

Pre-match

The Reds are in the house...

Pre-match

A peek behind closed doors...

Pre-match

Here's how Opta expect the teams to line up this afternoon...

Pre-match

Pre-match

Klopp explains his team selection...

“[Alisson] has to play his game. We have worked together for two weeks; that’s not the world but it’s OK,” the boss told Sky Sports.

Naby was here for all six weeks of the pre-season, like Fabinho. Shaqiri came later. Both are in the squad, that’s very important for us.

“Usually in the past, I think I always played with the team of last year at the beginning of the season but Hendo came back a bit late and stuff like that, so it makes sense.

“And they played really well together in midfield, for example against Napoli. Gini, Naby and Millie have worked together since we started pre-season, so that’s the midfield we wanted to have.

“Up front is clear. The defensive line is pretty much the defensive line of last year; Joe [Gomez] is in now at centre-half, he played a good pre-season.

“Of course, I never forget the last season - why should I? But the actual performance and impression training is more important, and that’s the line-up.”

Pre-match

And for Liverpool...

Pre-match

Here's how the visitors line-up at Anfield...

Pre-match

TEAM NEWS

Alisson Becker and Naby Keita are handed their Premier League debuts for Liverpool in our opening 2018-19 fixture with West Ham United at Anfield.

Joe Gomez is named in central defence alongside Virgil van Dijk, while Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri are on the bench alongside Jordan Henderson.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Keita, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Subs: Karius, Clyne, Fabinho, Henderson, Sturridge, Lallana, Shaqiri.

Pre-match

Virgil van Dijk on the mic...

Pre-match media duties are handled by our No.4 this afternoon.

Pre-match

Photos: Sir Kenny sees renamed stand at Anfield

Sir Kenny Dalglish took a look at the newly-updated stand named in his honour today, following the summer announcement of his knighthood.

The former Centenary Stand at Anfield was officially renamed after the Liverpool legend last October, in recognition of his remarkable contribution to the club as a player, manager and guardian on and off the pitch.

But the news of further acknowledgement of Dalglish’s services to football, in the form of a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, came in June.

So, an addition to the signage at the top of the Kenny Dalglish Stand was required – and the man himself saw it up close before kick-off against West Ham...

Pre-match

Will we see anything like these today? Let's hope so!

Pre-match

The stage is set...

Pre-match

What are the odds?

BetVictor are back for the season with the latest match prices...

Liverpool - 2/9
Draw - 6/1
West Ham - 12/1

Click here for more details.

Pre-match

Did you know?

A win for Liverpool this afternoon would be their 500th in the Premier League era.

For more stats and facts ahead of kick-off, read our pre-match preview.

Pre-match

Weather

*Weather update klaxon*

New season, same commitment to bringing you weather updates for every Liverpool game. That's how we roll at the official website.

It's a drizzly day around Anfield so far, with a slight hint of sun on occasion. Jacket or coat is a sensible choice if you're heading to the stadium; hat or gloves optional, as always.

Pre-match

Anfield is ready

Pre-match

Speaking of today's programme...

Here's a sneak peek at its front cover...

Pre-match

The boss speaks

Jürgen Klopp insists Liverpool are heading into 2018-19 having set the ‘highest expectations you can imagine’ for themselves.

In his programme notes in today's 'This is Anfield', the manager writes: "We come into today full of joy, expectation and excitement but knowing we are continuing an existing journey. Last season brought wonderful memories and great moments.

"Of course, these are to be cherished, but from a professional perspective we must view it as something that has concluded – but something to progress from. It’s about using the information and taking the next step."

Pre-match

Team news

You'll hear confirmed team news from Anfield here and across our media channels first at around 12.30pm, but we already know bits and bobs about who's likely - and unlikely - feature.

Alisson Becker, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri are in contention to make their competitive debuts for the Reds, but Fabinho is a doubt after a minor injury and illness.

James Milner is likely to be available after receiving 15 stitches in the head wound he sustained in the 5-0 friendly win over Napoli in Dublin last weekend, while Jürgen Klopp is considering how to use Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson after their returns from World Cup duty.

Dejan Lovren – who reached the final with Croatia – is ruled out, however.

Minor issues could influence Klopp’s selections in central defence, with Joe Gomez, Ragnar Klavan and Joel Matip carrying injuries of varying degrees.

Pre-match

First of all, let's catch up with Jürgen Klopp's pre-match press conference.

Watch Friday's media briefing at Melwood in full below...

Pre-match

It's back!

The waiting is over - the first day of Liverpool's Premier League season has arrived.

West Ham United are the visitors to Anfield this afternoon. Stay right here for the best coverage of the build-up, action and reaction from L4.