By Daily Sports Nigeria on March 6, 2022

Sadio Mane's first-half goal proved enough for Liverpool as they stumbled to a 1-0 win over West Ham to move them three points off leaders Manchester City.

The Reds were far from their free-flowing best and with better composure, the Champions League-chasing Hammers could have left Anfield with a deserved point, but gilt-edged chances passed up in both halves allowed the hosts to claim a 12th successive victory. "When you're in contention to win the league, you will take three points any way they come," was Graeme Souness' full-time assessment.

Mane's strike was confirmed by VAR as he latched onto Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross-cum-shot to fire beyond Lukasz Fabianski from six yards, having timed his run to perfection to stay the right side of defender Craig Dawson.

Liverpool could have doubled their lead before the break when Luis Diaz's effort was cleared off the line by Aaron Cresswell, but so could West Ham have claimed an equaliser when Alexander-Arnold was needed to hook Pablo Fornals' effort away after the Spaniard had lobbed Alisson.

As Diaz twice went close to a Liverpool second after half-time, Manuel Lanzini passed up the chance of the game to level, controlling Tomas Soucek's right-wing cross brilliantly before blazing over from six yards with the goal gaping ahead of him.

The manner of the performance will not have pleased Jurgen Klopp but the three points will be all-important ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday, while West Ham - still two points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, having played a game more - saw their top-four hopes fade further with a third winless game from four.

Source Sky Sports

Posted March 6, 2022

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