Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Jonty Colman

West Ham player ratings: Jarrod Bowen rues saved penalty in narrow Liverpool defeat

West Ham United's five-match unbeaten run in October came to an end with a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

Darwin Nunez's first-half header was enough to separate the two sides, with Jarrod Bowen seeing a penalty saved late on in the first half by Alisson after he was fouled by Joe Gomez.

Here is how football.london’s West Ham United writer Jonty Colman rated the Hammers’ players against the Reds.

READ MORE: David Moyes identifies the one place still up for grabs in his West Ham United side

Lukasz Fabianski

After such a big display from Lukasz Fabianski at the weekend against Southampton, the shot-stopper will have hoped to have got a third clean sheet of the season. Those hopes did not last long but could have been cut shorter even earlier. Nunez first fired a superb half volley at goal, which Fabianski did excellently to deny. Nunez got the better of him minutes later though, rising highest to nod in from a Kostas Tsimikas cross. Quieter in the second half, but did do well to make saves to first deny Roberto Firmino at corner and then rushing out to stop Mohamed Salah 1v1. 7

Ben Johnson

After playing as a centre-back in a three-man defence in the last two games, Ben Johnson returned to right-back, with Thilo Kehrer needed at centre-back due to Craig Dawson's injury. Really struggled in the first half, as he gave Tsimikas too much space to get a cross in for Nunez's opener. Tsimikas and Fabio Carvalho both got plenty of joy running at him in the first half, when he tried to make things happen going forward, it did not really work. More improved in the second half, doing well to carry the ball with quick feet. Still lacked a bit of end product and a bit of sharpness on the ball at times. 6

Kurt Zouma

French centre-back Kurt Zouma was back in defence alongside Kehrer after a two-game absence with an illness. He and Kehrer collectively lost Nunez far too easily for the only goal of the game, with Zouma forced into a late of last-ditch tackles and clearances. Better in the second half, like most, but not his best display. 6

Thilo Kehrer

Kehrer was as equally as guilty of losing Nunez as Zouma was for the opening goal. Made a few blocks and tried to show intent to start counters. That attacking mind-set however did prove costly when being caught out in possession that ended in Salah going through on goal. Not his best display. 5

Aaron Cresswell

Did not do an awful lot wrong defensively, but when Liverpool broke at times they often found space between Aaron Cresswell and Kehrer. He did attack well to get forward and try to make things happen, particularly late on. Created one good chance at a corner late on, but saw Gianluca Scamacca head it way, way over. 6

Flynn Downes

There was a first league start in West Ham colours for Flynn Downes. A lot to like in very testing circumstances, added real tempo and had a half chance almost go in towards half-time. Really impressed in the second half before coming off, won tackles, good footwork and just genuinely a positive performance. 7

Tomas Soucek

Tomas Soucek thought he had snatched a late equaliser from close range, only for the diving hip of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson to prevent a late goal from the Czech Republic international. Did his defensive duties really well, sat as the deeper of the three midfielders, particularly when West Ham got more into the game after the break. 7

Declan Rice (Star man)

Off the back of his goal on Sunday, Declan Rice again put in another solid display. Really progressive on the ball, made good passes and just continued to show intent when trying to start countering moves, twice winning the ball off poor Alisson clearances early on. 7

Jarrod Bowen

The form of Jarrod Bowen in a West Ham shirt has seen him linked with interest from Liverpool on multiple occasions in recent transfer windows. Did not have the best of starts but did win a penalty shortly before the interval after a high challenge from Gomez, awarded by VAR. Despite scoring two penalties already this season, Alisson met it. A Jekyll and Hyde display, much better in the second half, pressed well, good on the ball and set up Soucek's last gasp chance. 6

Pablo Fornals

There was a recall to the side for Pablo Fornals with Emerson benched and Lucas Paqueta injured, with the Spaniard having a career record of three goals in six appearances against Liverpool before kick-off. Pressed well and fought all he could, but got no joy when trying to break Liverpool's back line. The team look better when Said Benrahma replaced him with 30 minutes to go. 5

Gianluca Scamacca

The Italian came close to adding to his six goals for the season against Southampton on Sunday, but a series of near misses and a Gavin Bazunu save stopped him from doing so. Hardly got a kick before half-time and when he did, what he tried did not come off. Had more involvement as West Ham improved in the second half, but shot on the angle when he should have teed up Michail Antonio on the break and stuck a header from a corner way over. His worst starting performance for a while, on his first 90 minutes for the club. 5

Substitutes

Said Benrahma

Just like Sunday's trip to Southampton, winger Said Benrahma was bough on at 1-0 just after the hour mark, with the hope of changing the game. West Ham were a better team with him in it, his pace and trickery was direct and asked questions of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Gomez, with West Ham's chances late on involving him regularly. 6

Michail Antonio

The rare occasion of seeing Michail Antonio and Scamacca play together came with just over 15 minutes to go, with the Jamaican international on for Downes. Held up the ball well to start a counter late on, but Scamacca went for glory from a tight angle and his shot was miles away, leaving Antonio fuming while waiting for a cut back. 5

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.