West Ham 3-2 Liverpool: player ratings, heroes, villains and man of the match as Reds lose unbeaten record

West Ham United stunned Liverpool 3-2 at London Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday to end the Reds’ incredible unbeaten run.

Jurgen Klopp’s side went into the game knowing that if they avoided defeat they would extend their unbeaten run to 26 matches, beating the club’s all-time record set by Bob Paisley’s team in 1982.

But West Ham have proven to be tough opposition this season and took the lead in the fourth minute when Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker, under pressure from Angelo Ogbonna as he leapt for the ball, touched Pablo Fornals’ corner into his own net.

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a brilliant freekick to equalise for Liverpool, but the Hammers hit back when Fornals finished off a breakaway goal.

Kurt Zouma then headed a third and although substitute Divock Origi pulled one back with seven minutes remaining, the Hammers held on for a famous victory.

The result means Liverpool slip to fourth in the Premier League, behind West Ham in third.

The heroes

- Kurt Zuma: The defender scored what turned out to be the winner with his first goal for the club, but it was his defensive prowess that really shone. The former Everton man made three key blocks as his side defended for large parts of the match and was a vital part of a defence that largely snuffed out the threat of Mo Salah, Sade Mane and Diogo Jota. He also made seven clearances, two interceptions and won possession five times in the centre of the defence. Man of the match

- Jarrod Bowen: Having been linked with a potential move to Liverpool before the match he was a bit subdued at the start but he soon grew into the game. Playing wide on the right, he always offered an outlet for the Hammers and when he got the ball he rarely wasted possession. His slalom run to take out three Liverpool players in the build up to his team’s second goal was exemplary and the assist for Fornals was too. He then put in the corner for Zouma to head in West Ham’s third.

- Virgil van Dijk: It may seem a bit odd to have a defender in the hero section after a 3-1 defeat, but without the presence of Van Dijk this result would have been much worse for Liverpool. While all around him floundered, the Dutchman remained a rock. He won his physical battle with Michail Antonio, bailed out his teammates as much as possible and stepped in to make a series of one-on-one challenges and last-ditch tackles.

The villains

- Alisson Becker: A game to forget for the goalkeeper. Too preoccupied with tussling with Antonio from a corner he was a fraction late getting to the flight of Fornals’ delivery and ended up flapping at it and turning the ball into his own net for the opening goal. He was certainly under pressure from Ogbonna, but the Brazilian should have done better. He should have done better with Fornals’ shot for West Ham’s second goal too.

- Trent Alexander-Arnold: His freekick for Liverpool’s first goal was a real moment of genius, but the rest of his game was off the mark at the London stadium. There is a reason why 54% of West Ham’s attacks came down the full-back’s flank. He was caught out of position, beaten too easily and executed some poor attempted tackles. His booking for pulling back Fornals had been coming for a while.

- Sadio Mane: The Liverpool forward had two excellent opportunities to score and missed them both. At 1-1 he shot straight at goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski from Jota’s lofted cutback when either side would have been a certain goal. Then, at 3-2, his header from Alexander-Arnold’s delivery flashed past the far post. So close, and yet, so far.

Player ratings

West Ham (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 7, Johnson 8, Zouma 9, Ogbonna 6 (Dawson 7) , Cresswell 8, Soucek 7, Rice 8, Bowen 8 (Coufal 84), Fornals 8, Benrahma 6 (Masuaku 86), Antonio 7.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson 2, Alexander-Arnold 5, Matip 5, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 6, Henderson 6, Fabinho 6 (Minamino 80), Oxlade-Chamberlain 7 (Thiago 69), Salah 6, Jota 6 (Origi 76), Mane 5.

What’s next for Liverpool

It’s the international break. Liverpool’s stars will be jetting off all over the world to represent their country.

When they return to Premier League action on Saturday, November 20, Arsenal will be the visitors to Anfield.