Liverpool vs. West Ham result: Sadio Mane winner closes gap on Manchester City

Graham Ruthven

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Liverpool vs. West Ham result: Sadio Mane winner closes gap on Manchester City image

Sadio Mane's first-half goal is all Liverpool needed in a 1-0 win over West Ham as Jurgen Klopp's team closed the gap on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League to just three points.

Liverpool played the majority of the match within themselves, but found the back of the net after 27 minutes when Mane reacted quickest to a Trent Alexander-Arnold shot, converting from close range.

Michail Antonio, Pablo Fornals and Manuel Lanzini all had golden opportunities to equalize for the visitors, but lacked composure in front of goal as Liverpool kept a clean sheet despite some defensive vulnerabilities. 

The pressure now shifts on to Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side who host Manchester United in Sunday's Manchester derby.

MORE: Liverpool injury news: Latest updates

Liverpool vs. West Ham final score

  1H 2H Final
Liverpool 1 0 1
West Ham 0 0 0

Goals:
LIV — Sadio Mane — 27th min.

(All times Eastern)

Final: Liverpool 1, West Ham 0

Full-time: Mane's goal gives Liverpool all three points as Klopp's team close the gap on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table to just three points. West Ham had chances, though. They will surely be disappointed to have left Anfield with nothing.

90+5 min.: Jones ON, Diaz OFF — Diaz has arguably been the best player on the pitch for Liverpool. He is withdrawn with seconds remaining.

90+4 min.: Chesters ON, Fornals OFF — One final roll of the dice by Moyes who hands a Premier League debut to Chesters!

90+3 min.: Johnson gets up from the back to provide support, but the final product is poor from the West Ham right back and that might be the last chance the visitors get to snatch something from this match.

90+1 min.: There will be FIVE minutes of stoppage time played at the end of the match. There's still time for West Ham!

90th min.: Milner ON, Keita OFF — Liverpool are edging closer and closer to an important three points and Milner has now been introduced to see this one out for the home team.

89th min.: BOOKING! Jota is shown a yellow card for pulling back Lanzini as West Ham attempted to break out on the counter.

88nd min.: End-to-end stuff as Alisson punches clear a Cresswell delivery into the box before Liverpool hit out on the counterattack with Jota prevented from finding Diaz and Mane in the middle.

86th min.: There is certainly a nervousness around Anfield as this match nears a close. Liverpool are living dangerously with West Ham pressing forward in the search of a late equalizer. You wouldn't bet against them getting one.

83rd min.: Jota ON, Salah OFF — Klopp makes his first change of the match and Salah doesn't look too happy to be coming off.

82nd min.: Antonio was through! Liverpool's high line was exposed by a Noble pass through to Antonio, but Keita gets back to make the challenge on the West Ham forward inside the box.

81st min.: This was the chance Lanzini should have converted for West Ham...

78th min.: Once again it's Diaz who tries to make something happen for Liverpool. He slotted a cute pass through to Salah, but the Egyptian's first touch let him down and the clearance is made.

75th min.: Diaz shifts the ball on to his right foot 20 yards out, but his effort flashes over the crossbar. The Colombian winger has looked like Liverpool's best bet to score a second goal.

71st min.: Liverpool are living dangerously here. Yes, they have been the better of the two teams, but West Ham are still in the game and have had the chances to find the back of the net. Liverpool might need a second goal!

69th min.: Over the bar! What a golden opportunity for West Ham to grab an equalizer! Soucek found Lanzini inside the box with a cross, he lost Alexander-Arnold and had a chance to shoot from six yards out, but he somehow sent his effort over the target!

64th min.: Diaz ... just wide! That wasn't far away from being Liverpool's second of the match with Diaz getting the right-footed shot away on goal from the edge of the box. It flashes just wide!

63rd min.: West Ham will be hoping Bowen's injury isn't a serious one. He has been so important for them this season. It would also be cruel if this injury denies Bowen from getting a call-up to the England squad.

61st min.: Noble ON, Vlasic OFF — A second change is made by Moyes. Is he looking for more control in the center of the pitch through the introduction of Noble?

56th min.: Mane's goal remains the difference between the two teams...

54th min.: Benrahma ON, Bowen OFF — There's the expected change and Benrahma is now on the right side of the West Ham attack.

52nd min.: Bowen injury! This is a blow for West Ham. Bowen is walking gingerly after a challenge and it looks like he will be coming off. Benrahma is getting ready to be introduced off the bench.

50th min.: Liverpool's high line gave some encouragement to West Ham in the first half. Michail Antonio gave Konate some trouble and Fornals had a shot cleared off the line. Can the visitors make more of that in the second period?

46th min.: Back underway! The second half has started at Anfield with Liverpool holding a 1-0 lead over West Ham. No changes made by either manager at the break.

Halftime: Liverpool 1, West Ham 0

Halftime: Mane's goal is the difference between the two teams at the break, but West Ham can be encouraged by how many chances they have created. Liverpool have been the better team, but this one is far from over.

42nd min.: What a goal this would have been!

39th min.: Off the line again! Fornals was played clean through on goal, he was onside, he chipped Alisson, but Alexander-Arnold got back to make the clearance off the line! Then Alisson made the stop from the rebound. Liverpool were exposed at the back!

38th min.: Off the line! Alexander-Arnold was played through by Fabinho, his cross was diverted towards goal by Diaz, but the ball was cleared off the line! Diaz looks very dangerous. Surely he's going to find the net at some point today.

36th min.: He is an assists machine...

32nd min.: Alexander-Arnold takes the free kick on the edge of the West Ham box, West Ham 'keeper Fabianski was rooted to the spot, but the ball flashes just past the far post. Liverpool are in control of this match at the moment and are searching for a second goal.

31st min.: Booking — Dawson is shown a yellow card for trying to bring down Diaz. Zouma actually brought him down right on the edge of the box after a tremendous run by the Colombian winger from his own half. Incredible skill! Diaz gives Liverpool another dimension.

28th min.: No offside! The goal stands and Liverpool have the lead after 27 minutes of this Premier League fixture.

27th min.: GOAL! Alexander-Arnold might have been shooting from the edge of the box, but the ball fell into the path of Mane who was following in, and he finishes into the back of the empty net. Was he offside, though?

26th min.: Liverpool certainly seem to be playing their best football down the left side. That's where the most space can be found, although the hosts are also trying their best to create some passing triangles down the right.

22nd min.: Liverpool 'keeper Alisson has to deny Antonio once again. The West Ham attacker did really well to take down a long ball and then run at the Liverpool defense. Konate didn't look too sure of how to deal with Antonio. That could be an individual battle to watch!

20th min.: Space opened up for Mane on the edge of the West Ham box, but he was off-balance and sliced his effort well wide of the target.

18th min.: Soucek does well to control a clearance on the edge of the box and volley towards the Liverpool goal, but Alisson watched it all the way, got down quickly, and made the straightforward save. West Ham are posing more of a threat now.

14th min.: Antonio shot. The West Ham forward got in behind the Liverpool defense for the first time and unleashed a powerful strike towards goal, but Alisson pushed it up and over his crossbar.

12th min.: Diaz! Then Salah! A wonderful first touch from Diaz inside the box sets him up for the shot. Dawson makes the block, but the ball falls to Salah and he screws his effort wide of the target.

11th min.: West Ham have settled slightly since the opening exchanges, but Liverpool are still on top at the moment. They are the ones with the majority of possession. The hosts are dictating things.

7th min.: There were touching scenes at Anfield before kickoff...

4th min.: Liverpool are well on top in the early stages of this match. This time Salah is just about dealt with inside the box, but West Ham look vulnerable to anything that comes through the center.

2nd min: Salah is denied! What a chance for Liverpool early on! The quick free kick caught out the West Ham defense, Salah was through, but West Ham 'keeper Fabianski made the stop with his legs! That could have been 1-0!

Kickoff: We are under way at Anfield! Liverpool are shooting towards the Anfield Road end of the stadium to start.

12:28 p.m.: Ok, here we go! 'You'll Never Walk Alone' rings around Anfield as the two teams prepare to kick off. There will be a moment's reflection for the victims of the Ukraine invasion before the match starts.

12:25 p.m.: How can West Ham stop Salah? This is a player who has scored 19 goals in just 24 Premier League appearances this season. Is he the best player in the world right now? There's certainly a strong argument to support that belief.

12:15 p.m.: Moyes has confirmed Rice is missing through illness. However, the West Ham manager believes his team can cope without the England international. He points out how the Hammers coped without Rice for a spell last season.

12:05 p.m.: Klopp insists he isn't thinking about Manchester City's game against Manchester United coming up on Sunday and how Liverpool can apply some pressure with a win today. But it's surely a factor. A big opportunity for the Reds.

12:00 p.m.: As far as Liverpool are concerned, it's all about the title race. In mid-January, City held a 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League. A victory for Liverpool here would narrow the gap to just three points.

11.50 a.m.: Klopp has favored Diaz over Jota in attack. The Colombian winger has hit the ground running since joining Liverpool from Porto in the January transfer window. Diaz has slotted in comfortably.

11:45 a.m.: The absence of Rice in the center of the West Ham midfield is a significant blow to Moyes. Liverpool will now surely fancy their chances of dominating the middle of the pitch. Naby Keita is fit enough to start for the hosts.

11:40 a.m.: No sign of Declan Rice in the West Ham squad!

11.35 a.m.: Luis Diaz starts for Liverpool again.

11.30 a.m.: Liverpool have won their last eight league games at home. On top of this, they have kept a clean sheet in six home matches over the same stretch. Klopp's team have made Anfield a fortress.

11:20 a.m.: West Ham suffered a 3-1 defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup during the week, but should still be relatively fresh given they rested a number of key players in that match.

11:15 a.m.: Anfield is looking resplendent in the Merseyside sunshine! Perfect weather for a football match between two high-quality teams.

11:05 a.m.: Liverpool enter this match in sensational form. They have won their last 11 matches in all competitions, a streak that includes last weekend's Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea. 

10:55 a.m.: There's plenty on the line for both teams. Liverpool are looking to narrow the gap on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table to just three points while West Ham need points to boost their chances of finishing in the top four.

10:45 a.m.: A reminder that West Ham have already beaten Liverpool this season on November 21 at the London Stadium. An Alisson Becker own goal and goals by Pablo Fornals and Kurt Zouma gave the Hammers a 3-2 win.

10:30 a.m.: Good morning and welcome to Sporting News' live coverage of the Premier League fixture between Liverpool and West Ham. We'll bring you all the build-up to kick-off at Anfield including team news when it is released. 

Graham Ruthven