Darwin Núñez header edges Liverpool to win against wasteful West Ham

Jürgen Klopp found respite from a tumultuous few days in the sanctuary of Anfield. Darwin Núñez brought Liverpool a second successive Premier League home win with a deft header but it was Alisson who secured it, denying West Ham from the penalty spot and with an outstanding save from Tomas Soucek in the dying moments.

The Liverpool goalkeeper has been to the fore in his team’s recent revival and saved Jarrod Bowen’s spot-kick on the stroke of half-time as West Ham finally roused. The visitors, subdued until the closing seconds of the first half, took the game to Liverpool after the break only to be thwarted by Alisson yet again.

Sunday’s win offered a springboard for Liverpool’s campaign but, first of all, Klopp had to ensure he had a team fresh enough to soar at Anfield for the second time in four days. The Liverpool manager made five changes from the side that condemned Manchester City to their first defeat of the season with Núñez back among the starting lineup. The Uruguay international seized his opportunity and had Anfield chanting his name long before opening the scoring with a textbook centre-forward’s header beyond Lukasz Fabianski.

Núñez repeatedly stretched the West Ham defence, whether by racing on to Roberto Firmino’s threaded passes down the channels or losing his marker whenever Liverpool’s full-backs sized up a cross from out wide. The striker’s first chance came courtesy of an immaculate long ball over the top from Thiago Alcântara. Having let the ball bounce once, the summer signing from Benfica let fly on the half-volley and it needed a fine fingertip save from Fabianski to prevent a spectacular shot finding the roof of the net.

The West Ham goalkeeper had no chance of stopping Núñez’s next effort.