Hammers in Good Stead for Liverpool FA Cup Tie

Usually, I like to analyse the statistics of every West Ham game to see how the game was won and lost in key areas such as possession and shots on target. However, as the saying goes, statistics are like bikinis – what they reveal is very interesting, but what they hide is essential.

Article by Liam Clarkson

One essential component of a good football team that can’t be measured is passion; the Hammers had bucket loads of it last Saturday night.

To take the game to Manchester City so strongly and score within the first minute through Enner Valencia was a testament to the aggressive new attacking tactics implemented by Slaven Bilić, a clear reversal of the safe-but-stifling strategy used by his predecessor Sam Allardyce.

Of course, City still had the majority of possession, had more opportunities to score and did so twice through Sergio Agüero.

What is less obvious is that they were constantly on the back foot in this match, desperately trying to claw back a point after Enner Valencia twice capitalised on shoddy City defending, firstly from Yaya Touré and then Nicolas Otamendi in the second half.

That City came away from the match with a point was something of a surprise considering the way West Ham’s defence, especially new signing Sam Byram, restrained most of the City players.

Were it not for Agüero, West Ham could certainly have taken all six points from their fixtures against City this season, and convincingly too.

The Argentine showed that he was back to his brilliant best with an excellent penalty and a short range finish. The highlight though, was a chip early in the first half which sailed over Adrián’s head and just nicked the far post enough to divert away from the goal line.

All things considered, West Ham have done extremely well this season to take four points from their matches against Manchester City.

As for Liverpool, West Ham have already taken the full six points from their two League ties with the Reds. As it happens, they will have to defeat them again if they are to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Before this season, the Hammers had not triumphed at Anfield since the 1963-64 season, which also happens to be the last season in which the East Londoners did the double on them.

Could they possibly make it a triple this season? We’ll find out on Saturday night. Some of the passion from Saturday would certainly come in handy.

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