West Ham United got the better of Liverpool win the form of a 2-0 win at Upton Park on Saturday.
Goals from Michail Antonio and former Reds forward Andy Carroll gave Slaven Bilic's Hammers a second win on the trot while extending their unbeaten run to seven matches.
Antonio continued his good run of form by opening the scoring in the 10th minute with a back post header from Enner Valencia's right-wing cross before Carroll haunted his old club with a customary nodded goal 10 minutes into the second half from Mark Noble's pinpoint delivery.
The win saw West Ham move up to sixth position on the Premier League table as Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool dropped to eighth.
MATCH OVERVIEW
West Ham United: 2 (Michail Antonio 10', Andy Carroll 55')
Liverpool: 0
Upton Park, London - 34,977
TALKING POINTS
- Can a fit Andy Carroll be just what West Ham need to fire them towards a European finish?
- Liverpool continuing to mix their form. How can they find the consistency required to be a title contender?
WHAT'S NEXT?
West Ham next meet Wolves in the FA Cup on the weekend before taking on Bournemouth in the league next Tuesday.
Liverpool are up against Stoke City in the first leg of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday before they prepare for the Exeter City cup clash on the weekend and then a testing home fixture against Arsenal in the league next Wednesday.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Absolutely delighted to start 2016 with a win and a goal!! #StartTheWayYouMeanToGoOn#Teamwork#COYI
— Andy Carroll (@AndyTCarroll) January 2, 2016Great result, delighted to score again, let's keep this going!! @whufc_official#WHUFC#COYIpic.twitter.com/yTJyPxVh9r
— Michail Antonio (@Michailantonio) January 2, 2016.@DejanLovrenLFC6 feels #LFC need to show more fight after the 2-0 defeat to West Ham. https://t.co/9a0IKA25zE
— LFC TV (@LFCTV) January 2, 2016
QUOTES CORNER
Liverpool boss Klopp on his side's display:
"It was not enough from my team today. In decisive moments we were not there 100%.
"I told the players after the game. The summary: not enough."
West Ham's Bilic on the performance of Carroll:
"I thought he was brilliant. Not just because of his goal but his performance; defending, holding the ball up, pressing their defenders, everything."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
2 - West Ham have secured a league (home/away) double over Liverpool for the first time since 1963-64. Hammered.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 2, 20162 - Michail Antonio has scored in consecutive league appearances for the first time since November 2014. Nod.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 2, 20162 - Andy Carroll has scored in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time since January 2015. Leap.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 2, 2016