West Ham United

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Former Premier League strikers Alan Shearer and Ian Wright have been discussing the "very strange" incident between goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and forward Cody Gakpo in the 2-2 draw between West Ham United and Liverpool on Match of the Day.

Wright gave his opinion on referee Anthony Taylor's decision: "I thought the referee had an absolute nightmare. The referee is running off, he is saying to play on, he stops, he actually tells the goalkeeper to get up and he says it a couple of times.

"Then Alphonse Areola finally gets up, the referee runs off and says to play on, and Anthony Taylor turns his back to the players. I think Gakpo should have just gone and finished that off. He just should have gone and finished it.

"But then he blows the whistle - I don't know what's happening at that point, to be honest. It is like: what is going on?"

Shearer added: "When the goalkeeper Areola has collided with the post, that is when the referee should've stopped the play and blown the whistle.

"He hasn't blown the whistle, which is an error, so then Gakpo has then tried to finish it.

"But then the referee actually calls the physios and doctors on - they are not even ready! They don't even think that Areola is injured - he is not injured.

"Anthony Taylor was just trying to rectify the mistake that he had made. It was a very messy situation caused by the referee."

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Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games on Match of the Day 2 here

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full:

• Man Utd 1-1 Burnley

• Everton 1-0 Brentford

West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta says he is "very happy" at the club amid speculation that he will join Manchester City. (ESPN, via Goal), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

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West Ham have won only one of their past nine home league games and suffered a heavy defeat by Crystal Palace last time out, their second consecutive loss.

But the return of Jarrod Bowen, who missed last week's match with a back injury, proved crucial on Saturday against Liverpool with the winger heading home from the middle of a crowded area before setting up Michail Antonio's equaliser.

His 16 top-flight goals this season will surely have increased his hopes of going to the Euro 2024, with England manager Gareth Southgate watching on in London.

Eighth in the table European football remains in the Hammers' grasp.

Despite that success under David Moyes, speculation around the Hammers boss has once again emerged this week, with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim reportedly in London to discuss replacing the Scot, although the Portuguese said on Saturday the talks were "a mistake".

West Ham manager David Moyes has been talking to TNT Sports following the draw: "I think we did [bounce back well from last week]. I would have liked more than a point, we have drawn a lot [of games] and today is another. It is a good point and, to be 2-1 down and take a battering, we did great to keep going."

On the two goals: "They were really good goals. I enjoyed them. Jarrod [Bowen] is in goal scoring form. Congratulations to him on 20 goals in all competitions. I think it is a long time since someone has done that at West Ham.

"He is a fantastic player. I hope he keeps going."

On Jarrod Bowen qqualling Di Canio's 16 goals in a Premier League season: "That is where I would like the 20 goals, I would like them to be 20 Premier League goals. I have got something for him to chase in the last three games."

On Michail Antonio: "He has got fitter in the last three or four months. We missed him around November time, he got an injury with Jamaica, but he has come back, led the line well and got a few goals for us, which was missing from his game a little."

On the overall performance: "They [Liverpool] started the first half on fire, we couldn't get the ball. Everyone probably watched Everton v Liverpool and Everton were similar, compact and hard to play against. We did much of the same.

"The first goal was important for us. Great credit to the lads for the character they showed to come back from there."

Here are the key facts and figures following Saturday’s game between West Ham and Liverpool in the Premier League.

• Jarrod Bowen's opener (his 16th league goal of 2023-24) saw him become the joint-top goal scorer in a single Premier League campaign for West Ham United, equalling Paolo Di Canio’s haul of 16 goals in 1999-00.

• Despite also leading in this game, Liverpool have won 28 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, with only Newcastle United (34 points in 2001-02) and Manchester United (31 points in 2020-21 and 29 points in 2012-13) rescuing more points from behind in a single campaign in the competition.

• The Reds have won just one of their past five Premier League games (D2 L2), keeping just a single clean sheet in their last 14 matches in the competition.

• The Hammers have won just one of their past nine home Premier League games (D6 L2), going winless in five matches at London Stadium since a 4-2 win against Brentford in February.

• Only Sheffield United (6) have scored more own goals than West Ham (4) in the Premier League this season, while no side has benefited from more own goals in the competition this term than Liverpool (5).

Liverpool's Premier League title hopes seem all but over as Michail Antonio scored to rescue a point for West Ham at London Stadium.

Jarred Bowen opened the scoring just before the break when he rose highest to meet Mohammed Kudus' cross into the area, as Liverpool showed little evidence that their Merseyside derby loss in midweek had done much in the way of spurring them on.

But the visitors were much improved in the second half and Andy Robertson equalised when he scored from Luis Diaz's low pass into the penalty area.

They were then rewarded for their pressure when Cody Gakpo's effort from a corner bounced off Angelo Ogbonna, Tomas Soucek and Alphonse Areola before finding the back of the net.

It looked like they were on their way to bouncing back from back-to-back defeats in the league until Antonio's thumping header put the Hammers back on level terms.

Liverpool sit third in the table with three games remaining, two points behind leaders Arsenal, who face Tottenham on Sunday, while Manchester City are second but have two games in hand.

Liverpool's title hopes appear to be all but over, with the Reds relying on both of their title rivals to slip up to get back in the race.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

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Follow all of the reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on Andy Bell and Steve Queralt from Ride, who support Arsenal and Tottenham.

Sutton's predictions: 1-2

Earlier this month, when Liverpool lost to Crystal Palace on the same day Arsenal were beaten by Aston Villa, it was Grand National weekend and I made an analogy about how both of them had hit the third-last fence hard, but could both still recover.

Well, Arsenal have responded really well to get their noses in front, but Liverpool stumbled badly again against Everton and, to continue the horse-racing theme, their only hope now is to hope that the Gunners and Manchester City both fall at the last.

I don't see that happening but Liverpool have just got to look after themselves now and try to beat West Ham.

Who knows what kind of Hammers performance we are going to get after all the noise around the talks they have had with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim this week.

I know clubs have to make plans, but for that to come out the way it did that was really disrespectful to West Ham boss David Moyes when the club have not made an announcement about his future.

So, how do I call this when we don't know what the mood in their camp will be like? It's also hard to back Liverpool, because Mohamed Salah is out of form and Darwin Nunez's finishing has been so terrible.

I have a feeling the Reds will edge it but, like I say, they are out of the title race now anyway.

I'm sad about that, because I don't want Jurgen Klopp's time as Liverpool manager to end like this.

Klopp is a fierce competitor and he came in with that 'heavy-metal' brand of football... but it seems his spell at Anfield is going to finish with him just tinkering around on the piano, with nothing to play for.

Steve's prediction: 1-2

Liverpool are going to be wounded after Wednesday, but I still think they will win.

Andy's prediction: 0-2

I agree, and I am basing this on West Ham's recent form too

Read the rest of their predictions here

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and we will bring you every moment.

Follow live text updates and listen online here

BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:

Manchester United v Burnley - Listen on BBC Sounds from 15:00

Everton v Brentford - Listen on BBC Sounds from 17:30

David Moyes has been speaking to the media before West Ham United host Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday, 12:30 BST.

Here are the key lines from the Hammers boss:

• Jarrod Bowen is back in training so there is "a good chance he will be available", but will continue to be monitored ahead of the match. There are "a couple of issues" at centre-back with Nayef Aguerd unavailable and Konstantinos Mavropanos needing to be monitored.

• Moyes wants the Hammers to bounce back after "letting an awful lot of the supporters down" in the 5-2 defeat to Crystal Palace: "We want a reaction from the players. We want them to show what it means to play for West Ham, a bit of pride, and hopefully we can show that."

• In his long managerial tenure, Moyes has come to the conclusion that there is not a "magic formula" to getting back on track with results because "players can be different", but he believes "a good dose of hard work, commitment, determination is probably a good place to start".

• On keeping their bid for European football alive against the Reds: "We're eighth in the Premier League at the moment with four games to go. It’s an incredible position we have been in, for nearly all the season. From our point of view, we are in there, we are still in with a shout and we will keep trying to make Europe."

• Moyes highlighted that both teams have played "a lot of games" this season, "probably 12 or 13 games more than anyone who wasn't in Europe", but he recognises that Liverpool "have gotten used to it over, many, many years".

• On whether the decision on his managerial contract is still in his hands, Moyes said: "The most important thing is things would need to be right between me and the club. If we get that right, we will see what happens, but it will be at the end of the season."

• He added: "You can continue to ask me the questions and I'm happy to take them, but it's not as if I have changed track in any way. We have always said the decision will be made at the end of the season. That is something me and the board were happy to do."

Follow the rest of Friday's football news conferences here

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for David Moyes before Saturday's meeting at the London Stadium.

"He has done a ridiculously good job," said the Reds boss. "He is one of the best colleagues too.

"We have spoken a lot over the years and a lot before games. I respect him and he is doing an incredible job.

"I like the team and they are really talented."

Klopp mentioned the Hammers' "great" transfer business over the years that has seen them sign the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Michael Antonio and James Ward-Prowse sign up.

He added: "I have said it many times but Jarrod Bowen is one of my favourite players and I like the way he has developed since joining from Hull City."

The versatile midfielder has scored one goal and registered two assists in eight appearances against Liverpool.

We asked former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown his thoughts on current players hosting podcasts after West Ham's Michail Antonio accused Manchester United legend Roy Keane of having a "dinosaur mentality" for his views on the subject.

Pundit Keane told the Stick To Football, external podcast he believes the platform can be a "distraction" for players, "particularly if you’re on the back of a defeat".

Antonio co-hosts the Footballer's Football Podcast with Fulham captain Tom Cairney who replaced Newcastle striker Callum Wilson earlier in the role.

They are among sever high-profile current players to have ventured into podcasts, including Leeds striker Patrick Bamford who co-hosts My Mate's A Footballer with comedian Joe Wilkinson.

Brown's thoughts on this debate:

Players being on podcasts? It’s the world we live in. I understand the point regarding why the players are talking and what they’re talking about. We’re encouraged to be open-minded; we’re encouraged to come out and speak about things. Problems, positive things.

But I still think if edited correctly those talking points could actually be controlled. That is the key for me. If it is going to be done, it has just got to be watched over. There is fun and enjoyment, but it is not to be taken the wrong way, not to affect any performances or clubs coming your way or even your own club.

Unfortunately, it is not just Michail Antonio on a podcast, there are so many. Big players are into podcasts now and it’s not going away.

The point is not that it is a distraction. What brings it on you is when you’re quoted wrong or you have been discussing the wrong topic.

It is fine if you can do it and not have any of those problems – for instance if you are playing against another team and you said last weekend their striker has not been very good or the centre-back’s performances are not at a high level.

My point is the control and the management of the stories on the podcasts. It is fine to be done but they have to be managed correctly because any little thing can be spun when talking on an opponent or being critical of other players.

If you say, ‘well he’s just not scoring’ someone will come back and say, ‘you’re talking about him but you’re not putting the ball in the back of the net’.

The other point here is the reaction on social media, so you’ve just got to be spot on with it when you have your topics.

It is not going away - we want to hear them. Podcasts are here to stay.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Image source, Reuters

West Ham striker Michail Antonio has explained the reason for his uptick in form.

The 34 year-old has scored in consecutive games against Bayer Leverkusen and Crystal Palace after only scoring four in his first 26 games this season.

"In my career, I have always had little breaks due to hamstring problems, but since lockdown, we’ve not had much time off," Antonio told the Footballer's Football Podcast..

"I’ve been fit and playing back to back since lockdown. Because of this, football got a bit repetitive for me - I lost my enthusiasm. We usually get six weeks off in the summer but since lockdown its been two to three weeks and you're back in. I wasn’t enjoying the football. I became numb to it.

"I got injured and after being out for three-and-a-half months. It got me to miss it again. Getting back from an injury and missing the football has made me enjoy it again and the performance side has come back out of me as well."

Listen to the Footballer's Football Podcast on BBC Sounds

Here is a selection of the key facts and figures before West Ham United host Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday (12:00 BST kick-off).

• West Ham have lost 12 of their past 14 Premier League games against Liverpool, with both exceptions in this run coming at home (1-1 in February 2019, 3-2 in November 2021).

• The Reds have already beaten the Hammers 3-1 in the league and 5-1 in the Carabao Cup so far this season. This is the 11th campaign in which the two sides have faced each other three or more times, but Liverpool have never managed to beat them three times.

• West Ham have won just one of their past eight league home games (D5 L2), beating Brentford 4-2 in February. They lost against Fulham last time out but have not been beaten in consecutive home league games since a run of three in November/December 2022.

• Mohamed Salah has scored 11 goals for Liverpool against West Ham, only netting more against Manchester United (14) in his Reds career.

• Jarrod Bowen has scored in both meetings with Liverpool so far this season – the only Hammers player to score in three different games against the Reds in a campaign is Geoff Hurst in 1964-65.

Manchester United could look to sign 22-year-old Spanish left-back Miguel Gutierrez from Girona, but they face competition from West Ham United and Arsenal. (GiveMeSport), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

The subject of David Moyes' future is going to dominate talk around West Ham from now until the end of the season.

The Scot's contract is up in the summer and the Hammers have pledged not to make a decision on it until after the final game at Manchester City, even though there would be obvious benefit in having clarity before then.

Despite the names being linked with the job, the decision around Moyes is not concrete and a positive end to the season may yet earn him a new deal.

And that is what the major focus should be.

West Ham still have some big games to play; Liverpool, Chelsea and City. Victories against those opponents are rare and something worth celebrating.

Luton are also due at the London Stadium, so there is also the chance to pick up points.

If a return to Europe is very much in the unlikely category, a top-eight finish for only the seventh time in the Premier League era would be another reason for satisfaction.

There is far more still to play for than just more chances to talk about whether Moyes should stay or go.

Image source, Reuters

On the latest episode of My Mate's A Footballer, Leeds striker Patrick Bamford has been talking about his former team-mate Kalvin Phillips' travails since moving on loan to West Ham in January:

"Kalvin has been training with [Manchester] City and, no matter what, training with top players will up your level. But there is a big difference from training every day, and playing a few minutes here and there, to playing match after match. Unfortunately he’s gone to West Ham and he doesn’t have the match sharpness.

"Because he has gone mid-season, it's like he is playing catch-up. To go to any team during the January transfer window is tough but it is easier if you are playing beforehand. It's unfortunate he's been thrown in at the deep end.

"Social media is horrible - it’s unfair on him. He hasn't just gone from being England player of the year to all of a sudden not being good enough to play for any team in the Premier League.

"Next season, if he gets a good pre-season and a run of games, whatever team he is with, you’ll see the best of Kalvin again."

Listen to the last episode of My Mate's A Footballer on BBC Sounds