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Liverpool went top of the Premier League – but only by a solitary point instead of three as West Ham, who defended well and became more of a threat as the game wore on, might even have won it at the end. As it was, the Reds left the pitch to boos of frustration at Anfield…

The draw was enough to lift Rafael Benitez’s side a point clear of Chelsea but an uninspired display did little to enhance their credentials as potential title winners.

Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday had given Liverpool the chance to open up a three-point gap at the top.

But with West Ham repeatedly getting ten men behind the ball, the Reds never looked like claiming victory and it was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock when Craig Bellamy’s long-range strike hit the post in the first half.

Rafael Benitez rang the changes by giving starts to Sami Hyypia, Andrea Dossena and Yossi Benayoun, with Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt paired in attack, the Dutchman playing just off the Irishman, and Benayoun playing on the right wing in a 4-4-1-1 formation – with Javier Mascherano on the bench. His Hammers counterpart Gianfranco Zola made one change to the team that beat Sunderland, Hayden Mullins replacing Lee Bowyer in midfield, with Carlton Cole partnering Craig Bellamy up-front.

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett was at Anfield for the game, attending his first match since the Reds beat Manchester United in September.

Rafa’s side began confidently, enjoying plenty of possession, and after seven minutes, they had a half-hearted penalty appeal for handball rightly dismissed by referee Peter Walton when a Benayoun effort struck Herita Illunga’s stomach from point-blank range.

With Liverpool beginning to lay seige to the Hammers’ goal, Hyypia headed a Gerrard corner just over the bar, before Benayoun was brought down by Mullins as he dribbled his way into the Hammers’ defence. The resultant free-kick from Gerrard, some 30 yards out, was deflected for a corner by Ilunga with another suspicion of handball.

The first 30 minutes had been largely one-way traffic and Liverpool should have been ahead, but without the injured Fernando Torres they lacked that killer touch in front of goal, and despite some intelligent probing by Xabi Alonso from midfield they were short on creativity, relying mostly on set-pieces.

But Gerrard went close when he went on a mazy run into the box, leaving Cole in his wake, and let fly with a shot that hit the side-netting.

As half-time came, it was still goalless, with Bellamy’s earlier effort off the post still the closest either side came to scoring, Liverpool losing impetus after having enjoyed most of the possession, and lacking penetrative width. Although West Ham had been limited going forward, Matthew Upson and Scott Parker had begun to excel as the half wore on.

The second-half started with Kuyt soon wasting an opening by producing a weak shot wide when captain Gerrard was better-paced for a pass.

On 66 minutes, David Ngog replaced the ineffective Keane, and a minute later, Cole wasted a great chance for the Hammers, heading wide of the goal from six yards at a corner as the Liverpool fans began to express some frustration with their team’s performance.

On 78 minutes Ryan Babel replaced Riera, and a couple of minutes after that substitution, Hyypia went close again, beating Green to the ball from a corner but lacking direction with his effort, which Kuyt just failed to turn into the net at the back post.

Liverpool had another scare, though, when Cole dwelt on the ball too long with Parker well placed for a pass in the box.

Gerrard shot well wide again from 25 yards, and Upson blocked an Ngog shot.

Then as Liverpool were stretched in pursuit of a goal, Luis Boa Morte, on for Faubert, was put through on goal but wastefully sliced his shot well wide.

And Reina had to save from Cole at the death, though the flag went up for offside as Liverpool wasted the chance to pull three points clear of Chelsea. It was West Ham’s first point at Anfield for nine years.

Line Ups

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Dossena, Benayoun, Gerrard, Alonso, Riera, Kuyt, Keane.
Subs: Cavalieri, Agger, Babel, Mascherano, Leiva Lucas, Insua, Ngog.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Faubert, Parker, Mullins, Behrami, Bellamy, Cole.
Subs: Boa Morte, Noble, Lastuvka, Tristan, Davenport, Collison, Di Michele.

For the highlights of the match click below