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LONDON — Liverpool's slim Premier League title hopes faded further on Saturday when Michail Antonio's late header earned West Ham United a deserved point with a 2-2 draw.
Liverpool, reeling from a 2-0 loss at Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, were marginally the better side in a flat first half. The visitors had a penalty denied for an offside in the build-up before Luis Diaz hit the post.
They again conceded first, however, when Jarrod Bowen nodded home shortly before halftime, his 20th goal of the season in his 200th game for the Hammers.
Jarrod Bowen's header grabs the lead for West Ham minutes before halftime ⚒️ #WHULIV
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 27, 2024
The Reds levelled three minutes after the restart through Andy Robertson when his shot wriggled past Alphonse Areola at the goalkeeper's near post.
A rapid response from the Reds
Andy Robertson brings Liverpool level in East London.@USANetwork pic.twitter.com/2BD1SCXEQw
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 27, 2024
Liverpool then took the lead in the 65th minute through the ugliest of own goals, with Cody Gakpo's sliced effort bouncing off Angelo Ogbonna before Tomas Soucek's attempted clearance hit the unfortunate Areola and crossed the line.
Liverpool lead at London Stadium through an unfortunate West Ham OG
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 27, 2024
Antonio dragged the hosts back on terms when he met Bowen's cross with a powerful header in the 77th minute, shortly before Jürgen Klopp introduced Mohamed Salah in a triple substitution preceded by a heated exchange with his manager.
Another huge header for the Hammers and we are back on level terms in East London!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 27, 2024
Salah and Klopp get into it before winger subs on. Darwin plays peacemaker. Very sad moment to see with just three games left. pic.twitter.com/ZT4EXEZZnZ
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) April 27, 2024
"We spoke about that in the dressing room and it's done for me, that's all," Klopp told reporters.
Salah, however, told reporters that "there's going to be fire today if I speak", in footage uploaded to social media.
“It’s gonna be fire if I speak”, says Salah.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 27, 2024
Harvey Elliott hit the bar as Liverpool tried in vain to find a dramatic winner, but they were held to a draw and have now taken just five points from their last five league games as their title challenge has petered out.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE? Areola rolls ball out into play, and Gakpo swoops in and looks nailed onto score, only for Anthony Taylor to stop play. What does Taylor see, did he blow his whistle, and what does he say to Areola who goes down many hours later!?⁉️⁉️ pic.twitter.com/0D1sBxwYau
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) April 27, 2024
Were Liverpool wrongly denied a scoring opportunity?
Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Mustoe and Robbie Earle discuss the late-game decision. #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/AblP8ykk3s— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 27, 2024
Liverpool remain third on 75 points, one behind second-placed Manchester City, who have played two games fewer, and two behind first-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand and a much-superior goal difference.
They can now only hope that City and Arsenal slip up and Gakpo told TNT Sports his side are in "a very, very difficult position".
"It is going to be difficult, not impossible, but very, very difficult," he added.
Asked if he had written off Liverpool's title chances, a resigned-looking Klopp said: "I don't think about it really. I said before we need to win our games, we didn't win the game, that doesn't improve our situation massively.
"Do they (City and Arsenal) look like they will lose two or three games? No, I don't think so."
West Ham keep their faint chances of European qualification alive with a draw that means they stay eighth on 49 points, one behind Newcastle United and four behind Manchester United, both of whom have two games in hand.
West Ham boss David Moyes said he thought Liverpool were the better side, but praised his players' character to get a result after falling behind.
"The players stuck at it, we have done it quite often to a lot of big sides here this season ... so maybe you shouldn't be too surprised that we've bloodied somebody's nose," he added.
(Reporting by Sam Tobin Editing by Christian Radnedge)
