Mane fired home from Alexander-Arnold's cross-cum-shot to secure all three points for Liverpool and move within just three points of leaders Manchester City.
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Sadio Mane’s first-half strike was enough as Liverpool beat West Ham United 1-0 in the Premier League fixture at Anfield on Saturday. Luis Diaz could have doubled the lead but his effort before the break was cleared off the line by Aaron Cresswell, and so could West Ham have claimed an equaliser when Trent Alexander-Arnold was needed to hook Pablo Fornals’ effort after the Spaniard had lobbed Alisson. The win helped Jurgen Klopp’s side to move within just three points of leaders Manchester City.
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Liverpool started on the driving seat as Alexander-Arnold released Mahamed Salah on goal with a quickly-taken free-kick from half-way line. But West Ham goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski quickly came off his line and stood firm to deny the Egyptian.
Klopp’s side were keeping the ball possession but weren’t at their free-flowing best. Meanwhile West Ham looked threatening on counter’s as Michail Antonio tested Alisson with a powerful volley. And then, Antonio once again cut inside from the left and forced a decent save from the Brazilian keeper at the near post.
However, Liverpool broke the deadlock inside the opening 27 minutes when Alexander-Arnold’s cross-cum-shot found Mane inside the box and the Senegal forward fired home beyond Fabianski from six yards. The 29-year-old had timed his run to perfection to stay on-side.
Ten minutes later, the Reds could have had their second of the night when Fabinho played a nice little overhead pass to release Alexander-Arnold, who cut the ball back for Diaz, but the Colombian’s first-time shot was initially blocked by Craig Dawson and then Cresswell cleared it off the line.
Immediately at the other end, Fornals had a golden chance to level the score when Ben Johnson played an inch-perfect pass to release the Spaniard on goal, he lobbed the ball over an advancing keeper but Alexander-Arnold came racing back to clear the ball off the line.
Diaz was lively down the left flank as he cut inside and fired a right-foot curler just wide after the hour-mark. At the other end, Thomas Soucek’s cross from the right found Maneul Lanzini inside the box, the Argentine did well to make space for a shot but volleyed over the bar. Diaz saw his effort go just over the bar before trying to set up Salah in front of goal, but the Egyptian failed to control the ball.
Eleven minutes from time, Mark Nobel played a brilliant pass to release Antonio on goal, the Englishman did well to get past Robertson before Naby Keita made a decisive block in front pf goal. Klopp admitted Liverpool’s defending had lacked quality, with West Ham afforded more chances than most of their opponents in recent games.
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