Football- FA Cup - Liverpool 0-0 West Ham: Darren Randolph keeps Reds at bay – 5 things we learned

The Hammers keeper made multiple saves to earn his side an FA Cup fourth round replay

 

Liverpool couldn't find a way past West Ham in their FA Cup fourth round clash at Anfield on Saturday.
That was mainly down to Hammers keeper Darren Randolph who pulled off save after save to keep the score goaless.

With Jurgen Klopp ringing the changes by resting 10 players from the midweek Capital One Cup semi final showdown with Stoke, Liverpool's youngsters had the chance to impress after being given more first team opportunities.

Cameron Brannagan looked to inspire the home fans during a quiet first half at Anfield when he shot from distance, foccing a fingertip save from Randolph to tip the ball around the post.

But that was as far as either side came to breaking th deadlock in the opening 45 minutes.
It was more of the same in the second half as Randolph kept Teixeira and Benteke out.

Here's what David Maddock learned from the game at Anfield...

1. The kids are alright

Klopp will certainly take heart from the progress of his young players in this competition, from their rather nervous start at Exeter to this even more demanding examination against seasoned top flight pros.

Kevin Stewart and Cameron Brannagan in particular looked both accomplished and confident in the centre of the park, despite the obvious strength of the visitors in that area

2. Stewart can be a star

Stewart's emergence in the FA Cup offers some hope to all young players dreaming of a career in the pro ranks, and wondering where their chance will come.

He was on Tottenham's books as a teenager, but despite four years of promise, never made the grade, and when he struggled on loan at Crewe, it seemed his chance had gone. Yet Liverpool took a chance in signing him and at 22 looks to be a reasonably late developer who has potential in the holding role.

3. More injuries for West Ham

West Ham have that area of the pitch covered, with Kouyate outstanding before he went off with an injury concern.

That will trouble boss Slaven Bilic, because for all his admirable approach in refusing to rest too many for the cup, injury to his best midfielder and defender James Tomkins – whose stats showed him to be the game's most influential player before he too went off – will leave a sour taste for the London club.

And if it affects their increasingly confident push for a Europa League (or better) place next season.

4. Schedule's a mess

That shows the sheer lunacy once more of scheduling a full Premier League programme in the midweek immediately after the FA Cup ties, as they did for the third round too.

It smacks of self interest and sabotage by the Premier League, because the third and fourth rounds are perhaps the most romantic in this competition, and its unique selling point, to coin the phrase of the marketing people.

Surely there is room for both comps in the English football canon, but top flight sides will increasingly rest all their players as Liverpool did, unless the fixture list is more sensibly (and presumably less cynically) drawn up.

5. It wasn't pretty

As much as this was an interesting contrast between the contrasting demands on each manager, we shouldn't get too carried away with the idea that made for a quality game. It didn't. It was too sterile, with running and passing in midfield the go-to for both teams, and little imagination over the course of the 90 minutes.

Not even Dimitri Payet found any space to perform his magic for long stretches of the game, and that was a shame, because he was the one player here football crowds would pay good money to see. This modern trend towards pressing is all well and good, but when side cover more than 150km per game – as Liverpool did in midweek – then it leaves little room or time for expression.

Player Ratings:

Liverpool

Mignolet 6. Very little to do, which is becoming a theme.

Clyne 6. Solid though chose to stay relatively deep.

Caulker 7. Looked impressive on his first start for club.

Lovren 8. Booked. In a young team played leader role well.

Smith 6. Another solid display, should cross earlier at times.

Brannagan 7. Every game seems to get better and a fine prospect.

Stewart 7. Suited to holding role and has a chance it seems.

Allen 7. Took responsibility in middle and in fine form.

Ibe 6. Didn't really get going, but still created couple things.

Benteke 6. Not his night, denied by fine save late on.

Teixeira 6. Had glorious chance to win it, denied by save.

Subs: Ojo 6 (Ibe 80). Sinclair 6 (Brannagan 86)



West Ham:

Randolph 8. MOTM. Made some crucial saves to keep side in it.

Tomkins 6. Went off early, had influence on game before then.

Reid 7. Great display of leadership solid as rock in middle.

Ogbonna 7. Kept Benteke quiet, and as usual tough as teak.

Cresswell 6. Did everything as expected, didn't gallop on.

Song 6. Seemed to be distracted by his goggles.

Kouyate 6. Injured early and loss was disruptive to visitors.

Payet 6. Never really got into game as Liverpool stuck tight.

Obiang 6. Dropped deeper as Reds pressed and worked hard.

Moses 6. Did solid job on flank on his return to Anfield.

Valencia 6. Starved of supply until late on, but worked hard.

Subs: Jelavic 6 (Kouyate 37), O'Brien 6 (Tomkins 35), Antonio 6 (Moses 69).