BBC pundit James Collins rages over West Ham United defending in 2-1 defeat v Liverpool
BBC pundit James Collins was left absolutely bemused at the West Ham United marking for Liverpool’s winner in their 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium on Wednesday [26 April].
West Ham were aiming to pull further clear of the drop zone as they took on Jurgen Klopp’s Reds on Wednesday evening but fell to a disappointing defeat after Joel Matip’s thumping header midway through the second half.
The Hammers took the lead inside 12 minutes after Lucas Paqueta’s “incredible” strike but Liverpool clawed themselves back through goals from Cody Gakpo before half-time and then Matip was left free in the penalty area to head home the winner for Klopp’s men from a corner.
And Collins was left raging at what he saw from the West Ham United defence for the goal. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live commentary for the game [via BBC Sport, 26 April, 9:14pm], he said:
“It’s not good enough.
“David Moyes will be furious it’s a free header from six yards out. They’ve asked Benrahma to try and deal with Matip but there’s no one doing a job on him.”
Poor
After a terrific spell of results in recent weeks, it seems as though West Ham United have reverted back to type after their torrid defending for Matip’s 67th-minute winner.
Collins was right, the marking for the goal was absolutely baffling, especially in an area where the Hammers have proven so strong all season and in the past, scoring regularly from set-pieces and not giving too much away at the other end.
However, the German centre-back was given the freedom of East London when he thumped his header home and Moyes will indeed be livid at the poor marking of his defenders.
With some crucial games coming up and their Premier League safety still not guaranteed as yet, West Ham can ill-afford to be given away such cheap goals with so much on the line right now.
For all of Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd and Tomas Soucek’s qualities in the air, that was a terribly poor goal to concede. Poor.