Liverpool’s draw at West Ham dents title hopes

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, was 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.

The Reds levelled three minutes after the restart through Andy Robertson when his shot wriggled past Alphonse Areola at the goalkeeper’s near post.

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.

Antonio dragged the hosts back on terms when he met Bowen’s cross with a powerful header in the 77th minute before a frantic finish saw Harvey Elliott hit the bar as Liverpool tried in vain to find a dramatic winner.

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.

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.