Liverpool title hopes almost over after Antonio earns West Ham a point

Is it over yet? Normally, a defensively flawed, late-season 2-2 draw would be something to savour. As far as Liverpool are concerned, though, everything feels difficult to love at the moment. The mentality monsters, the team that once flattened opponents as limited as West Ham as a matter of course, are gone.

This is a team whose emotional energy has been drained by the challenge of staying in a three-way title race. Jürgen Klopp, who has three games left before he can pack it in, looks and sounds spent. He was not in the mood to say much about his row with Mohamed Salah, who was preparing to come on as a late substitute at the London Stadium and made it very clear he had zero interest in anything his manager had to say to him.

Related: ‘There’s going to be fire if I speak’: Salah adds fuel to touchline row with Klopp

Perhaps a new voice is needed. And maybe, once the disappointment of throwing more points away subsides, at least Klopp will tell himself that he will not have to coach those dreaded 12.30pm kick-offs any more. The responsibility will fall on Arne Slot next season and much will depend on whether Liverpool can rediscover their poise in front of goal.

This was a game they could have won 10 times over. One-nil down at half-time, their aerial shortcomings exposed by Jarrod Bowen heading in his 20th goal of the season, Liverpool had responded well. They ripped into a passive West Ham at the start of the second half, scored twice and had enough chances to seal a win that would have kept alive their hopes of taking advantage of any slips from Arsenal and Manchester City.

Yet Liverpool are short of conviction at both ends. Luis Díaz could have had a hat-trick but had to settle for the assist for Andy Robertson’s equaliser. Late on, with Liverpool chasing a winner, Harvey Elliott would crack an effort against the bar.

West Ham, who are preparing for a managerial change of their own, were lucky. David Moyes was happy after Michail Antonio rescued a creditable point, but he knew Liverpool were the better team.

Klopp had reacted strongly to the defeat to Everton, Darwin Núñez and Salah included in the five players who dropped to the bench, and the early signs were positive. Playing all the football, making all the passes, there were times when Liverpool threatened to destroy West Ham’s attempts to sit deep and counterattack.

Confidence was fragile after West Ham’s thrashing at Crystal Palace. Mohammed Kudus’s dribbling worried Trent Alexander-Arnold on the left but moments of flair were sparse. Lucas Paquetá simply was not in the game.

Liverpool eased into their groove, Elliott spurning their first chance and West Ham were grateful for a late offside call after Angelo Ogbonna handled Díaz’s shot. Liverpool, who had Cody Gakpo leading the line, found it too easy to expose West Ham’s lack of mobility. Alexis Mac Allister soon shot straight at Alphonse Areola.

Shoddy finishing made Liverpool vulnerable. A few minutes after Díaz dragged a shot against the woodwork, West Ham decided to have a go at the unfamiliar concept of pressing. It ended with Alisson pushing Bowen’s deflected shot wide.

Dodgy at set pieces against Everton, Liverpool failed to wake up. West Ham took a short corner and Kudus was under no pressure. A good cross invited Bowen to lose Gakpo and steer a bouncing header past Alisson.

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Liverpool retreated down the tunnel wondering how they were behind. West Ham, though, have developed a habit of conceding shortly after half-time. The second half was three minutes old when Díaz rolled a pass inside to Robertson, who had space to jab a weak shot past Areola.

West Ham made the same old error of trying to guard a slender lead. They were soon being pulled all over the place. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexander-Arnold went close before Liverpool went ahead. Alexander-Arnold’s corner reached Gakpo and when his shot hit Ogbonna, the ball went in off Areola for an own-goal.

West Ham looked finished. They toyed with a complete collapse, only for Areola to thwart Díaz with two outstanding saves. Out of nowhere, an equaliser arrived. Bowen crossed and Antonio punished slack defending by heading past Alisson. Liverpool found a way not to win.