West Ham United against Liverpool

Liverpool knocking it around for fun now.

Through ball down the right to Dyer but Carragher comfortably eases Dyer off the ball.

Fuabert and Mascherano having some handbags.

West ham trying to push more now but you feel they could be susceptible to the counter attacking football of Liverpool.

A solid performance from the Israeli, some great runs but just never quite produced an end product.

Liverpool sub: Aurelio on for Benayoun.

Tomkins flicks it on but out for a corner.

Parker fouled by Gerrard. Free-kick.

Gerard attempts a threaded through-ball but Gabbidon intercepts.

Dyer finds some space but can't quite fashion enough room to get a shot away.

Dyer works some space and Faubert manages to cross. Cleared out by Carragher.

Faubert breaks down the right but runs the ball out for a throw.

Benayoun delivers but Tomkins heads away.

Torres forces a corner for Liverpool.

Jinking run by Babel but no support for him. The Dutchman does well to earn a throw-in though.

Ilunga fouls Babel, free-kick to Liverpool.

Ilunga advances with the ball but gives it away cheaply and Liverpool have the ball once more.

Nope, ref's given a goal-kick. Interesting decision.

Noble's long ball headed out for a corner by Johnson.

Tomkins heads wide.

Corner for West Ham after a half chance header for Kovac.

Liverpool had looked more likely than West Ham to score and the Hammers are looking increasingly tired.

2-3. Ryan Babel flights in a perfect cross and Torres rises high above Faubert to power an impressive header into the bottom corner. Great finish.

GOAL! Torres.

Benayoun late in on Faubert. Free-kick, no booking.

West Ham looking tired all over the park... some extra fitness training required maybe Gianfranco?

Parker gets hold of it but his marauding run is halted by a tight Liverpool defence.

Lovely play between Kovac and Hines, Cole has the ball on the edge again but is surrounded by a sea of white shirts.

Lucas goes through the back of Cole, horrendous challenge but he's got away without a caution.

Insua lifts a cross in but West Ham seem up to the defensive challenge.

Carlton Cole is struggling, the big lad's taking some big breaths.

Gerrard sprints down Liverpool's left wing but Faubert makes (another) excellent interception.

Zola looks chirpy on the touchline but can he inspire his Hammers to nick a goal.

Great strength by Cole, he's winning everything that comes up to him.

Cole penalised for being too heavy handed with his markers.

Sweeping move from Liverpool between Kuyt Gerrard and Torres but again they struggle to create an end product.

West Ham supporters cheering a possible new hero. But he's got a long way to proving he's as good as a certain Mr Di Canio.

West Ham sub: Kieron Dyer on for Diamanti.

Looks like Carlton Cole is struggling with his hamstring. Diamanti is too. But only one sub left so who will be staying on?

Lucas has another go from distance. Blocked...again.

Diamanti may have a debut goal but he's struggling to make an impression on this game.

Great skill by Benayoun, skips into the box, past four players but no end product.

Liverpool sub: Babel on for Kuyt

No joy for West Ham.

Great touch by Reina, if he hadn't got there Hines would have had a tap-in. Out for another corner.

He's won a corner and Diamanti whips it in.

West Ham finally mount an attack with Faubert, show us some galactico magic Julien!

Gerrard dinks a ball into Kuyt but Tomkins wins it well and nods it to Green.

Torres was holding his knee but with no free-kick forthcoming he seemms to be okay now.

Parker crunches Torres bt it's an excellent tackle.

Johnson floats a cross in but it goes out for a goal kick to a ring of jeers from the West Ham faithful.

West Ham haven't seen much of the ball and Liverpool have time and space. Leiva fires in a speculative effort that's cleared to Johnson.

Johnson plays in Torres but Gabbidon makes a timely interception.

Liverpool press on into the West Ham half.

Cole shows excellent footwork on the edge of the area but his shot is blocked by Carragher.

Green clears to Cole who spreads to Ilunga.

Torres does not look happy about that decision one bit.

looks like Torres gets pulled back but free kick given the other way, maybe a slight obstruction.

Free-kick sails through and out for a goal-kick.

Great touch by Hines, speeds away from Skrtel and Mascherano cynically slides through him. Mascherano booked.

Torres played through but Green is out to the ball first.

Liverpool passing it around the back well.

Johnson has a go from the edge of the area but it's blocked away easily.

No substitutions at half-time. Should be an exciting second-half in prospect, I've got a feeling we've got more goals coming.

And we're off again...

Half-time whistle blows, West Ham 2-2 Liverpool. See you again in 15 minutes...

West Ham fans lifting the noise levels again now.

Free-kick against Diamanti.

But it's wasted.

West Ham have a throw deep in Liverpool's half.

What a goal fest. A great match so far, very entertaining.

2-2. Noble's corner met by Carlton Cole's great header. Have to question Rafa's zonal marking again.

GOAL! Carlton Cole for West Ham

Deflected off the wall and out for a corner.

Diamanti lining it up but it's pretty far out.

Skrtel catches Hines, this time the Slovakian's in the book. Free-kick.

Gerrard won't be too impressed as it was definitely going in anyway but Kuyt's poached that one away from the Liverpool captain. Poor marking as well and if there was a man on the post, it wouldn't have gone in.

1-2. Gerrard's header is goalwards and Kuyt gets the faintest of touches. Where's the man on the post?

GOAL! Kuyt scores.

Corner for Liverpool, Benayoun to take it.

Carlton Cole is also in need of the ball, he's definitely West Ham's best outlet.

Torres has been quiet since his goal, Liverpool need him to get on the ball more often.

Hines away down the left wing. Wins a throw-in. Replay shows it was a definite foul by Skrtel. He's a lucky boy.

Skrtel brings Hines down but the ref says no foul.

Straight into the wall.

Gerrard to take by the looks of it.

Faubert booked for a nothing challenge on Gerrard. Stevie G went down a little easily there. Free-kick in a dangerous position.

Benitez look a little aggrieved still by the penalty decision.

Good strength by Faubert again to see the ball out.

The noise levels have gone up a few decibels now at the Boleyn Ground.

Ilunga floats past Glen Johnson down the left wing but can't deliver as he gets inside the penalty area.

Mascherano brings down Hines. Free-kick.

Replays of the penalty are inconclusive. ESPN's Chris Waddle is convinced it was two touches though.

Gerrard's free-kick sails through.

Parker very late on Insua. Deserved booking.

1-1. Controversial, he took two touches but the ref hasn't spotted it. He glanced the ball with his right foot but slipped and knocked it in with his left.

GOAL! Diamanti with a debut goal.

Carragher booked.

PENALTY- Carragher brings down Hines as he speeds past him.

He was really gutted, not sure what was wrong but possibly a recurrence of a back injury he had in training this week.

West Ham sub: Kovac for Behrami

Behrami is almost in tears. He's being taken off.

Torres tries an outrageous 30-yard effort which sails high and wide.

Gerrard's corner flies harmlessly through.

Long ball from Mascherano, great touch by Benayoun who wins a corner.

West Ham sub: Gabbidon on for Upson.

Another poor delivery from Diamanti.

West Ham free kick.

Upson looking troubled and has walked straight down the tunnel. Think he picked the injury up trying a last ditch tackle on Torres.

Replay of the goal, great pace from Torres but maybe Green could have stayed on his feet for longer.

Liverpool supporters chanting Torres' name over and over and over and over and over...you get the picture.

0-1. Torres eased his way past Tomkins, and poked the ball past Robert Green's near post.

GOAL! Torres.

Headed out by Upson.

Corner for Liverpool won by Kuyt.

A few tackles flying in now, the Hammers still inviting Liverpool to attack. it's like Inter vs Barca all over again.

Ilunga gives the ball away very cheaply, Torres turns and volleys...just wide.

Another chance for West Ham, pacy attack ends in Diamanti dragging a shot wide.

Nice play by West Ham, Faubert crosses it in to Hines, whose effort is deflected by Johnson into Reina's hands.

West Ham sitting quite deep at the moment.

Tomkins launches it long to Cole, could be West Ham's most effective tactic.

Benayoun late on Parker, free-kick and a quiet word from the ref.

Gerrard on the break but Upson makes a good tackle.

Liverpool beginning to look a bit more comfortable in possession, plenty of touches for Torres and Gerrard.

Penalty would have been harsh according to the replay, it hit his arm but there wasn't anything he could do about it. Plus his arms were down by his sides. Good call referee.

Insua breaks through and no-one closes him down. Straight through the middle he takes a shot from 20 yards which fizzes wide.

Johnson with some space takes on two and Torres makes a big handball claim. Ilunga's arm looked like it might have made contact in the penalty area.

Faubert hustles Insua off the ball, all that training with Real Madrid last season surely can't have helped him become a better defender.

Hines offside. Clearly.

Miss again. Benayoun played through by Torres but a weak shot into the hands of Green.

Cole forces his way through showing great strength, another mistake by Mr carragher but he chases back and makes the tackle.

Benitez already having a tactical discussion with Benayoun.

Diamanti's first touch is to waste the free-kick, straight to a white shirt.

Cole pulled back by Skrtel, free-kick West Ham.

Great chance that one and he really should have done better. Carragher badly caught in possession on the edge of the area.

Shocker! Seb Hines misses a sitter ball given away and clean through against Reina he smashes it against the post.

Gerrard coming deep to try to pull the strings but West ham are closing well.

First touch for Hines and now Faubert runs down the right wing before finding no-one with a through ball.

Liverpool start well, composed passing around defence, West ham haven't touched the ball yet.

And we're off...

Mascherano and Benayoun both returning to their old club, fancy one of them to score?

The fans are going crazy at Upton Park and this is a massive game for both clubs. Liverpool have already lost two and another defeat at this stage would really damage their title credentials.

The players are out on the pitch, with West Ham in their traditional claret and blue, and Liverpool in their changed strip of white shirts, black shorts.

Alessandro Diamanti makes his debut up front for West Ham today. Zola has described him as "a cross between myself (that's Zola, not me) and Paolo Di Canio". Impressive stuff.

Gianfranco Zola has just been presented with a cake from ESPN to celebrate a year in charge at Upton Park...looks good.

Liverpool: Reina, Skrtel, Carragher, Insua, Johnson, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres, Gerrard.

West Ham: Green, Upson, Tomkins, Ilunga, Faubert, Parker, Noble, Diamanti, Behrami, Cole, Hines.

Hello everyone and welcome to our live coverage of West Ham vs Liverpool at Upton Park. Kick-off is ten minutes away and the starting line-ups have been announced.

Join us at 1730 BST for ESPN's game of West Ham vs Liverpool. We'll have a text commentary, but if you want the real thing go to www.espn.co.uk

Ilunga fouls Babel, free-kick to Liverpool.

Ilunga advances with the ball but gives it away cheaply and Liverpool have the ball once more.

Nope, ref's given a goal-kick. Interesting decision.

Noble's long ball headed out for a corner by Johnson.

Tomkins heads wide.

Corner for West Ham after a half chance header for Kovac.

Liverpool had looked more likely than West Ham to score and the Hammers are looking increasingly tired.

2-3. Ryan Babel flights in a perfect cross and Torres rises high above Faubert to power an impressive header into the bottom corner. Great finish.

GOAL! Torres.

Benayoun late in on Faubert. Free-kick, no booking.

West Ham looking tired all over the park... some extra fitness training required maybe Gianfranco?

Parker gets hold of it but his marauding run is halted by a tight Liverpool defence.

Lovely play between Kovac and Hines, Cole has the ball on the edge again but is surrounded by a sea of white shirts.

Lucas goes through the back of Cole, horrendous challenge but he's got away without a caution.

Insua lifts a cross in but West Ham seem up to the defensive challenge.

Carlton Cole is struggling, the big lad's taking some big breaths.

Gerrard sprints down Liverpool's left wing but Faubert makes (another) excellent interception.

Zola looks chirpy on the touchline but can he inspire his Hammers to nick a goal.

Great strength by Cole, he's winning everything that comes up to him.

Cole penalised for being too heavy handed with his markers.

Sweeping move from Liverpool between Kuyt Gerrard and Torres but again they struggle to create an end product.

West Ham supporters cheering a possible new hero. But he's got a long way to proving he's as good as a certain Mr Di Canio.

West Ham sub: Kieron Dyer on for Diamanti.

Looks like Carlton Cole is struggling with his hamstring. Diamanti is too. But only one sub left so who will be staying on?

Lucas has another go from distance. Blocked...again.

Diamanti may have a debut goal but he's struggling to make an impression on this game.

Great skill by Benayoun, skips into the box, past four players but no end product.

Liverpool sub: Babel on for Kuyt

No joy for West Ham.

Great touch by Reina, if he hadn't got there Hines would have had a tap-in. Out for another corner.

He's won a corner and Diamanti whips it in.

West Ham finally mount an attack with Faubert, show us some galactico magic Julien!

Gerrard dinks a ball into Kuyt but Tomkins wins it well and nods it to Green.

Torres was holding his knee but with no free-kick forthcoming he seemms to be okay now.

Parker crunches Torres bt it's an excellent tackle.

Johnson floats a cross in but it goes out for a goal kick to a ring of jeers from the West Ham faithful.

West Ham haven't seen much of the ball and Liverpool have time and space. Leiva fires in a speculative effort that's cleared to Johnson.

Johnson plays in Torres but Gabbidon makes a timely interception.

Liverpool press on into the West Ham half.

Cole shows excellent footwork on the edge of the area but his shot is blocked by Carragher.

Green clears to Cole who spreads to Ilunga.

Torres does not look happy about that decision one bit.

looks like Torres gets pulled back but free kick given the other way, maybe a slight obstruction.

Free-kick sails through and out for a goal-kick.

Great touch by Hines, speeds away from Skrtel and Mascherano cynically slides through him. Mascherano booked.

Torres played through but Green is out to the ball first.

Liverpool passing it around the back well.

Johnson has a go from the edge of the area but it's blocked away easily.

No substitutions at half-time. Should be an exciting second-half in prospect, I've got a feeling we've got more goals coming.

And we're off again...

Half-time whistle blows, West Ham 2-2 Liverpool. See you again in 15 minutes...

West Ham fans lifting the noise levels again now.

Free-kick against Diamanti.

But it's wasted.

West Ham have a throw deep in Liverpool's half.

What a goal fest. A great match so far, very entertaining.

2-2. Noble's corner met by Carlton Cole's great header. Have to question Rafa's zonal marking again.

GOAL! Carlton Cole for West Ham

Deflected off the wall and out for a corner.

Diamanti lining it up but it's pretty far out.

Skrtel catches Hines, this time the Slovakian's in the book. Free-kick.

Gerrard won't be too impressed as it was definitely going in anyway but Kuyt's poached that one away from the Liverpool captain. Poor marking as well and if there was a man on the post, it wouldn't have gone in.

1-2. Gerrard's header is goalwards and Kuyt gets the faintest of touches. Where's the man on the post?

GOAL! Kuyt scores.

Corner for Liverpool, Benayoun to take it.

Carlton Cole is also in need of the ball, he's definitely West Ham's best outlet.

Torres has been quiet since his goal, Liverpool need him to get on the ball more often.

Hines away down the left wing. Wins a throw-in. Replay shows it was a definite foul by Skrtel. He's a lucky boy.

Skrtel brings Hines down but the ref says no foul.

Straight into the wall.

Gerrard to take by the looks of it.

Faubert booked for a nothing challenge on Gerrard. Stevie G went down a little easily there. Free-kick in a dangerous position.

Benitez look a little aggrieved still by the penalty decision.

Good strength by Faubert again to see the ball out.

The noise levels have gone up a few decibels now at the Boleyn Ground.

Ilunga floats past Glen Johnson down the left wing but can't deliver as he gets inside the penalty area.

Mascherano brings down Hines. Free-kick.

Replays of the penalty are inconclusive. ESPN's Chris Waddle is convinced it was two touches though.

Gerrard's free-kick sails through.

Parker very late on Insua. Deserved booking.

1-1. Controversial, he took two touches but the ref hasn't spotted it. He glanced the ball with his right foot but slipped and knocked it in with his left.

GOAL! Diamanti with a debut goal.

Carragher booked.

PENALTY- Carragher brings down Hines as he speeds past him.

He was really gutted, not sure what was wrong but possibly a recurrence of a back injury he had in training this week.

West Ham sub: Kovac for Behrami

Behrami is almost in tears. He's being taken off.

Torres tries an outrageous 30-yard effort which sails high and wide.

Gerrard's corner flies harmlessly through.

Long ball from Mascherano, great touch by Benayoun who wins a corner.

West Ham sub: Gabbidon on for Upson.

Another poor delivery from Diamanti.

West Ham free kick.

Upson looking troubled and has walked straight down the tunnel. Think he picked the injury up trying a last ditch tackle on Torres.

Replay of the goal, great pace from Torres but maybe Green could have stayed on his feet for longer.

Liverpool supporters chanting Torres' name over and over and over and over and over...you get the picture.

0-1. Torres eased his way past Tomkins, and poked the ball past Robert Green's near post.

GOAL! Torres.

Headed out by Upson.

Corner for Liverpool won by Kuyt.

A few tackles flying in now, the Hammers still inviting Liverpool to attack. it's like Inter vs Barca all over again.

Ilunga gives the ball away very cheaply, Torres turns and volleys...just wide.

Another chance for West Ham, pacy attack ends in Diamanti dragging a shot wide.

Nice play by West Ham, Faubert crosses it in to Hines, whose effort is deflected by Johnson into Reina's hands.

West Ham sitting quite deep at the moment.

Tomkins launches it long to Cole, could be West Ham's most effective tactic.

Benayoun late on Parker, free-kick and a quiet word from the ref.

Gerrard on the break but Upson makes a good tackle.

Liverpool beginning to look a bit more comfortable in possession, plenty of touches for Torres and Gerrard.

Penalty would have been harsh according to the replay, it hit his arm but there wasn't anything he could do about it. Plus his arms were down by his sides. Good call referee.

Insua breaks through and no-one closes him down. Straight through the middle he takes a shot from 20 yards which fizzes wide.

Johnson with some space takes on two and Torres makes a big handball claim. Ilunga's arm looked like it might have made contact in the penalty area.

Faubert hustles Insua off the ball, all that training with Real Madrid last season surely can't have helped him become a better defender.

Hines offside. Clearly.

Miss again. Benayoun played through by Torres but a weak shot into the hands of Green.

Cole forces his way through showing great strength, another mistake by Mr carragher but he chases back and makes the tackle.

Benitez already having a tactical discussion with Benayoun.

Diamanti's first touch is to waste the free-kick, straight to a white shirt.

Cole pulled back by Skrtel, free-kick West Ham.

Great chance that one and he really should have done better. Carragher badly caught in possession on the edge of the area.

Shocker! Seb Hines misses a sitter ball given away and clean through against Reina he smashes it against the post.

Gerrard coming deep to try to pull the strings but West ham are closing well.

First touch for Hines and now Faubert runs down the right wing before finding no-one with a through ball.

Liverpool start well, composed passing around defence, West ham haven't touched the ball yet.

And we're off...

Mascherano and Benayoun both returning to their old club, fancy one of them to score?

The fans are going crazy at Upton Park and this is a massive game for both clubs. Liverpool have already lost two and another defeat at this stage would really damage their title credentials.

The players are out on the pitch, with West Ham in their traditional claret and blue, and Liverpool in their changed strip of white shirts, black shorts.

Alessandro Diamanti makes his debut up front for West Ham today. Zola has described him as "a cross between myself (that's Zola, not me) and Paolo Di Canio". Impressive stuff.

Gianfranco Zola has just been presented with a cake from ESPN to celebrate a year in charge at Upton Park...looks good.

Liverpool: Reina, Skrtel, Carragher, Insua, Johnson, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres, Gerrard.

West Ham: Green, Upson, Tomkins, Ilunga, Faubert, Parker, Noble, Diamanti, Behrami, Cole, Hines.

Hello everyone and welcome to our live coverage of West Ham vs Liverpool at Upton Park. Kick-off is ten minutes away and the starting line-ups have been announced.

Join us at 1730 BST for ESPN's game of West Ham vs Liverpool. We'll have a text commentary, but if you want the real thing go to www.espn.co.uk