FA PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool 0 West Ham 0: GIANFRANCO ZOLA gave Chelsea a multitude of reasons to revere him as their greatest ever player. Last night he handed them one to celebrate his entry into management as his West Ham side limited Liverpool's rise to the top to just a single point.
Looking down on Chelsea and Manchester United is the only place the majority at Liverpool want to be this season, and the table will make pleasant reading for Rafael Benitez and company today.
But there will be regret at the margin of their lead following Luis Felipe Scolari's latest defeat at Stamford Bridge, and a gnawing realisation this represented another opportunity lost. A second successive 0-0 draw at home to mid-table opposition was not the response Benitez had in mind. Dominant throughout, and denied by the excellence of goalkeeper Robert Green, this result proved more satisfactory for the genial Italian than the ambitious Spaniard in the opposite dugout.
Following an angst-ridden draw against Fulham in their last home league game Jamie Carragher and Benitez had pleaded for patience from the Kop whenever inferior but resilient visitors arrive. The advice was heeded and necessary against a West Ham team content to absorb the almost relentless pressure from those in red.
Penalty appeals were soon on Liverpool lips, however, as the Hammers left-back Herita Ilunga escaped two handball claims inside his area in the opening nine minutes, from Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt.
With Kuyt and Sami Hyypia providing a constant aerial threat and West Ham struggling to retain possession, the ball rebounding off Carlton Cole before his team-mates dared to take a step forward, it seemed an inevitability Liverpool would produce the breakthrough.
Albert Riera was the first of many to endure frustration when a volley, from Green's unconvincing punch, beat the goalkeeper but was cleared off the line by Cole. Hyypia then sent the first of several headed chances just over the crossbar from a Steven Gerrard corner, the veteran Finn knew he should have at least struck the target, and when he did so five minutes later, from another Gerrard corner headed on by Kuyt, Cole again blocked on the line.
The chances were passing by but, with Xabi Alonso dictating the flow and pace of the game from midfield, Liverpool remained in command. Gerrard shot into the side-netting and Green produced a fine save to parry Kuyt's back-post header and claim the rebound before Robbie Keane could react.
The corner count read 9-0 in Liverpool's favour at the interval, an accurate reflection of their dominance, and yet, as so often is the case, it was West Ham who came closest to scoring with their one and only chance of the half. Collecting the ball on the halfway line, the former Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy roamed towards the Kop and unleashed a 25-yard shot that beat Jose Reina but stuck the inside of a post and bounced clear.
Gerrard berated Kuyt when the Dutchman elected to go it alone rather than select his unmarked captain and Keane, released by Benayoun, drove wide from the edge of the area.
The incomprehension did not prepare Liverpool for what followed from Green, and there was a mass raising of hands to heads when the goalkeeper produced a stunning save to deny Benayoun against his former club.
Gerrard orchestrated the move with a fine cross that James Collins could only clear straight to the Israel captain. The ball was returned hard and true on the half volley, only for Green to tip over a shot destined for the net.
Keane made his feelings known when he was again withdrawn for the rookie David N'Gog, the striker burying his face in his hands before walking to the bench.
• Guardian Service
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Dossena, Benayoun, Gerrard, Alonso, Riera (Babel 78), Kuyt, Keane (Ngog 66). Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Agger, Mascherano, Leiva Lucas, Insua. Booked: Alonso.
WEST HAM: Green, Neill, Collins,Upson, Ilunga, Faubert (Boa Morte 86), Parker, Mullins, Behrami, Bellamy, Cole. Subs Not Used: Noble, Lastuvka, Tristan, Davenport, Collison, Di Michele. Booked: Mullins.
Referee: Peter Walton(Northamptonshire).
