West Ham v Liverpool ratings: Paqueta 7, Rice 6; Matip 8, Gakpo 7

West Ham rage after VAR denies them late penalty in 2-1 home defeat

WEST HAM RATINGS: Lukasz Fabianski - 6. There was little the West Ham goalkeeper could have done about Cody Gakpo’s strike, with the ball hit with precision off a bounce before going in off the post. A big stop prevented Liverpool from taking the lead, but Matip scored from the corner in the next phase. EPA

Aaron Cresswell - 6. Didn’t allow Mohamed Salah too much success down his flank, but could have contributed more in attacking areas. PA

Nayef Aguerd - 6. A sensational piece of defending prevented what would have been a massive chance for Mohamed Salah, battling well to block the Liverpool forward’s effort – and making up for a mistake he made earlier on in the game. Getty

Kurt Zouma - 6. Generally read play well and intervened to break up plenty of attacks. Helped Nayef Aguerd out after a mistake to stop Mohamed Salah. AP

Vladimir Coufal - 6. Got forward at the right times but was too wasteful with his passing. Defended well for the most part. Getty

Declan Rice - 6. Alert to the danger to stop plays developing in central areas but sometimes should have taken the safer option with his passing decisions. PA

Tomas Soucek - 6. Battled well in midfield and won some key headers amid a difficult battle for West Ham to get hold of any meaningful possession. PA

Lucas Paqueta - 7. Hit his strike from outside of the box with venom, though it was helped on from a deflection off Virgil van Dijk. Always looked to play progressively, and helped drive West Ham into some dangerous areas. AFP

Said Benrahma - 6. Confident in space and looked to off-balance his marker. Should have shot first time with his effort in the first half. Not clear why he was marking Matip from the corner that Liverpool scored from. PA

Jarrod Bowen - 7. Always looked to run in behind and linked well with Paqueta. Had the ball in the net, but VAR ruled it out for offside. A constant threat for Liverpool who struggled to deal with him at times in isolated situations. Getty

Michail Antonio - 6. Battled throughout the match when leading the line and won the ball back in some promising positions. Missed a crucial key pass to Said Benrahma that would have put him in against the goalkeeper. EPA

SUBS: Maxwel Cornet (Benrahma 70') - 5. A half-chance was wasted as his effort was scuffed high and wide while aiming for the top corner. PA

Danny Ings (Antonio 70') - 6. Found space towards the 80th minute but was tackled by Alisson. Unclear whether it might have been brought back for offside. PA

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson - 7. A degree of misfortune came with West Ham’s opening goal, as Lucas Paqueta’s well-hit effort deflected off the knee of Virgil van Dijk, changing the trajectory of the ball to leave the Brazilian stranded. Tackled Danny Ings to prevent what might have been a big chance. Getty

Andy Robertson - 7. A poor pass almost allowed Benrahma in, but that was one error from a fairly consistent game from the Scotland international. Worked hard to provide an option down the left flank with instinctive runs when Diogo Jota went inside, and he was also quick with his decision-making when getting a ball into the box. Assisted Liverpool’s second goal with a well-taken corner. Getty

Virgil van Dijk - 7. Assured with his passing for the most part outside of one careless moment when conceding possession to Jarrod Bowen. A crucial intervention stopped what would have been a certain goal when getting in the way of a cut-back before it reached Michail Antonio. It was also a typical dominant display in the air from him. EPA

Joel Matip - 8. Often in the right position and showed composure when under pressure from West Ham’s press, helping Liverpool play out of it by linking up with Trent Alexander-Arnold. Got forward at the right times to help recycle possession from clearances. Rose well to head past Fabianski and give the Reds the lead in the second half. AFP

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7. Another assist after playing a quick pass to Cody Gakpo before his effort. That’s now five assists in his last four games, in a display in his new role where he continues to shine. Reuters

Fabinho - 6. On the ball more than any other Liverpool midfielder and showed good decision-making with transitioning the ball forwards. He also broke up the play well amid signs of an upturn in form for the Brazil international. Reuters

Curtis Jones - 6. Chose his moments to go forwards and worked tirelessly between transitions to get back and defend. Another positive performance by Jones, who started his fifth straight Premier League game for the Reds. AP

Jordan Henderson - 6. Played at a high tempo and linked well with Mohamed Salah. Very vocal from midfield, and often commanded Liverpool’s press that helped regain possession by forcing a long ball. AP

Diogo Jota - 5. Really should have scored from one of his two chances in the first half, first blazing over the bar before failing to get the right connection on a header. PA

Cody Gakpo - 7. Always difficult to dispossess when holding the ball in dangerous areas, where he looked to drop off to receive the ball from midfielders. Scored with a precise effort from range that went in off the post. AP

Mohamed Salah - 7. Constantly looked to challenge his marker and was involved in a number of promising attacks from playing quickly in tight spaces. Produced an excellent cross in the first half that Diogo Jota was unlucky not to convert. Reuters

SUBS: Thiago Alcantara (Henderson, 59') - 6. Controlled play well from midfield, but his biggest moment in the match came when he made a tackle before handling the ball inside the area, adjudged not to have been handball by the officials. Getty

Luis Diaz (Jota, 59') - 6. More minutes for Diaz who is easing back into sharpness, and he did produce some moments that showed his agility and deceptiveness on the ball is still there. AP

Darwin Nunez (Gakpo, 77') - NR. Had space on the break but should have done better in some moments, giving away the ball carelessly. AFP

James Milner (Jones, 84') - NR. Added experience late on to help Liverpool see out the result. PA

Joel Matip’s towering header saw Liverpool come from behind to beat West Ham United 2-1 and pick up a third straight win.

The Hammers led through a wonder strike from Lucas Paqueta but were pegged back by Cody Gakpo’s drive.

And moments after Jarrod Bowen had a goal disallowed for offside, Matip struck from a corner to halt West Ham’s recent revival.

West Ham were convinced they should have had a late penalty when Thiago Alcantara’s arm hit the ball as he fell in the area, but despite a VAR check nothing was given.