The scenes at the final whistle said it all. An
explosion of noise from most of those in attendance while, in front of them, those in claret and blue celebrated and sighed in relief in equal measure. It had been that sort of game for West Ham – tough, challenging, nerve-racking but ultimately glorious. Little wonder David Moyes took his time departing down the tunnel, the Scot milking the applause and rightly so, for this is a manager reborn in charge of a team that continues to soar.
Indeed, this was not only West Ham’s first league victory over
Liverpool since January 2016 but one that saw them leapfrog their opponents into third. They are also level on points with
Manchester City and only three behind
Chelsea and, while the idea of Moyes’s men qualifying for the
Champions League and even challenging for the title may seem far-fetched, it simply cannot be ruled out given their form and performances. This is their fourth league win in a row and each, in its own way, has been deserved.