Tony Cottee Column: Liverpool performance reminded me of West Ham’s great escape
“I believe it was the best we have played this season.”
THE performance against Liverpool on Sunday reminded me of a game which acted as a catalyst in 2007, the year we came back from the dead to stay up.
That day West Ham were beaten 4-3 by Spurs at Upton Park, but you could see a huge improvement in the performance and that game really swung our season.
We won our next two games in a row and of course stayed up on the final day with that famous 1-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
We put in the same kind of performance against Liverpool and I believe it was the best we have played this season.
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The Reds were not at their best, far from it, but you can only beat what is in front of you and I believe a big reason why they were so poor is because the Hammers were so good.
We didn’t let them settle on the ball and the first 20 minutes aside, when we sat back a little and let them play, but as soon as the first goal went in the game changed.
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Scott Parker’s goal lifted everyone and for the rest of the game pushed forward a lot more and really hassled Liverpool, forcing them into errors.
Parker was excellent as he is most games, while it was great to see Thomas Hitzlsperger play well and play for the whole 90 minutes. His abilitiy to play a whole game after such a long time out injured is a testament to his conditioning and natural fitness.
All season I have spoke of how I believe the midfield or forwards have played well and not been a problem, while defensively we have been suspect.
The goalkeeper and the back four were superb on Sunday and I feel James Tomkins and Matthew Upson put in their best performance of the campaign.
Luis Suarez was made to look lightweight and Glen Johnson’s goal aside, they only managed to create a couple of half-chances.
