Michail Antonio's Late Header Rescues Point for West Ham, Dents Liverpool's Title Hopes

Michail Antonio's towering header in the second half rescued a point for West Ham United against Liverpool at the London Stadium on Wednesday, denting the Reds' Premier League title hopes. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Antonio's late equalizer canceling out Liverpool's lead.

Liverpool controlled much of the first half but struggled to convert their chances. West Ham took a surprise lead just before halftime through Jarrod Bowen's header, his 20th goal of the season. However, the Reds responded quickly after the break, with Andy Robertson's shot squirming past Alphonse Areola in the West Ham goal to level the score.

Liverpool then took the lead in the 65th minute after a comical own goal by Areola. But West Ham refused to give in, and Antonio rose highest to meet a cross from Bowen in the 77th minute, powering his header past Alisson to tie the game at 2-2.

Why this matters: The result is a significant setback for Liverpool's title aspirations, as they were unable to secure all three points against West Ham. The draw leaves Liverpool third in the table on 75 points, two behind leaders Arsenal who have a game in hand, and one point behind second-place Manchester City who have two games in hand.

The match was also notable for a heated touchline exchange between Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and star forward Mohamed Salah, who was left on the bench for the second time in the last three matches. Klopp acknowledged the incident after the game, saying it was "done" in the dressing room.

Despite the draw, West Ham manager David Moyes praised his team's resilience. "We didn't play well in the first half but we got a goal. In the second half, we were much better," Moyes said. The point keeps West Ham's faint hopes of European qualification alive, as they remain eighth in the table.

Key Takeaways

• West Ham drew 2-2 with Liverpool, denting Reds' title hopes.
• Michail Antonio's late header rescued a point for West Ham.
• Liverpool led 2-1 after an own goal, but couldn't hold on.
• Heated touchline exchange between Klopp and Salah, who was benched.
• Draw keeps West Ham's faint European qualification hopes alive.