Injury-time Mark Noble penalty enough to beat Liverpool
Noble's penalty added to Benitez's worries at Liverpool
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Wednesday, 30, Jan 2008 10:48
West Ham United sent a blow to Rafael Benitez as his Liverpool side failed to win in the Premier League for the fifth time in a row.
Mark Noble's penalty in injury-time gave the Hammers all three points and saw the Reds drop back into seventh place in the league.
The Hammers had set out to thwart Liverpool's potent attacking options and their plan worked as the visitors found scoring chances hard to come by.
Alan Curbishley's men came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half. Luis Boa Morte's shot went just wide while Xabi Alonso headed onto his own crossbar.
In the second half Yossi Benayoun blazed over the bar from close range as Liverpool began to get into the game and Fernando Torres later had a shot well saved by Robert Green.
However West Ham continued to press, with Boa Morte going close once more. Their efforts were rewarded when Jamie Carragher brought down Freddie Ljungberg in the box allowing Noble to capitalise from the spot as time ran out.
Elsewhere in the Premier League Everton remained in fourth place following a 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park.
Jonathan Woodgate made his debut for Spurs and helped keep a clean sheet. Everton had the best of the chances but Radek Cerny denied Andy Johnson just before the break and once more in the second half when the striker was one-on-one.
Manchester City moved ahead of Liverpool after a 1-1 draw against Derby at Pride Park. The home side took a surprise lead when Kenny Miller's shot deflected off Sun Jihai and past Joe Hart for an own goal.
However City always looked threatening and after Darius Vassell missed two glorious chances Sven-Goran Eriksson's men levelled midway through the second half thanks to Daniel Sturridge's goal on his league debut.
The point was Derby's first in six games but they remain rooted to the foot of the table.