Andy Carroll haunt Liverpool as West Ham down Reds

West Ham

Andy Carroll scored against his former club as West Ham leapfrogged Liverpool in the table thanks to a first league double over the Reds for 52 years.

Michail Antonio beat Nathaniel Clyne to Enner Valencia’s early cross to net the Premier League’s first goal of 2016.

Liverpool midfielder Emre Can was denied by the bar but Jurgen Klopp’s side were off the pace throughout.

Carroll, who cost Liverpool a club record £35m in 2011, sealed the points after meeting Mark Noble’s cross.

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West Ham’s second straight win lifted them to fifth in the table, Liverpool dropping to eighth.

Liverpool travelled to London knowing victory would leave them just two points off a Champions League place after back-to-back festive wins over Leicester and Sunderland.

Yet this was a stark reminder to Klopp that he has his work cut out in 2016 after a lacklustre display that had echoes of the 3-0 defeat by Watford last month.

Can did clip the Hammers bar with a curling effort from the edge of the penalty area in added time at the end of the first half. The closest they came prior to that effort was Jordan Ibe’s low shot in the fourth minute which whistled just wide.

Lucas then had a header cleared off the line by Mark Noble at 2-0 and substitute Joe Allen wasted a great chance late on. However, West Ham showed more attacking threat and more energy, and were just as impressive as they were when they defeated Brendan Rodgers’ Reds 3-0 in August.

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