Half-Time Report: West Ham United on course for Liverpool shock

West Ham United have moved halfway to registering another shock away victory this season after securing a 2-0 half-time lead at Liverpool this afternoon.

Visiting manager Slaven Bilic could hardly have wished for a better start as the visitors - who came to Anfield on the back of successive home defeats - moved ahead inside three minutes.

Manuel Lanzini, who replaced the recently-released Kevin Nolan in the first XI, justified his selection by nipping in ahead of Joe Gomez to slot Aaron Cresswell's cross past Simon Mignolet.

© Getty Images

Irked by conceding their first goal of the season, the Reds responded well and Roberto Firmino sent a long-range drive against the post on eight minutes in a fast-and-furious start to the contest on Merseyside.

Having beaten Arsenal at the Emirates in their curtain-raiser, the Hammers had a taste for upsetting the odds, and Lanzini almost boosted the prospect of another shock away win on 15 minutes but the Argentine drilled narrowly wide of the goal.

It proved a sign of things to come, as Dejan Lovren, heralded for his performance in North London, cheaply lost possession to Lanzini, who drilled it into the box and Mark Noble was on hand to double the advantage and earn a comfortable half-time lead.