Alonso's early goal arrests Liverpool slide

The margin looks reasonably comfortable and reasonably comfortable it was, but for much of this game — against a West Ham side who employed a plethora of tactical permutations but failed to create even a half-chance — the European champions still resembled exactly what they are: a mid-table Premiership side.

Supine at Fulham last Saturday and out-thought in the Carling Cup at Crystal Palace on Tuesday, manager Rafael Benitez celebrated his 500th day at Liverpool’s helm by finally losing patience. Harry Kewell was apparently rested, but Peter Crouch, Josemi, Dietmar Hamann, Djimi Traore, Stephen Warnock and Zenden were exiled to the bench or even the stands.

For West Ham, there could hardly have been a more ideal time to seek their first victory at Anfield since goals from Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst poached two points in 1963. However, they never threatened to end their 42 years of hurt.

West Ham manager Alan Pardew gave Manchester United loanee David Bellion a first Premiership start in 14 months, in preference to Teddy Sheringham and Jeremie Aliadiere, but the gamble failed.

When a seventh-minute West Ham attack broke down, Fernando Morientes collected the ball in his own half and spotted Djibril Cisse on the right. Cisse cut in and powered down on goal, only to encapsulate Liverpool’s domestic season and set the template for his afternoon by shooting horribly wide.

The opportunity galvanised Liverpool. Steven Gerrard might solve their right-sided problem, while Luis Garcia was impish on the left and only heroic defending from Tomas Repka and then Paul Konchesky ensured 18 minutes passed before Liverpool’s first goal.

Garcia’s left-wing corner fell short but was none-too-comfortably hooked away by Nigel Reo-Coker to Xabi Alonso, unforgivably unchaperoned 18 yards out. Liverpool’s cultured linchpin looked up before launching a beautifully flighted curler. It brushed Repka’s head on its way, but Shaka Hislop was already well beaten.

With the usually inspirational Yossi Benayoun an increasingly peripheral figure, West Ham reshuffled to a more accustomed 4-4-2. Even so, Alonso continued to dominate midfield, despite Reo-Coker’s growing influence in the contest’s most titanic struggle. Alonso won this one, but West Ham’s young captain’s time will come.

Half-chances came and went. The ponderous Cisse was robbed when well-placed, Alonso’s delicate long-ranger curled itself around Hislop’s post, Morientes was hustled aside by Anton Ferdinand inside the six-yard box as he prepared to strike and then the forward planted a free header from Steve Finnan’s cross into Hislop’s arms. Liverpool came closer still in the 57th minute when Konchesky reacted brilliantly to clear Sami Hyypia’s close-range effort off the line.

When Bellion was removed — in favour of Aliadiere rather than, as the visiting fans demanded, Sheringham — West Ham still struggled to make headway.

The introduction of Zenden brought new impetus to Liverpool. After 76 minutes, he was out on the left to receive Gerrard’s deftly weighted pass. Alas for the home side, his tempting cross was looped over Hislop’s bar by Garcia, but Zenden would soon get the reward his thrilling cameo warranted. Riise’s forward header was misjudged by Danny Gabbidon, who slipped. Zenden collected the loose ball, skipped round James Collins, held off Ferdinand and blasted gleefully past Hislop.