The opening 45 minutes of Sunday’s Premier League clash between West Ham United and Liverpool certainly won’t live long in the memory, with even Jarrod Bowen on the periphery.
And for a visiting fanbase who have seen their worst fears come true with an alarming regularity of late – almost as if they are being haunted by their own personal Boggarts, to use a bit of Harry Potter parlance – at least those pre-match predictions did not transform into reality.
The Liverpool supporters were certain that Bowen would score early in Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off.
Instead, there were no goals, and very little of anything else from a West Ham United perspective during a highly-forgettable first-half. The closest Jarrod Bowen came was a desperate shot from distance, immediately blocked by those ahead of him in Liverpool’s white away kit.
Bowen has let his frustrations show in front of goal, of late. The captain had not scored in any of his previous six Premier League matches heading into gameweek 13. Whether he breaks that rare goal drought in the second-half, only time will tell.
But, from his position in the commentary booth, former Hammers goalkeeper Rob Green feels that only so much can realistically be expected of the usually-talismanic forward when Nuno Espirito Santo is instructing his team to sit so deep.
Jarrod Bowen barely got a kick with Rob Green concerned about West Ham United’s approach
West Ham legend Tony Gale questioned Nuno’s tactics during the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth eight days earlier. If they were any deeper during the second-half, Gale quipped, Nuno’s charges would almost be camped on Alphonse Areola’s goalline.
Things did not get quite so desperate against a beleaguered Liverpool. But with Callum Wilson barely even in the same postcode as any of his teammates, every time Bowen found himself on the ball – a rarity, in truth – he had no options but to try and drag West Ham up the pitch while skipping past a whole host of opposition players in the process.
“The problem with Bowen is he’s got absolutely nothing ahead of him,” Green said during Sky Sports’ live coverage. “It’s almost like [West Ham are playing with] a flat back-six!”
Nuno has spoken about the importance of Bowen and getting the captain as close to goal as possible. In practice, though, the Hammers boss appears at a loss as how to translate those blueprints onto the London Stadium turf.
This was another half of football in which Bowen found himself pinned back in his own half. And, even when the ball came his way, he was far too deep to really pose a threat to the opposition.
“Liverpool have had the big chances,” Green said just before the half-time whistle. After Alphonse Areola’s ‘incredible’ display saved West Ham on the South Coast, Nuno was indebted to the Frenchman’s reactions again here.
“[Areola denied] Alexander] Isak, and that one from Florian Wirtz was the one glaring opportunity. Needs a better finish.”
Bowen paid tribute to Billy Bonds before kick-off at the London Stadium
On the day when West Ham bid farewell to the legendary Billy Bonds, skipper Jarrod Bowen spoke about the pride he felt leading out the team with the armband once donned by the club’s all-time record appearance holder.
“I think you can see the reaction online from everyone already. What he meant for this club, what he achieved at this club, obviously he had a stand named after him as well. It’s a sad day for everyone. It’s never nice when a club legend, like him…” Bowen said after Bonds, who played 799 games for the Hammers, passed away aged 79.
“Condolences to his family. I know the fans here will make noise for him today as well, which will be a good thing for him and his family.
“He’s probably going to go down as West Ham’s biggest legend and the best club captain they’ve had as well. He achieved so much here. I’ll never emulate that success, but to put on the captain’s armband like he did is a big thing for me.
“To have a game today, [a fitting tribute] is what I want to show and what the team want to show as well.”
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