West Ham

The opening exchanges of Liverpool’s Premier League clash against West Ham United at the London Stadium were marred by a controversial incident involving West Ham’s Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta and Liverpool’s Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. In a challenge that could have easily warranted a red card, Paqueta launched himself recklessly into a lunge on Mac Allister, catching the Liverpool man over the top of his ankle without getting anywhere near the ball.

West Ham United took a massive step towards the Europa League semifinals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie at London Stadium. Michail Antonio’s 13th minute strike was the difference on a night where David Moyes’ men came out with ferocious intensity to put Leverkusen on the back foot from the opening whistle. The East Londoners suffocated their German opponents, harrying them into mistake after mistake with an in-your-face press that Leverkusen simply could not handle.