EPL week 25 review: Liverpool draw at West Ham thanks to an offside goal

Week 25 of the English Premier League ends with the gap between Manchester City and Liverpool now three points, after Jürgen Klopp’s side drew 1-1 with West Ham at the London Stadium.

December 29 and Liverpool seemed welded to the summit of the English Premier League (EPL) unmoved by the 19 teams blowing a gale force wind below. February 4, and the weld has come away; Liverpool is swaying on a rickety scaffold.

When West Ham welcomed Liverpool to the London Stadium, you sensed ‘history’ between the two bosses. Manuel Pellegrini played the role of ‘Avenger’ with unfinished business from his days as Malaga boss (he lost to Klopp’s Dortmund in a contentious Champions League Quarter-Final in 2013), and with City still providing room service to his heart. Klopp…well, he’s the man, and there’s a lot of pressure that comes with that position.

That pressure leaked out of the German boss looking to bring the title to Liverpool for the first time since 1990 when he criticised referee Kevin Friend for showing favouritism to West Ham after his linesman had missed James Milner’s offside in the build-up to his side’s opening goal.