West Ham vs Liverpool Half-Time Update

Goals from Scott Parker and Demba Ba are currently separating West Ham and Liverpool at half-time at Upton Park, in what has been a very entertaining first 45 minutes.

Liverpool have lined-up in a 5-3-2 formation, one that worked so well when they were last in London to face Chelsea. West Ham started in an attack-minded 4-3-3.

Fit-again midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger had the first promising effort of the day after just three minutes; the German hit a fantastic volley from way out that looped straight into the open arms of Pepe Reina.

With both teams keen to attack and take advantage, it was West Ham who struck first, after 21 minutes - Scott Parker worked a one-two with Hitzlsperger, before precisely looping in a first-time shot beyond the Liverpool goalkeeper.

With seven minutes remaining of the half, Liverpool’s Martin Kelly had an effort he would have preferred to strike better on his weaker foot, with Robert Green comfortably dealing with it at the near post.

It was to be Kelly's last action of the game - three minutes later after bursting forward, the young-defender pulled up with a hamstring injury.

West Ham's second came late in the half - a Gary O'Neil cross from the right was met by the head of Demba Ba, who powered his header into the top corner to make it 2-0 to Avram Grant's men.

The Hammers started the game rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, but were boosted by the fitness of Matthew Upson, who starts in defence alongside James Tomkins.

The Londoners' English striker Carlton Cole is only deemed worthy of the bench, as Demba Ba and Frederic Piquionne lead the West Ham attack.

Dalglish was also boosted by players who were passed fit before kick-off – Captain Steven Gerrard returns to the Liverpool midfield after his groin injury, whilst 19-year-old former Rangers defender Danny Wilson makes his Premier League debut alongside Carragher and Skrtel in a five-man defence.

Former Hammers star Joe Cole started on the bench, after featuring in the Europa League in midweek, but came on for the injured Kelly just before the break, as Liverpool reverted to a 4-4-2 line-up.

West Ham: Green, Tomkins, Upson, Bridge, Jacobsen, Parker, Hitzlsperger, Noble, O'Neil, Ba, Piquionne

Substitutes: Boffin, Reid, Spector, Da Costa, Boa Morte, C Cole, Hines

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Wilson, Carragher, Kelly (J Cole), Skrtel, Meireles, Gerrard, Lucas, Suarez, Kuyt

Substitutes: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Spearing, Poulsen, Ngog