Liverpool held but go top

Liverpool went top of the Premier League yesterday but missed the chance to open a three-point lead when they were held 0-0 at home by West Ham United.

For the second consecutive league game at Anfield, Liverpool failed to break down resolute opponents.

Liverpool climbed one point above Chelsea with 34 from 15 games after the Stamford Bridge team had lost 2-1 to Arsenal on Sunday.

Defender Sami Hyypia went close three times with headers for Liverpool while Dirk Kuyt nearly won it late on after being picked out by Steven Gerrard.

Former Liverpool player Craig Bellamy almost broke the deadlock for West Ham though, thumping a shot against the inside of a post in the first half.

In the second period, Robert Green needed to pull off a great full stretch save to deny Yossi Benayoun, while at the other end Cole went close before a long range Ryan Babel effort went inches wide for the Reds in injury time.

This was the second time in 10 days that Liverpool had been held to a goalless draw at home by a London club, after their draw against Fulham, seriously jolting their aspirations to prove themselves in the title race.

The Championship

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