David Moyes on Positives From West Ham Performance & Dubious Liverpool Penalty

West Ham manager David Moyes was left ruing referee Kevin Friend's decision to award Liverpool a first half penalty in the 2-1 defeat at Anfield.

The Hammers had taken a surprise lead at the Premier League champions through Pablo Fornals, and looked good value for the lead as the first half drew to a close.

But Arthur Masuaku was adjudged to have fouled Salah just before the interval, and the Egyptian converted the resulting penalty with aplomb. Liverpool went on to pick up all three points thanks to a late goal from susbtitute Diogo Jota, but Moyes felt West Ham could easily have got something out of the game after a spirited display.

Here's everything he had to say to Sky Sports after the game, quoted by West Ham's official website.

On West Ham's Overall Display

"I thought tonight we looked as if we could have got something. Liverpool played well and had lot of the all, but I thought we did some really good things as well so there’s a lot of positives to take from it.

"We did have some half-chances to score more goals and we weren’t quite clinical enough two or three times. I have to say Liverpool were very good with the ball and we defended really well, but that’s what you expect.

"We knew the game was going to be really tough and we’d need to be disciplined, but we missed a couple of really good opportunities to get another goal, but it’s a good sign that we’re playing some really good stuff."

On Liverpool's Penalty

"I’m amazed that a penalty kick for the action in the first half, I really am. I’m getting disappointed now, not with the decisions, but I’m getting more disappointed that we’re going to allow those sort of penalty kicks to be accepted.

"People may debate if it is or it isn’t, but in my book it just isn’t a penalty."

On Sebastien Haller's Display

Sebastien Haller was brought in for the injured Michail Antonio, but struggled to have much of an impact before he was replaced in the second half. Moyes was quick to defend the former Eintracht Frankfurt striker, insisting that it was always going to be a difficult game for the Frenchman to influence.

"I think for Seb Haller’s first game back it was always going to be tough, coming here and not having a great deal of the ball," Moyes remarked.

"I think Sebastien’s got something to offer us and he’s got a lot of good attributes and hopefully he will show them in the coming weeks and months to come."

On West Ham Competing

"We feel like we can play and challenge our opponents in all the games. We’ll not win all of them like tonight’s, but I think we feel, going into them, that we’ve got a chance. We came here last year and were unlucky to lose 3-2.

"I wouldn’t say we were unlucky tonight, but we just needed a couple of decisions to go for us, even if the VAR decision did go in our favour.

"I’m just really disappointed with that decision for the penalty kick in the first half."