Liverpool 0
West Ham 0

When Gianfranco Zola checks his telephone messages this morning there will surely be a number from his former team-mates at Chelsea.

This was the night, after all, when Liverpool were confidently predicted to brush aside the challenge of West Ham and stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League table to three points over the Stamford Bridge club.

West Ham hadn't managed a win at Anfield for 43 years, Zola though, hadn't read the script.

Instead West Ham produced a defiant display full of spirit with the result that Liverpool, although still top of the pile, have just a solitary point more than Chelsea, with Manchester United six behind but with a game in hand.

A few matches ago, when West Ham lost 3-1 at home to Everton after leading 1-0 with ten minutes to go, it looked as though Zola's idealism, commendable though it is, was bordering on the naive.

He had said he wanted to change the way his team played, that is to be more expansive, more attractive to watch and more entertaining.

There are times, though, especially when you are dropping swiftly down the table and your defence is leakier than a government department, when pragmatism has to be the order of the day.

A goalless draw against Portsmouth was the start, West Ham's first clean sheet since February, followed by a 1-0 win at Sunderland and now, by far the best result of the three, another point at Anfield last night.

It was almost nine years ago that West Ham last managed to earn a draw at Liverpool. Since then the pattern has been capitulation but not this time.

There were concerns when Zola was appointed that his lofty ideals would be impracticable in the harsh reality of the Premier League.

On this performance, there was no need to worry.

Yes, Zola wants his team to be comfortable on the ball, to express themselves, to take responsibility and not to hide away from the challenge.

Against Liverpool, however, there were distinct signs that Zola's West Ham are also developing a core strength, an ability to take punishment and to soak up pressure.

At the back goalkeeper Robert Green was once again a rock.

He made several fine saves and one outstanding one, somehow having the reflexes to get a touch to Yossi Benayoun's cross-shot ten minutes into the second half when it looked for all the world a goal. In front of Green, his two central defenders were immense.

Liverpool, in general, and Steven Gerrard, in particular, tried everything they knew to destabilise Matthew Upson and James Collins but the pair held firm against the pressure.

Upson, buoyed by his involvement with England, is in the form of his life right now while Welsh international Collins, fully fit after a long injury lay-off, was equally as good.

In central midfield Scott Parker and the perenially under-rated Hayden Mullins, were tireless performers while Valon Behrami is perpetual motion.

It is no coincidence, though, that West Ham's improvement has come at the same time as Craig Bellamy's return to fitness.

Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia are just two Liverpool players who know how menacing this prickly little Welshman can be when he strikes form and for West Ham, who had to defend for long periods, the knowledge that he was up there alongside the willing Carlton Cole meant that there was always the chance of a breakaway.

Which is exactly what happened in the first half.

Collins and Cole had already cleared Liverpool efforts from their goalline when Bellamy galloped forward in the 36th minute.

The Liverpool defence obligingly backed off and Bellamy's shot, from 25 yards, beat Pepe Reina and rebounded off the inside of an upright, before being cleared.

That was the nearest either side came to a shot although, as West Ham grew in confidence after the break, Cole went close with a header from a Bellamy corner, Mullins shot at Reina and, near the end, substitute Luis Boa Morte sliced wide when clear through.

Add to that a couple of debatable offside decisions which could well have produced something and West Ham could have taken even more than a point back down south.

"Liverpool had chances but ours were as good as theirs," said Zola. "It's a well-deserved point and I'm very pleased with my team's performance. We got what we deserved.

"It's also very good to get another clean sheet. Right now the team is excellent, they're working very hard as a whole group.

"A clean sheet is not only down to the defence.

"Robert Green made a very good save. He looks very comfortable and I'm pleased for him because he's had some stick but now he's getting what he deserves.

Rafael Benitez, meanwhile, said that Liverpool would not be bidding for former Anfield hero Michael Owen in January and was sanguine about two successive home draws against Fulham and now West Ham.

"We might be disappointed by the result but we are at the top of the Premier League and have one more point than before," he said.

"We had a lot of possession and we were passing and moving the ball and we had some chances. We've got to keep going.

"If we had played badly and not created any chances then I would be worried but that wasn't the case."

TURNING POINT

The more the game went on last night, the more you got the feeling that one Liverpool goal would be enough to break West Ham's stubborn resistance.

The first ten minutes after half-time were crucial for the Hammers as Rafael Benitez's side poured forward looking for the breakthrough.

The pivotal moment, sure enough, came after 55 minutes and involved Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard as he sent over yet another cross.

West Ham's flame-haired James Collins hastily volleyed the ball clear but only succeeded in sending it straight to former Hammer Yossi Benayoun.

The skilful Israeli could hardly believe his luck. His shot, from 10 yards out was heading straight for the top corner of West Ham's net.

Benayoun's hands were already going up in celebration when somehow West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green flew sideways and managed to deflect the ball away for a corner.

Benayoun clutched his head in frustration and disbelief. If that had gone in Liverpool would have won, as it was, they failed to come close to beating Green again.