There's a minor war of words brewing between Newcastle boss Alan Pardew and BBC Sport pundit Robbie Savage.

Let's see what each man has been saying in the past hour or so:

Bradley Allen
Tottenham academy coach on BBC London 94.9

"Cracking football match, this. No question, that was West Ham's best half of the season so far. They took the game to Liverpool and played in such a positive fashion.

"I've been so impressed by what I've seen - the manager has been under pressure but tonight is a different approach. They caught Liverpool cold at the start and deservedly lead at half-time, but I do expect Brendan Rodgers' side to be better after the break."

A hugely entertaining 45 minutes is brought to a close. West Ham and attacking football are not words often seen so close together in recent seasons, but they played some good stuff against Hull on Monday and again tonight and deserve their half-time lead.

Liverpool are still in this, but they need to be careful not to leave too many gaps at the back, because the Hammers look dangerous on the counter.

Winston Reid keeps a deflected shot in play and lifts it towards the back post, where Liverpool head behind. The Hammers are finishing the half strongly.

Diafra Sakho is looking a very good summer buy for West Ham and he is buzzing around all over the pitch at the moment, his pace pulling apart the Liverpool defence and leaving plenty of gaps. He breaks away on the counter but tries to do too much as he runs into two defenders and Liverpool are able to clear.

Image source, Reuters

SIX minutes of injury time added on at the end of the first half, but it comes as no surprise. It's been an entertaining 45 minutes, but a disrupted one because of injuries.

Daniel Woodley:, external Lovren has to be substituted. It would make a mockery of the new rules otherwise.

Those new rules, by the way, are that a player suffering a head injury must leave the pitch and the club doctor must decide if a player is capable of continuing, not the team management.

Bradley Allen
Tottenham academy coach on BBC London 94.9

"Phenomenal belief among this West Ham group at the moment. Every opportunity to play forward, on the front foot and to show positivity is being taken, and Liverpool are only just keeping them at bay."

West Ham are finding so much space in the Liverpool defence as Enner Valencia shoots low but straight at Simon Mignolet. Moments later Cheikhou Kouyate tumbles inside the area under the attention of two Liverpool defenders, but the referee is having none of the West Ham players' appeal for a penalty.

Meanwhile, Dejan Lovren is back on the pitch sporting a bandage around his head after that knock he suffered earlier. The Croatia defender is clearly made of tough stuff.

Dejan Lovren had been down on the ground, not moving, for a couple of minutes but fortunately he is able to get up and gingerly make his way off the pitch. Brendan Rodgers looks a relieved man, but will he be able to continue? It was a nasty knock he suffered.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Mignolet is called upon again as he stretches to push Enner Valencia's curling free-kick behind. At the other end, Adrian thumps away an Alberto Moreno cross under the attention of Mario Balotelli.

Cheikhou Kouyate is able to continue, but now Dejan Lovren is down injured for Liverpool after clashing heads with defensive partner Mamadou Sakho.

Cheikhou Kouyate limps off to the edge of the pitch after suffering an injury when shooting. Morgan Amalfitano gets himself ready to come on but it looks like Kouyate is desperate to continue. He might yet stay on.

AKarim:, external Only quality player in Liverpool side brings them back in this game!

Hannah Coleman:, external Come on Liverpool, I'm expecting a 4-2 win now...

Liverpool's goal, by the way, puts them in the record books. Raheem Sterling's strike sets a new club top-flight record of scoring in 17 consecutive away games. They need another though.

Bradley Allen
Tottenham academy coach on BBC London 94.9

"It was tremendous front play. The cross came in from the left and Mario Balotelli somehow plucked it from the sky. And then when the ball broke, what a finish! Pick that out of the net!

"Against the run of play, but fair play to Liverpool - that's what you've got with such quality players, particularly one of the most sought-after players in world football in Raheem Sterling."

Just the response Brendan Rodgers will have wanted as Liverpool halve the deficit. Great work by Mario Balotelli initially as he hooks down a cross before shooting at goal. His effort strikes Winston Reid but Raheem Sterling storms in to drive the rebound into the back of the net. Great game so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Loz Smith:, external So Adrian kicks Balotelli on the floor then tries again to wind him up and both get yellows? Pure guess from the ref.

Cameron Laws:, external Feel for Balotelli there. It was a foul but he had every right to go for the ball. Horrible reaction from Adrian.

Pete Nicholson:, external Is it just me or is this shaping up to be a carbon copy of the 2006 FA Cup Final? Oh, just me...

That change is indeed made as defender Mamamdou Sakho replaces Javier Manquillo. The Reds go to three at the back with Sakho, Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel, while Raheem Sterling and Alberto Moreno are playing as wing-backs.

Ash:, external How long before irrelevant "need Suarez" jibes begin? Defence proving to be the problem yet again. No marking, no organisation.

Matt Smith:, external Without Luis Suarez or Daniel Sturridge this Liverpool side look even weaker than pre-Di Maria United. No fear factor at all.

Phoenixville:, external Our weakest link is our captain and Brendan is ignoring it. Yes he's vital to the team but not in that role.

Raheem Sterling tries to make things happen for Liverpool as he darts into the area with the ball, before watching his attempted shot deflected behind. Steven Gerrard's subsequent free-kick doesn't beat the first man as Mamadou Sakho gets ready to come off the Liverpool bench. Brendan Rodgers making an early change it seems.

Image source, Getty Images