LIVERPOOL'S fading hopes of securing European football next season were dented further after they were held to a goalless draw by a stubborn West Ham United at Anfield.

On a frustrating afternoon for Brendan Rodgers' side, the hosts failed to break down Sam Allardyce's well-drilled outfit, a result which leaves them well adrift of the Premier League's top five with games running out.

Rodgers named a side unchanged from the won which had won at Aston Villa last weekend, with Daniel Sturridge again forced to settle for a place on the bench.

West Ham, of course, were without striker Andy Carroll, ineligible to play against his parent club due to Premier League regulations. Carlton Cole replaced the on-loan England man.

It was the home side who had the game's first chance, on seven minutes, as Philippe Coutinho drew a save from Jussi Jaaskelainen with a low strike from the edge of the area, after enterprising play from Daniel Agger.

The Reds were happy to dominate possession, with West Ham rarely venturing forward. Ricardo Vaz Te headed their first half-chance wide on 18 minutes, whilst Mohamed Diame lashed an effort into the Kop moments later.

Luis Suarez, who started the game slowly, drilled wide after a trademark nutmeg on James Collins, as Rodgers was forced into an early change, replacing a limping Stewart Downing with Sturridge.

Jaaskelainen kept out Suarez's angled strike after a fine one-two with Coutinho on 27 minutes, but it took a bold block from Agger to stop Cole's fierce effort after Lucas had lost possession on the edge of his own box soon after, in what was a bitty first half.

The beginning of the second period followed a similar pattern, though Liverpool might have found themselves ahead on 52 minutes. Gerrard, taking advantage of a lucky break, got to the byline down the right, but Guy Demel scrambled his cross away from under his own crossbar.

Gerrard went even closer moments later, his sidefoot effort blocked en route to the bottom corner by James Tomkins after Suarez's flamboyant cross had deflected into his path. Suarez then flashed a strike across goal after skinning Tomkins on the right.

Sturridge had the ball in the net after 65 minutes, diverting Jordan Henderson's shot home, only to be denied by an offside flag. Replays suggested the call to be an erroneous one, with Joey O'Brien at least level with Sturridge when Henderson's shot was struck.

Coutinho, quiet until then, drilled a strike just off target having cut in from the left, whilst Suarez, enduring a poor afternoon, chipped wide.

Gerrard might have had a penalty as he tumbled under Tomkins' challenge, but referee Anthony Taylor, who had ignored earlier appeals from Tomkins at the other end, was unmoved.

Sturridge brought a save from Jaaskelainen with 13 minutes left, striking low from the edge of the box, whilst Agger drove wide from distance five minutes later, with Jaaskelainen getting a touch to the Dane's effort.

Liverpool were indebted to Lucas for clearing Jack Collison's header off the line with five minutes to go, but it is they who will most feel the frustrations of this draw.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique, Lucas, Henderson (Assaidi 71), Gerrard, Coutinho, Downing (Sturridge 25), Suarez

Substitutes: Jones, Coates, Skrtel, Suso, Shelvey

Cards:

Goals:

WEST HAM UNITED (4-4-1-1): Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Tomkins (Pogatetz 84), O'Brien,O'Neil, Diame, Jarvis, Vaz Te (Collison 63), Nolan (Taylor 63), Cole

Substitutes: Henderson, Maiga, Chamakh, Potts

Cards: O'Brien

Goals:

Attendance: 45,007

Referee: Anthony Taylor