A super-cool penalty from Paolo di Canio earned West Ham a point - but Harry Redknapp's team are still stranded at the foot of the Premiership table without a win.
West Ham dominated possession but could not overcome Liverpool after going behind to an early strike from Steven Gerrard. Di Canio levelled from the spot in the 69th minute after a foul by Stephane Henchoz on Frederic Kanoute but Liverpool's defence held firm under a late siege. The pre-match surprise was Michael Owen's absence from the Liverpool line-up with a reported sore back. Despite the loss of their most prolific marksman, the visitors stormed into a 12th-minute lead with a precision move down their left launched by Nick Barmby.
The former Evertonian slipped clear of West Ham's backline and slid a pass into Danny Murphy's path. He delivered a low early cross and it was clinically converted by Gerrard. The Hammers enjoyed plenty of first-half possession, with both Joe Cole and di Canio impressive. Cole found di Canio with an extravagant back-heel but after twisting away from his marker in a crowded goalmouth the Italian could not summon the power to trouble goalkeeper Sander Westerveld with a toepoke.
Kanoute had wastefully headed di Canio's free-kick over before Gerrard had opened the scoring and Trevor Sinclair could not find the target from another teasing centre by the Italian.
Di Canio looked increasingly frustrated with his team-mates but displayed superb vision to find Cole on the edge of the penalty area. The teenager went for goal with the outside of his boot but his effort rose too high.
Stuart Pearce went close with an inswinging free-kick before the break. Westerveld flapped at the swerving set-piece but the Londoners could not find the touch needed to divert the ball inside the post.
Redknapp's side upped the tempo after the break. Cole unleashed a dipping shot from 30 yards which dropped wide and Kanoute had three chances to level before di Canio struck from the spot.
Kanoute seemed to have wasted his shooting opportunity in the 68th minute but Henchoz bundled the striker to the floor as he made a clumsy recovery challenge.
Referee David Elleray pointed to the spot and di Canio stepped forward to score. Liverpool squandered several good counter-attacking situations but Dietmar Hamann came closest with a 30-yard thunderbolt.
WEST HAM: Hislop, Stimac, Ferdinand, S Pearce, Lomas, Cole, Sinclair, Winterburn, Carrick, Di Canio, Kanoute. Subs Not Used: Forrest, Peacock, Keller, Potts, Newton. Goals: Di Canio 69 pen.
LIVERPOOL: Westerveld, Henchoz, Song, Babbel, Heskey, Murphy (Ziege 70), Hamann, Gerrard (Heggem 72), Barmby, Carragher, Traore. Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Fowler, Diomede. Booked: Murphy, Song. Goals: Gerrard 12.
Attendance: 25,998.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
