David Moyes sets Jarrod Bowen challenge after West Ham goal vs Liverpool

David Moyes has thrown down the gauntlet for Jarrod Bowen, urging the forward to aim for a 20-goal haul in the Premier League this season.

Bowen, who recently returned from injury, found the net in the West Ham United's 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Saturday, taking his tally to 20 goals across all competitions, with 16 in the league. Moyes is keen for Bowen to emulate Tony Cottee, the last West Ham player to score 20 goals in the top flight.

"He's been hugely important this year and there is not many West Ham forwards or strikers who got over 20 goals," Moyes said. "Jarrod has got 20 in all competitions. I was hoping he would have 20 out-and-out Premier League goals. He has got 16 at the moment, so I am sort of pushing him.

"If he can get four in the last three games it would be a great record to try and get 20 Premier League goals. He has been a great player. When you think he's come from Hereford to Hull, Hull to here and the journey he is on at the moment."

"He has played probably three-quarters of the season as a wide player and probably quarter of it as a number nine. I think he has done a great job and he can play both positions equally as well. He is a current England international and I hope he gets the chance to show it in the months to come."

Moyes expressed satisfaction with his team's resilience against Liverpool following their recovery from a heavy defeat to Crystal Palace, saying: "On the back of a stinking result last week, I thought the players showed great character and stuck at it against a really good team."

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He continued, highlighting the squad's performance throughout the season: "We've done it quite often against a lot of the big sides here this season: Tottenham, Man United, Chelsea, so maybe you shouldn't be too surprised that we've bloodied somebody's nose."

Moyes acknowledged the desire for a win: "We would have liked three points, but we weren't quite good enough for that." The Hammers' manager also humorously remarked on Jurgen Klopp's departure, admitting he'd be glad to see him go, yet Moyes' own future is uncertain as contract discussions are postponed until the season's end.

Klopp, in turn, praised Moyes, stating: "I have spoken quite frequently about how much I respect David. I think he has done an incredible job. I think he is a great guy, a real character and a man of the game."

Klopp added his thoughts on Moyes' situation: "I think he is doing really, really well but I am obviously not in charge of these decisions so I don't know what will happen."