Monday's 3-2 defeat at Liverpool will be a difficult one for West Ham manager David Moyes to swallow.

The Hammers were 2-1 up with 23 minutes left, but they were unable to even wrestle a point from the Premier League leaders. As it is, they remain in the relegation zone and have amassed just 24 points from 27 matches to date.

Here, we take a look at three things the Irons can take away from the gut-wrenching defeat.

Ngakia and Antonio vital in battle for survival

Moyes made two changes on the night, with Felipe Anderson and Jeremy Ngakia coming in for Arthur Masuaku and Ryan Fredericks respectively.

The former may be one of the side's more senior players, but the latter is quite the opposite. The 19-year-old was making just his second ever appearance for West Ham - the first also came against Liverpool in their match earlier this season.

However, he did not look out of place, even despite facing Sadio Mane, the African Footballer of the Year. The teenager made five tackles, as well as four clearances and three interceptions in an accomplished performance.

Michail Antonio was another who impressed. Starting up front as the lone striker, he made a nuisance of himself against the most efficient defence in the Premier League - the Reds have conceded just 17 times this term. He completed four out of his seven dribbles, and also completed two key passes. Ten years older than Ngakia, his experience helped him cause Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez problems.

As we approach the business end of the season, Moyes desperately needs players he can rely on. In this performance, Antonio and Ngakia proved that they can be a part of that group.

Soucek injury blow

Another player who did himself no harm with his showing was Czech Republic international Tomas Soucek. In what was just his third Premier League appearance for his new club since joining on loan during the January transfer window, the 24-year-old put in a solid defensive midfield display. In particular, he won five of his eight ground duels in the middle of the park, which is likely to have caught the eye of his boss.

Unfortunately for both himself and Moyes, he was forced off just two minutes into the second half due to an adductor injury. The severity of the problem remains unclear, but the Scot will be hoping that it is not a long-term issue.

Soucek has been brought in with the objective of keeping West Ham in the Premier League - a significant spell on the sidelines would make his arrival redundant.

Plenty of fight left yet

Going in to this match, few would have expected the Hammers to put up any sort of fight.

After all, Liverpool had won their last 17 top-tier matches and had a commanding 19-point lead at the summit of the table, whilst the London outfit were stuck in the relegation zone with 12 games to go.

However, they pushed their more illustrious opponents all the way and, had it not been for an uncharacteristic Lukasz Fabianski error, they may have come away with something from the fixture.

Whilst it will be bitterly disappointing to leave empty-handed, Moyes will be encouraged by the spirit his players showed at Anfield.

The matches do not get much easier - they host in-form Southampton next Saturday, before facing Arsenal, Wolves, Tottenham and Chelsea in succession. If they are to stay in the Premier League, they will need to display that desire and never-say-die attitude several more times in the coming weeks.