Liverpool 5-2 West Ham: Medical Edge Defines Premier League Contest
Liverpool produced a ruthless 5-2 victory over West Ham within the Premier League, surging degree on factors with fourth positioned Manchester United and strengthening their push for European qualification. It was not a flawless show, but it was one marked by effectivity, authority from set items and a rising sense of perception underneath Arne Slot.
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By half time, Anfield had witnessed three decisive blows. Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister all struck earlier than the interval, inserting Liverpool firmly in management and leaving West Ham chasing the sport.
Set Piece Authority Shapes First Half
Liverpool’s opening aim arrived inside 5 minutes. Ryan Gravenberch slipped a exact go into Ekitike, who completed confidently on the close to submit past Mads Hermansen for his sixteenth aim of the season. It was sharp, purposeful soccer, and it set the tone.
West Ham tried to reply and created moments of stress, but Liverpool doubled their lead in opposition to the run of play. Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a nook with tempo and Van Dijk rose highest to go dwelling with conviction. The captain’s presence in each penalty areas stays invaluable.
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Simply earlier than the break, Mac Allister struck an outstanding volley that took a deflection and nestled within the web. That was the cue for sections of the travelling help to go for the exits. All three first half targets got here from set performs, and in 2026 Liverpool now lead the Premier League for targets from set items, excluding penalties. That statistic alone speaks to teaching element and execution.
Picture: IMAGO
West Ham Rally Checks Management
Liverpool ought to have closed the competition comfortably, but the second half introduced a unique rhythm. Tomas Soucek capitalised early after the restart, assembly a superb supply from El Hadji Malick Diouf to provide West Ham hope.
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Careless possession and temporary lapses allowed West Ham to develop in confidence. Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek had earlier squandered alternatives when the scoreline was tighter, and people missed probabilities loomed massive.
Cody Gakpo restored order within the seventieth minute. Having earlier missed a transparent probability, he reduce inside and noticed his effort deflect past Hermansen, easing nerves round Anfield. Taty Castellanos responded with a second for West Ham, but Liverpool had the ultimate phrase. Jeremie Frimpong’s cross was diverted into his personal web by Axel Disasi, sealing Liverpool’s first 5 aim league haul of the season.
Medical Progress Underneath Slot
Liverpool had been removed from dominant all through, but they had been scientific. For the primary time this season, they scored three first half targets in a Premier League match. Earlier than this fixture, supporters needed to look again to mid December for the final early league aim at Anfield.
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4 of the 5 targets carried deflections, although they rely all the identical. What issues is momentum. Liverpool climb above Chelsea into fifth place, whereas West Ham stay 18th, two factors behind Nottingham Forest.
Slot will draw encouragement from Joe Gomez’s begin at proper again and Frimpong’s return from harm. Set piece productiveness has remodeled for the reason that flip of the 12 months, with eight such targets in 2026 after a barren opening half of the marketing campaign. Enchancment is tangible.
There stay areas to sharpen. Mohamed Salah is with no league aim in his final ten matches, a uncommon dry spell for a ahead of his calibre. But the collective output in opposition to West Ham demonstrated resilience and depth.
In a Premier League season formed by slender margins, Liverpool’s 5-2 victory over West Ham might show important. Medical ending, set piece authority and well timed responses ensured the factors stayed at Anfield.