Liverpool Vs West Ham — Five-star Liverpool heap more pressure on wobbling West Ham
Liverpool ran out 5-2 winners in liverpool vs west ham at Anfield, a result that improved Arne Slot’s side’s prospects of Champions League qualification and compounded West Ham’s financial and survival concerns.
Liverpool Vs West Ham: set pieces decide at Anfield
The match was effectively over by half-time after three goals from corners put Liverpool 3-0 up, with Alexis Mac Allister’s brilliant volley in the 43rd minute quashing any real hope of a West Ham comeback that had briefly grown after Hugo Ekitiké’s early opener. Ekitiké’s finish followed El Hadji Malick Diouf clearing the first corner and Ryan Gravenberch returning a fine ball for the France international to take an early shot that nest led into Mads Hermansen’s bottom corner a slight deflection off Konstantinos Mavropanos.
How the set-piece goals unfolded
Virgil van Dijk headed home Dominik Szoboszlai’s delivery after bumping aside Soungoutou Magassa and beating Tomáš Souček to the ball; it was van Dijk’s second set-piece goal in three games and was described in the context of the team’s seventh set-piece goal of the year. Mohamed Salah then took a corner from the right that Van Dijk flicked on at the near post, Ekitiké cushioned the ball out to Alexis Mac Allister and Mac Allister volleyed into the roof of the net the head of Aaron Wan-Bissaka — a move noted for the ball not touching the ground from the moment it left Salah’s foot.
Second-half responses and the late finish
Tomáš Souček pulled one back quickly after the restart to make it 3-1, but Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal cushion before Valentin Castellanos scored for the visitors. An own goal by Axel Disasi, who diverted Jeremie Frimpong’s cross into his own net, rounded off the scoring late on and produced the 5-2 final scoreline.
Slot on set-pieces and Wirtz fitness
Arne Slot called the first three goals from corners “very pleasing, ” saying the set-piece returns were the reason his team won and that the side had been “OK to good” in the match even if it was not their best. Slot noted that Liverpool had created many set-piece chances earlier in the season that had not gone in and that "things went back to normal. " He also said the team had been 23 goals behind Arsenal in set-pieces, including penalties, and that they had closed that gap a little; he added he "wouldn't be surprised" if Arsenal also scored from set-pieces that weekend. Slot confirmed Florian Wirtz missed the game through injury and was asked whether the No. 7 would be fit for Tuesday’s visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
West Ham reaction, moments and off-field strain
West Ham had the better xG in the match but found Alisson in fine form and were repeatedly punished from set pieces; Alisson made notable saves from Tomáš Souček and Jarrod Bowen after a clearance was hit straight at the visiting captain. The visitors showed encouraging spells — Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville were prominent as they opened Liverpool up at times — but could not find the finishing touch: Mavropanos scooped wildly over when a Bowen corner landed at his feet, and Mac Allister worked hard to cut out a dangerous counterattack led by Summerville.
Off the pitch, West Ham’s week was marked by financial strain and travel frustration: Liverpool had announced record overall revenue of £703m in their latest accounts, most of it ploughed back into the bank balances of a title-winning team, while West Ham warned players will have to be sold this summer whether they stay up or not after suffering a £104. 2m loss in the same financial year. Their prospects of avoiding relegation were described as looking bleak in the context of the heavy defeat, and the visitors’ bus got stuck on a ramp while attempting to leave the team hotel. Nuno Espírito Santo conceded the performance was difficult to praise — "If I say it was a good performance I sound silly, " he said — but he also suggested there were elements of West Ham’s display from which he could take encouragement.
A third successive top-flight victory left Slot’s side level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United, who play on Sunday, and three adrift of Aston Villa in third. Match reports and club statements framed the game with the headline "Deflections down Hammers at Anfield. " The next confirmed event for Liverpool is their visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday; West Ham’s immediate schedule is unclear in the provided context.
