Liverpool were sloppy at times but looked unstoppable at others in a 5-2 win over West Ham United at Anfield. Here are LFC Globe’s top takeaways from the match.
Possession With A Purpose
One of the main criticisms of Arne Slot is that he likes to hold possession and build slowly from the back. Not today. Passes were rapid, and the attacks were purposeful. Players were looking to take defenders on in the attacking third, cutting to the byline. That created chaos in the box and a five-goal outburst.
Liverpool were out-possessed 51-49, a nearly 10 per cent drop in their season average and moving the ball quickly caused a few bad giveaways, but that is a small price to pay for a 5-2 win.
Setting Up For Success
Liverpool had three goals from set pieces today, all in the first half. That gives the Reds an EPL-best 9 goals from set pieces (excluding penalties) since the calendar flipped to 2026. Arne Slot has long said that set pieces were essential to successful results in the EPL, and Liverpool have now won four straight and are climbing up the table. They still have trouble defending them, but let’s fix one thing at a time.
Reds Alive & Well In Champions League Chase
The win pushes Liverpool even on points for the Top-4 on the table with rival Manchester United in the race for the UCL next season. However, as of now, they have a match played ahead of the Red Devils. The three-goal cushion was key also, as they are now at +10, and the Red Devils are at +11 and in fourth place on the table. With Liverpool’s favourable schedule, I expect them to jump past United soon.
LFC Globe Verdict
Things are looking up for the Reds. They had struggled to garner results against the bottom of the table, as Slot said in his pre-match presser. While they were sloppy at times, they did not have to get late-game heroics as was the case vs. Forest or drop points as they did against Leeds. I think the Reds have turned a corner, and it should be a fun ride the next few months.
Have Your Say
What impressed you most throughout the 90 minutes vs. the Hammers? Did you like the more attacking style, or was it frustrating to see a dip in possession? Let us know below.