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Liverpool 5-2 West Ham: Clinical Edge Defines Premier League Contest
Liverpool produced a ruthless 5-2 victory over West Ham in the Premier League, surging level on points with fourth placed Manchester United and strengthening their push for European qualification. It was not a flawless display, yet it was one marked by efficiency, authority from set pieces and a growing sense of belief under Arne Slot.
By half time, Anfield had witnessed three decisive blows. Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister all struck before the interval, placing Liverpool firmly in control and leaving West Ham chasing the game.
Set Piece Authority Shapes First Half
Liverpool’s opening goal arrived inside five minutes. Ryan Gravenberch slipped a precise pass into Ekitike, who finished confidently at the near post beyond Mads Hermansen for his 16th goal of the season. It was sharp, purposeful football, and it set the tone.
West Ham attempted to respond and created moments of pressure, yet Liverpool doubled their lead against the run of play. Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a corner with pace and Van Dijk rose highest to head home with conviction. The captain’s presence in both penalty areas remains invaluable.
Just before the break, Mac Allister struck a superb volley that took a deflection and nestled in the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits. All three first half goals came from set plays, and in 2026 Liverpool now lead the Premier League for goals from set pieces, excluding penalties. That statistic alone speaks to coaching detail and execution.
Photo: IMAGO
West Ham Rally Tests Control
Liverpool should have closed the contest comfortably, yet the second half brought a different rhythm. Tomas Soucek capitalised early after the restart, meeting a fine delivery from El Hadji Malick Diouf to give West Ham hope.
Careless possession and brief lapses allowed West Ham to grow in confidence. Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek had earlier squandered opportunities when the scoreline was tighter, and those missed chances loomed large.
Cody Gakpo restored order in the 70th minute. Having earlier missed a clear chance, he cut inside and saw his effort deflect beyond Hermansen, easing nerves around Anfield. Taty Castellanos responded with a second for West Ham, yet Liverpool had the final word. Jeremie Frimpong’s cross was diverted into his own net by Axel Disasi, sealing Liverpool’s first five goal league haul of the season.
Clinical Progress Under Slot
Liverpool were far from dominant throughout, yet they were clinical. For the first time this season, they scored three first half goals in a Premier League match. Before this fixture, supporters had to look back to mid December for the last early league goal at Anfield.
Four of the five goals carried deflections, though they count all the same. What matters is momentum. Liverpool climb above Chelsea into fifth place, while West Ham remain 18th, two points behind Nottingham Forest.
Slot will draw encouragement from Joe Gomez’s start at right back and Frimpong’s return from injury. Set piece productivity has transformed since the turn of the year, with eight such goals in 2026 after a barren opening half of the campaign. Improvement is tangible.
There remain areas to sharpen. Mohamed Salah is without a league goal in his last ten matches, a rare dry spell for a forward of his calibre. Yet the collective output against West Ham demonstrated resilience and depth.
In a Premier League season shaped by narrow margins, Liverpool’s 5-2 victory over West Ham could prove significant. Clinical finishing, set piece authority and timely responses ensured the points stayed at Anfield.