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Liverpool 5 – 2 West Ham – PL Postmortem
By Steven Smith
After a week that demanded focus and professionalism, Liverpool delivered neither perfection nor control — but they did deliver goals. Five of them. It was a performance that never truly convinced, yet it overwhelmed a fragile West Ham side and, in the context of the top-five race, may prove invaluable.
With Aston Villa slipping to defeat against Wolves on Friday, the door creaked open. Liverpool barged straight through it.
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The Starting Eleven
Liverpool XI
• GK – Alisson Becker
• RB – Joe Gomez
• CB – Ibrahima Konaté
• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)
• LB – Milos Kerkez
• CM – Alexis Mac Allister
• CM – Ryan Gravenberch
• RW – Mohamed Salah
• AM – Dominik Szoboszlai
• LW – Cody Gakpo
• CF – Hugo Ekitike
Substitutes Used
Jeremie Frimpong → Florian Wirtz (76’)
Rio Ngumoha → Joe Gomez (76’)
Trey Nyoni → Ryan Gravenberch (86’)
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Goals
Liverpool 1–0 West Ham – Hugo Ekitike (Ryan Gravenberch) – 5’
Liverpool 2–0 West Ham – Virgil van Dijk (Dominik Szoboszlai) – 26’
Liverpool 3–0 West Ham – Alexis Mac Allister (Hugo Ekitike) – 43’
Liverpool 3–1 West Ham – Tomáš Souček (Malick Diouf) – 49’
Liverpool 4–1 West Ham – Cody Gakpo (Hugo Ekitike) – 70’
Liverpool 4–2 West Ham – Valentín Castellanos (Jarrod Bowen) – 75’
Liverpool 5–2 West Ham – Jeremie Frimpong (Cody Gakpo) – 83’
Photo: IMAGO
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Match Statistics
• Possession – Liverpool 49% | West Ham 51%
• xG – Liverpool 1.75 | West Ham 1.84
• Total Shots – Liverpool 18 | West Ham 11
• Shots on Target – Liverpool 7 | West Ham 4
• Fouls – Liverpool 12 | West Ham 11
• Corners – Liverpool 10 | West Ham 5
First Half
The opening half was ruthless without being dominant. Liverpool did not suffocate West Ham with possession — in fact, they ceded more of the ball overall — but they were devastating from dead-ball situations.
Three first-half goals, all stemming from corners, mark a remarkable turnaround for a side that looked utterly blunt from set pieces in the opening months of the season. The delivery was aggressive, the movement coordinated, and the intent clear. Ekitike’s early strike settled nerves, Van Dijk powered home with captain’s authority, and Mac Allister’s clinical finish just before the break effectively ended the contest.
There were still moments of looseness in open play. West Ham found pockets, tested transitions, and were not overwhelmed territorially. But Liverpool’s efficiency was the difference. When chances presented themselves, they struck.
Photo: IMAGO
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Second Half
The second half brought a familiar issue — complacency. Souček’s goal four minutes after the restart shifted momentum briefly, and the visitors sensed vulnerability. Castellanos’ strike later only reinforced that Liverpool’s defensive concentration dipped more than it should have.
Yet every time West Ham threatened to make it uncomfortable, Liverpool found another gear in the final third. Gakpo’s composed finish restored control, and Frimpong’s late goal, bursting forward from the bench, sealed matters emphatically.
The game felt chaotic at times. The xG suggests a contest closer than the scoreline. But Liverpool’s cutting edge was superior, even if their overall control was not.
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Final Thoughts
This was a performance where efficiency masked imperfection. Liverpool weren’t great — but they were prolific. Seven shots on target produced five goals. Ten corners yielded relentless pressure and three decisive moments before half-time.
Defensively, there remains work to do. In midfield, the balance wavered. But in attack, there is growing cohesion and confidence.
With Villa stumbling, the top-five race tightens considerably. The Reds should now feel momentum shifting. If they can pair this ruthless finishing with greater control, the chase becomes very real.
Steven Smith’s Pre-Match Prediction:
Liverpool 2 – 0 West Ham