Liverpool Rampant with Five

Liverpool 5-2 West Ham: A Display of Clinical Efficiency in the Premier League

Liverpool secured a convincing 5-2 win against West Ham, drawing level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United and bolstering their chances for European qualification. While the performance wasn’t without flaws, it showcased their efficiency, dominance from set pieces, and an increasing confidence under manager Arne Slot.

By halftime, Anfield had witnessed a trio of decisive goals. Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, and Alexis Mac Allister found the net before the break, putting Liverpool firmly in charge and leaving West Ham scrambling to catch up.

Set Piece Dominance Marks First Half

The opening goal came within five minutes, as Ryan Gravenberch provided a pinpoint pass to Ekitike, who confidently finished at the near post past Mads Hermansen, marking his 16th goal of the season. It was energetic and purposeful football, setting a clear tone for the match.

West Ham attempted to respond and applied some pressure, but Liverpool managed to double their lead against the run of play. A well-driven corner from Dominik Szoboszlai saw Van Dijk rise above everyone to head home decisively; the captain’s influence in both boxes remains crucial.

Just before halftime, Mac Allister unleashed a stunning volley that deflected into the net, prompting some traveling fans to head for the exits early. All three first-half goals originated from set pieces, a testament to Liverpool’s coaching emphasis on execution, leading the league in set piece goals (excluding penalties) for 2026.

Image: IMAGO

West Ham’s Response Tests Liverpool’s Control

Despite having a comfortable lead, Liverpool faced a different challenge in the second half. Tomas Soucek took advantage early after the break, connecting with a well-placed delivery from El Hadji Malick Diouf, giving West Ham a glimmer of hope.

With moments of careless possession, Liverpool allowed West Ham to build some momentum. Players like Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen, and Soucek had already squandered chances when the score was closer, and those missed opportunities became pivotal.

Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s two-goal cushion in the 70th minute. After earlier missing a prime chance, he cut inside and saw his shot deflect past Hermansen, relieving the tension around Anfield. Although Taty Castellanos netted a second for West Ham, Liverpool had the final say. A cross from Jeremie Frimpong was inadvertently turned into his own net by Axel Disasi, marking Liverpool’s first five-goal haul in the league this season.

Progress Under Slot Shows Promise

While Liverpool weren’t dominant throughout the match, their clinical execution shone through. It marked the first instance this season of them scoring three first-half goals in a Premier League game. Prior to this match, fans had to look back to mid-December for the last early league goal at Anfield.

Despite four of the five goals taking deflections, the count still stands. What truly matters is the momentum gained. Liverpool’s victory sees them rise above Chelsea into fifth place, while West Ham languish in 18th, two points adrift of Nottingham Forest.

Slot will likely take heart from Joe Gomez’s strong performance at right back and Frimpong’s return from injury. The improvement in set piece effectiveness is apparent, with eight goals scored from such situations in 2026 after a barren start to the campaign. The signs of progress are clear.

Nonetheless, there are still areas that need refinement. Mohamed Salah is enduring a rare drought with no league goals in his last ten matches. However, the collective effort against West Ham highlighted Liverpool’s resilience and depth.

In a Premier League season where every point counts, Liverpool’s 5-2 victory over West Ham could be pivotal. Clinical finishing, set-piece dominance, and timely reactions ensured the points remained at Anfield.