Liverpool reached the halfway point of the Premier League season in complete control, dispatching West Ham with ease to extend their lead at the top to eight points.
Luis Diaz gave Liverpool the lead around the 30-minute mark, and they were fortunate when Mohammed Kudus struck the post with Alisson beaten. Just moments later, Cody Gakpo doubled the advantage, leaving West Ham with little hope of a comeback.
Before the break, Mohamed Salah added a third, and Arne Slot’s side eventually matched their five-goal tally from their previous Carabao Cup clash with the Hammers. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected shot made it four, allowing Slot to rotate his squad and rest key players, while Diogo Jota sealed a fifth late on. The win was comfortably secured, and the pressure now falls on Chelsea and Arsenal to catch up in the coming days.
Next up for Liverpool is a clash with Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United on Sunday, while West Ham, under Julen Lopetegui, will face Manchester City at the Etihad the day before. Here are our key talking points from Liverpool’s comprehensive win:
1. Liverpool Making Their Own Luck
Luis Diaz might have had some luck with the ball falling kindly for him to open the scoring, but the goal had been coming. The ball took a couple of deflections before landing at his feet, and he capitalized on the opportunity.
While the second goal was partly due to Salah’s brilliance, with his magical touch setting up Gakpo, the deflected effort from Alexander-Arnold for the fourth also had an element of fortune. Still, Liverpool’s relentless attack meant they likely would have found another way to score. The team is always ready to seize the next opportunity, no matter how small.
2. West Ham’s Plan to Contain Salah Exposed
West Ham tried a unique approach to deal with Mohamed Salah by having Emerson and Aaron Wan-Bissaka double up on him. Their attempt to suffocate Liverpool’s star winger failed, as Salah’s movement was too difficult to counter.
Salah’s brilliance, especially his assist for Gakpo’s goal, was evident even with the extra man. Clearly, better teams have struggled to contain him, and West Ham, with just four league clean sheets all season, would always find it difficult.
3. Shaky Robertson Given a Lucky Break
Andy Robertson’s season has had its ups and downs, and he had a lucky escape in the first half against West Ham. He was caught out early by Mohammed Kudus, who couldn’t capitalize due to a slick surface. Later, Kudus had another chance but was adjudged to have fouled Robertson.
Robertson’s earlier red card against Fulham this season served as a warning, but Liverpool’s defense got away with it this time. In a closer match or against more clinical opponents, the outcome could have been different.
4. Gomez’s Injury Concern
While Liverpool’s first half was near perfect, Joe Gomez’s injury was a major concern. The defender was substituted at halftime, replaced by Jarell Quansah. With Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley already injured, another setback wasn’t ideal for Liverpool.
Quansah, who had previously scored an own goal against West Ham in the Carabao Cup, had a less stressful afternoon this time. He’ll likely be called into action more in the coming weeks as the injury crisis continues.
5. Areola Let Down by His Teammates
Alphonse Areola started the season as West Ham’s number one goalkeeper but lost that spot after a poor performance against Tottenham. He got another chance against Southampton and started against Liverpool after Lukasz Fabianski’s injury.
Areola had a busy afternoon, making early saves to deny Salah and Curtis Jones. He also stopped Diaz’s shot from distance and made more key saves in the second half. Unfortunately for him, his efforts were not enough to prevent a heavy defeat. Without Areola, the scoreline could have been even worse for West Ham.
