In a remarkable display, Liverpool matched the Premier League record with a decisive win against the Hammers. Explore the key moments and player performances.
Introduction:
In a display of dead-ball dominance that would have made the great Bill Shankly nod in approval, Liverpool turned Anfield into a theater of set-piece specialization on Saturday. The Reds surged to a commanding 5-2 victory over a struggling West Ham United, a result that propelled them into the Premier League’s top five and level on points with Manchester United in the hunt for Champions League football.
While the final scoreline suggests a routine afternoon, the match was a frantic, high-octane affair that saw Arne Slot’s side exploit a historic weakness in the Hammers’ defense. Liverpool became only the second team in Premier League history—following Manchester United in 2016—to score three goals from corners in a single half, effectively ending the contest before the interval.
The Ekitike Effect: A Lighting Start
The atmosphere at Anfield was electric from the first whistle, and it took only five minutes for the home crowd to reach a crescendo. Following a sustained period of pressure that forced an early corner, Liverpool’s newest attacking sensation, Hugo Ekitike, found the breakthrough.
The initial delivery from Dominik Szoboszlai was only partially cleared by El Hadji Malick Diouf. Ryan Gravenberch, showing superb spatial awareness, recycled the ball back into the danger zone. Ekitike, displaying the predatory instincts that have made him a fan favorite since his arrival, took the shot early. The ball took a slight deflection off Konstantinos Mavropanos, catching goalkeeper Mads Hermansen off guard as it nestled into the bottom corner. It was Ekitike’s 16th goal of a remarkable debut season, and it set the tone for a nightmare afternoon for the visitors.
Aerial Supremacy: Van Dijk and the Corner Blitz
West Ham attempted to respond, with Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes showing flashes of brilliance on the counter-attack. However, every time the Hammers looked to build momentum, Liverpool’s set-piece prowess slapped them back down.
See also:Â Szoboszlai and Gakpo Shine in European Masterclass
In the 24th minute, the lead was doubled. Another Szoboszlai corner was swung into a crowded six-yard box. Virgil van Dijk, the Liverpool captain, rose like a colossus. Using his physical presence to brush aside Soungoutou Magassa, Van Dijk connected with a towering header that left Hermansen motionless. It was a classic “No. 4” goal, marking his 28th in the Premier League and further cementing his status as one of the most dangerous defenders in the history of the competition.
The third goal, arriving just before the break, was perhaps the pick of the bunch. It was a choreographed sequence of total football: Mohamed Salah’s corner was flicked on at the near post by Van Dijk, cushioned intelligently by Ekitike, and met with a stunning volley by Alexis Mac Allister. The Argentine adjusted his body brilliantly to strike the ball with the outside of his right boot, sending it screaming into the roof of the net. The ball hadn’t touched the grass from the moment it left Salah’s boot until it hit the twine—a moment of pure technical perfection that made it 3-0.
The Hammers’ Fightback and Gakpo’s Relief
Nuno Espirito Santo clearly had words for his side at half-time, as West Ham emerged with renewed vigor. Within four minutes of the restart, they gave their traveling supporters a glimmer of hope. Diouf, making amends for his earlier clearance error, sent a fizzing low cross into the box, which Tomas Soucek met on the slide to make it 3-1.
Anfield grew noticeably edgy as Liverpool’s play became uncharacteristically sloppy. Alisson Becker was forced into two spectacular saves to deny Fernandes and Summerville as the Hammers threatened an improbable comeback. However, the tension was finally lanced in the 70th minute. Cody Gakpo, who had been searching for his first league goal in eight matches, cut inside from the left and unleashed a low drive. A heavy deflection off Aaron Wan-Bissaka took the ball away from Hermansen and into the far corner, restoring the three-goal cushion.
Closing the Curtain: Disasi’s Misfortune
West Ham refused to go quietly. In the 75th minute, Valentin “Taty” Castellanos took advantage of some lax marking from a Jarrod Bowen corner to power home a free header at the back post, bringing the score to 4-2.
But as the clock ticked toward the 82nd minute, Liverpool’s substitute Jeremie Frimpong provided the final dagger. Frimpong’s blistering pace took him past the tired West Ham wing-backs before he sent a dangerous low cross into the corridor of uncertainty. In a desperate attempt to clear, Axel Disasi could only redirect the ball into his own net. The own goal capped a punishing day for the Hammers and confirmed a 5-2 scoreline that, while perhaps flattering Liverpool’s overall performance, highlighted their clinical efficiency.
Looking Ahead: The Race for the Top Four
The win sees Liverpool move level on 48 points with Manchester United, breathing down the necks of the top four. For Arne Slot, the transformation of his side’s set-piece form—from having the worst balance in the league at the turn of the year to being its most lethal exponents—is a testament to the tactical adjustments made mid-season.
For West Ham, the situation is increasingly dire. Remaining 18th and two points adrift of safety, Nuno Espirito Santo faces a mountainous task to keep the London club in the top flight. As the Kop sang of relegation, the Hammers departed Merseyside knowing that they had been beaten not by open-play dominance, but by the relentless precision of Liverpool’s “dead-ball” specialists.
