Reds Dominate Early With Clinical Set-Pieces
Liverpool put in a ruthlessly efficient display at Anfield, racing into a 3-0 lead by half-time. Hugo Ekitike opened the scoring in the fifth minute, finishing smartly from Ryan Gravenberch’s assist. Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister added further goals from set-pieces, with Mac Allister’s deflected volley sending sections of the travelling West Ham support early for the exits. The Reds’ proficiency from corners and free-kicks continues to impress, making them the Premier League leaders in set-piece goals so far in 2026.
Second Half Sees West Ham Fight Back
West Ham refused to roll over, with Tomas Soucek netting early in the second half to give the visitors hope. Liverpool quickly regained control, however, as Cody Gakpo restored the three-goal cushion. Taty Castellanos scored again for West Ham, but an Axel Disasi own goal sealed Liverpool’s five-goal tally. Despite the scoreline, the xG figures suggest the game was more balanced than the scoreboard indicates, showing West Ham created chances but faltered in key moments.
Key Takeaways for Both Teams
Liverpool move up to fifth in the Premier League, overtaking Chelsea, and can take confidence from scoring three goals in the first half for the first time this season. Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong’s contributions were encouraging, though Mohamed Salah remains without a league goal in ten games. West Ham, meanwhile, remain 18th and under pressure, facing the dual challenges of on-field struggles and financial constraints after revealing a £104.2m loss. While their performance had positives, conceding five goals highlights the urgent need for improvement to avoid relegation.
