Liverpool Beat West Ham United 5-2 at Anfield
Liverpool’s pursuit of a top-four finish gathered pace on Saturday as they dismantled a struggling West Ham United 5-2 at Anfield. Arne Slot’s men produced a ruthless display of attacking variety, with five different names finding the scoresheet. The victory moves the Reds up to fifth in the Premier League table, level on points with Manchester United. For the Hammers, the defeat deepens their relegation anxieties, leaving them 18th with just ten games remaining to save their season.
The contest was effectively decided during a one-sided first half. Hugo Ekitike opened the scoring with a sharp finish into the near post, marking his 16th goal of a prolific campaign. Virgil van Dijk doubled the advantage shortly after, rising highest to meet a Dominik Szoboszlai corner. When Alexis Mac Allister’s deflected volley found the net two minutes before the interval, the Anfield faithful sensed a rout. West Ham’s defensive structure, often fragile this season, appeared entirely porous under the weight of Liverpool’s high press.
West Ham briefly hinted at a resurgence early in the second period. Tomas Soucek capitalised on a momentary lapse in the Liverpool box to reduce the deficit, but the hope was short-lived. Cody Gakpo restored the three-goal cushion with a clinical strike before an own goal from Axel Disasi compounded the visitors’ misery. While the Hammers managed a late second, it served as little more than a statistical consolation. This was the first time Liverpool hit five goals in a single league match this term.
The broader Premier League landscape on Saturday was defined by high-scoring drama elsewhere. At Turf Moor, Burnley staged a remarkable comeback from three goals down against Brentford, only to be denied by a 90th-minute winner in a 4-3 defeat. Meanwhile, Newcastle United’s European hopes suffered a setback as they slumped to a 3-2 home loss against Everton. These results underscore a weekend where defensive discipline was largely sacrificed for offensive spectacle.
For Arne Slot, the performance was a validation of his squad’s depth and scoring range. Having five different scorers suggests a team less reliant on individual brilliance and more on a cohesive tactical system. The return to form of Mac Allister and the aerial dominance of Van Dijk provide a solid spine for the final sprint of the season. Liverpool now looks like a side with the momentum necessary to gatecrash the Champions League places.
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui faces a far bleaker outlook. With 25 points from 28 matches, his side is currently trending toward the Championship. The lack of resistance shown in the first half at Anfield will be particularly galling for a team in a survival scrap. Unless the Hammers can find a way to plug a leak that conceded five today, their stay in the top flight is under grave threat.