No Wirtz, no problem: Liverpool FC picked up another three points against West Ham, with their attacking power masking some defensive frailties.
Even without its most in-form offensive player, Liverpool FC has reinforced its Champions League ambitions. While Florian Wirtz was absent for the second game in a row due to back problems, his teammates secured a 5-2 home win against West Ham United on Saturday afternoon, which remains in acute danger of relegation.
The Reds got their fourth competitive win in a row off to an early start. Top scorer Ekitiké, who had failed to score in seven of his previous eight league games, found the net after just five minutes when a corner was initially cleared but then fell to his feet and he slotted it in at the near post.
Mac Allister strikes again – Alisson blunder without consequences
Two more corner kicks then gave them a 3-0 lead at halftime. First, van Dijk headed in a Szoboszlai cross from close range (24′), before Mac Allister struck again shortly before the break. Ekitiké laid off Salah’s corner at the far post to the World Cup winner, and the last-minute winner from the previous matchday in Nottingham volleyed the ball under the bar (43′).
The visitors, who had been much more stable in recent weeks, were not without their chances in the meantime. However, Bowen was too surprised to take advantage of an Alisson misplaced pass in the Liverpool five-meter box (31′), and Soucek was unable to get past the Reds’ keeper from close range (37′).
Hopes of a third consecutive clean sheet in the league – the last time this happened was in Arne Slot’s first three games in charge a year and a half ago – were soon dashed, however. Four minutes after the break, only Soucek reacted to Diouf’s sharp cross and reduced the deficit to 1-3. Gakpo, who was off form, initially missed the chance to quickly restore the old lead after a long throw-in (54′), but he made up for it later: he entered the penalty area from the right before his shot was deflected perfectly into the far corner (70′).
Only Salah continues his misery
West Ham, who didn’t play badly overall, fought back once more: Summerville forced Alisson into a strong reflex save (74′), and Taty headed in the resulting corner from a tight angle to make it 2-4 (75′). But that was all they could manage. Liverpool took advantage of the increasing space to score their fifth goal, with Disasi deflecting a cross from substitute Frimpong into his own net from close range (82′). Only one player remained goalless on Saturday, as he has in his last nine Premier League appearances: Salah, who was not helped by Slot playing him through.
Nevertheless, Liverpool, who face another challenge in Wolverhampton on Tuesday (9:15 p.m.), moved up to fifth place, at least for the time being, which will most likely be enough to qualify for the Champions League again this season. West Ham, at least, once again showed that they are far from resigned to their first relegation since returning to the Premier League in 2012.
