Neil Atkinson’s post-match review for The Anfield Wrap after Liverpool 5 West Ham 2 in the 2025-2026 Premier League at Anfield…
The game is a bit mad. And maybe that does your head in at times. But let me ask you – how has sane been going for you?
Liverpool create a heady brew, they send a contest which should be one way into being one which oscillates but it does so whilst constantly leading you to believe there will only be one outcome.
Liverpool are at home to all sorts of nonsense but that is sort of okay because Liverpool are privy to creating all sorts of mischief.
In short there is no moment in the game where you don’t believe they will outscore West Ham United. The set pieces help.
When was the last time Liverpool scored five goals with five different goal-scorers? A long time ago. But whatever you do, don’t allow yourself to think that we played well. There were miss-passes, hairy moments, balls left in front of West Ham players, wasted corners galore.
For the connoisseur of shakey-brakey Liverpool, it was all there. Except there were also five lovely goals, only disappointing in the end that Jeremie Frimpong’s effort was ruled a West Ham own goal in the end. Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, and Cody Gakpo did not let us down. And nor did the electrifying Frimpong.
Liverpool are lining up not for the first time this season feeling the impact of injury. Florian Wirtz’s back means that we have a stand-in at the rear. Call me sentimental, but this never feels that bad when it’s Joe Gomez who fills in. And for all the semi-seconds of feeling like mis-shapen Liverpool today, it’s not Joe G who is the problem.
Cody Gakpo is probably our most frustrating, but guess what? He scores. Liking Gakpo feels suddenly deeply unfashionable but he, like Salah, is a reminder of quite good wingers. This is the issue – both are better than fine, but Liverpool, we, have become used to far more than that.
Everyone else makes various mistakes. West Ham are very far from the best opponents we’ve faced at Anfield this season but we make them look well organised at times and the feeling persists it is more them than us that has them looking like a bag of rags at other times.
It is odd to play and wonder if your opponents are actually the protagonists. We are so used to it being us but today is a reminder it takes two to tango. Our opponents oscillate between being genuinely poor to possibly good but we take advantage of all the poor spells in a way we rarely have this season.
They are fast and furious and you know how tall Soucek is. West Ham do many of the right things. Liverpool do fewer of the right things. And yet some wizardry up front and from the captain sees the Reds net five goals they had no real reason to expect.
It still goes 3-1 and 4-2 but even then you feel we have enough unless we shoot ourselves in the foot.
We defend well, especially close to goal. This is absolutely crucial in parts. Konate is confident again, even with a back line subbing in. Frimpong looks excellent when he comes on. He looks unplayable from right-back.
Liverpool though are determined to yet again make clear there is no turning of the corner but there is improvement. It is an odd side in an odd moment. So they may as well put points on the board and we can discuss our options later.
They may as well put pressure on those around them. May as well bring all the variance back in the fold.
Normal service probably isn’t resumed not because of Liverpool but because there is no normal. But today Liverpool showed they could do small moments to get out of a ravine they have uncovered and been swept away by.
We were tenacious and potent. We wanted the ball high and hunted it well. We felt alive. That doesn’t mean good but I prefer alive.
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