Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool went to the London Stadium under pressure to get their season back on track, and they did the job with a 2-0 win.
But the result was overshadowed by a chaotic moment late in the game involving Lucas Paqueta.
The West Ham United midfielder lost his head, collected two yellow cards for dissent within seconds, and left his team finishing with ten men.
It was the turning point.
Liverpool were already in control, but the red card killed any chance of a West Ham push.
From a Liverpool point of view, it made the closing stages straightforward and allowed Arne Slot’s side to finally secure a much-needed victory after a rough run of results.
What came after the match, though, became the real headline.
Paqueta went straight to social media and delivered a message that went far beyond a simple explanation of his behaviour.
The midfielder made it clear that what fans saw on the pitch was tied to something that had been hanging over him for years.
Paqueta began his outburst by posting in Portuguese, “I understand that now I have to come across as the villain; it’s hard to live with everything that’s been caused in my life and in my psyche!”
“I’ll keep trying to ensure they don’t affect me even more.”
“This doesn’t justify my expulsion, and for that I apologise to the fans and my teammates!”
Then he followed it with a sharper message in English after seeing a Sky Sports clip describing his actions as “ridiculous behaviour.”
He wrote, “It’s ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation.”
And he continued, “Perhaps this ridiculous behaviour is just a reflection of everything I’ve had to endure and, it seems, have to continue enduring!”
“I’m sorry if I’m not perfect.”
The FA investigation into alleged spot-fixing had clouded his career for two years before he was cleared, and Paqueta made it clear the impact is still there.
Liverpool, meanwhile, took full advantage of the red card and scored their second eight minutes later.
Slot summed up the feeling with one word, “relief.”
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo refused to criticise Paqueta publicly, saying he first wanted to “understand his frustrations.”
But Paqueta’s posts left no confusion.
For him, Sunday was not just about a sending-off.
It was about everything that came before it.
Eu entendo que agora eu tenha q parecer o vilão, é difícil conviver com tudo oq foi causado na minha vida e no meu psicológico! Seguirei tentando com que eles não me afetem ainda mais
Isso não justifica a minha expulsão e por isso peço desculpas aos fans e meus companheiros! 🏝️🎉 https://t.co/12t071CxT1
— Lucas Paquetá (@LucasPaqueta97) November 30, 2025
It’s ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation. Perhaps this ridiculous behavior is just a reflection of everything I’ve had to endure and, it seems, have to continue enduring! I’m sorry if I’m not perfect https://t.co/0CdUYNkoSU
— Lucas Paquetá (@LucasPaqueta97) November 30, 2025
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