It says a lot about the lack of excitement in the game between West Ham and Newcastle that one journalist was thinking about Liverpool.
West Ham and Newcastle played out a pretty drab affair at the London Stadium.
It comes as Liverpool’s Premier League title bid turns into a procession.
There were just four shots on target between the Hammers and Magpies.
The two from West Ham were tame efforts more akin to passbacks.
West Ham are well used to a lack of excitement in their matches after a dismal last 14 months which has yielded just 15 wins in 56 matches.
But critics feel the malaise is a problem across the Premier League – not just at West Ham – after the dull affair between them and Eddie Howe’s Newcastle.
Many point to the fact Liverpool are coasting to an easy title triumph in Arne Slot’s first season as proof the competition isn’t up to much.
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Planning was reportedly already underway in February for the traditional open-topped bus parade through the city to celebrate.
There is an argument that Liverpool are actually the only truly top quality side in what is supposed to be the world’s best league this season.
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Journalist quips he spotted Liverpool tribute at West Ham
A case in point is that West Ham, Spurs, Man United and others are all struggling in the bottom half this season.
Man City have fallen off a cliff. Chelsea and Newcastle are hardly pulling up any trees.
Arsenal have failed to put up any genuine challenge.
When Liverpool played PSG last week they got a rude awakening.
Slot has since admitted that PSG are the best team his side have faced all season. And Premier League fans call Ligue 1 ‘a farmers’ league’.
West Ham fans hoped Potter would make them exciting to watch.
That may come with time – but on the evidence of Monday night – it will be no quick fix.
The eyes of the football world were on the game as it was the live televised game.
And it sums up the match that a Telegraph reporter reported on the fireworks before the game rather than any fireworks during it.
Journalist Matt Law quipped that he spotted a Liverpool tribute at West Ham vs Newcastle.
His clever post rather neatly sums up the debate that the Premier League has become boring.
Liverpool have won four games on the bounce in all competitions as they aim for a treble in Slot’s first season.
The Reds have beaten Southampton, PSG, Newcastle and Man City in their last four.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Post ironically sums up boring Premier League
And Law joked the fireworks before kick-off of West Ham’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle were in honour of Slot’s Liverpool.
“Lovely firework tribute to Liverpool and Arne Slot at West Ham tonight,” Law said on X, formerly Twitter, as the sparks formed four perfect W’s.
https://x.com/Matt\_Law\_DT/status/1899187215307063771
For West Ham, it is a case of roll on June and the true start of the Potter rebuild.
The hope will be the Hammers can get back to competing for the European spots again.
But Potter will be under no illusions there’s plenty of work to do to get anywhere close.
For Liverpool, the challenge will be to see if Slot can sustain this.
For the Premier League, it will be to restore their reputation after a poor season across the board everywhere else.
Biggest ever Premier League title winning margins
Liverpool are actually responsible for the joint second biggest title-winning margin of the Premier League era.
The Reds last title win during Covid in the 19/20 season was by a huge 18 points, tied with Man United’s own 20 years before.
Chelsea (04/05) and Man City (20/21) have both won it by 12 points.
The record belongs to Man City who coasted to the title by 19 points in 17/18.
Liverpool look a good bet to beat that this season as they hold a 15-point advantage over second place with nine games to play.