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Goals change games, said someone a long time ago. And not scoring goals changes them too.
So much of this campaign could have been different for the Reds if only they'd managed to nudge themselves in front in the opening exchanges of matches, but until that had only happened twice in the Premier League all campaign.
Ryan Gravenberch's derby strike against Everton back in September - the fifth of those so valuable five straight wins to start the season - was the first of them, with Hugo Ekitike bagging the second inside the opening minute against Brighton in December.
It was the Frenchman who would deliver again here, turning to fire home after being found by Ryan Gravenberch's pass following West Ham's failure to clear a corner.
There was more than a hint of fortune about the goal given that if deflected off Konstantinos Mavropanos, but if we're going to continue down the route of the football cliche, if you don't but a ticket you don't win the raffle.
Liverpool have been too sluggish at the start of matches this season, often not even creating chances to score important goals early in games.
That it was Ekitike who scored this one felt symbolic, with Liverpool's top scorer finding the net after four goalless appearances during which the strains of being the only available centre-forward appeared to be weighing upon him.
That weight lifted with his turn and shot though, with a thumb up to the Kop for good measure as Reds fans celebrated an all-too rare impressive start to proceedings.
Ekitike would go on to register two assists to make it fine day at the office for him, and one where it paid to get in early.
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