Liverpool improved in a couple of key areas as they scored from multiple avenues to beat West Ham 5-2 in the Premier League.
Liverpool 5-2 West Ham
Premier League (28) | Anfield
February 28, 2026
Goals: Ekitike 5’, Van Dijk 24′, Mac Allister 43’, Gakpo 70’, Disasi OF 82’; Soucek 49, Castellanos 75’
A feel-good win
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 28, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot acknowledges the supporters during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield. The game ended 5-2.(Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Fans streamed out of Anfield in a good mood, having seen plenty of goals in both halves to secure a vital win.
Apart from a few periods of uncertainty in the second half, as shown on the scoresheet by those two West Ham goals, this was one of the more convincing wins for Liverpool under Arne Slot.
The quick start was one thing, but sometimes it’s also important to have the final say.
Getting the last goal of a game helps keep any morale generated from the start in place until the end.
It keeps the feel-good factor for the players in the dressing room and the fans outside the ground after the game has finished.
That the fifth of Liverpool’s five goals came via the play of a substitute helped, even though it will go down as an Axel Disasi, Jeremie Frimpong played a key role in it.
It helps ensure everyone feels like they contributed to the win, and boosts morale for the next game.
Set-Piece FC
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 28, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
From the start of the season to the end of 2025, Liverpool were the worst team in the Premier League when it came to scoring from set pieces.
Not anymore.
Since the turn of the year, they have scored eight in the Premier League and 10 in all competitions, taking them from the worst team in this regard to the best in the league.
According to Opta’s Michael Reid, per their definitions, the three first-half goals today meant that at the time Liverpool’s last seven goals had come from non-penalty set pieces.
It marks a noticeable improvement in such scenarios, at least in attack.
Journalist David Lynch reported earlier in the month that: “There has been a clear and important shift towards maximising the team’s biggest box threat, Van Dijk, much as Arsenal have done so successfully with Gabriel in recent years.”
This was clearly one part of the plan against West Ham, and it worked well, as it has been doing throughout 2026.
It’s a complete turnaround and a welcome one in an area of the game that is increasingly important at the top level.
Slow starters? Not today!
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 28, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike scores the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Like set pieces, starting games quickly is something Liverpool have not done to good effect this season.
Going into this game, West Ham were the team known for having a good first-half record. A total of 59 percent of their league goals had come in the opening half, making them the best team in the league for this particular stat.
Liverpool, meanwhile, were the second-worst, on just 31 percent, but went against this trend in emphatic fashion, scoring three goals by half-time.
Going into the game, Liverpool had the worst record in the league for goals in the first 20 minutes of games, but, attacking the Kop in the first half, they scored within the first five minutes to set the tone for the rest of the game.
Were substitutions too few and too late?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 28, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong celebrates with team-mate Cody Gakpo (L) after scoring his side's fifth goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
At 3-0 up, even at 3-1 up, Arne Slot had a great opportunity to rest some of his regulars ahead of a busy schedule.
The first sub wasn’t made until the 76th minute, though, when Rio Ngumoha replaced Ekitike.
There was clearly some tiredness creeping in, and the team began to look unconvincing at times in the second half on both sides of the ball.
This fatigue led to some tentative play, some anxiety in the crowd, which crept onto the pitch, and also saw West Ham score twice.
Two of the five available subs gave around a 15-minute break to Hugo Ekitike and Joe Gomez, but the only other sub used was Trey Nyoni, who replaced Ryan Gravenberch on 86 minutes.
It might not be as noticeable during a convincing win, but there was the opportunity here to rest players and involve more of the subs, giving some match practice to those who will no doubt be needed in the future.
Goal difference could make all the difference
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 28, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates with team-mate Hugo Ekitike after scoring his side'a fourth goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
In what is building into a tightly contested race for the Champions League spots, goal difference could well play a part come the end of the season.
Obviously, Liverpool would prefer not to have conceded twice, but a three-goal addition to the goal difference column is still a big help.
The Reds are still one behind Man United in this regard, so despite going level on points with Michael Carrick’s resurgent side, they are still behind them in the table.
Aston Villa look to be dropping off and their goals are drying up, too, but Chelsea, despite their struggles, are strong in this area with a goal difference of plus 17.
Liverpool need to keep winning, and at the same time, they need to keep scoring in whichever way the goals arrive.
Today was a good blueprint for planning a charge up the table in the points column while also complementing the goal difference column.