Liverpool may have beaten West Ham 5-2 at Anfield in the Premier League, but the media weren’t sold on their performance.
Arne Slot‘s men picked up another important victory on Saturday as their Champions League qualification hopes received a boost.
Here is how the media reacted to Liverpool’s win over West Ham.
A win… but Liverpool didn’t fully convince critics
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 28, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk celebrates by kissing the badge after scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
On X, David Lynch didn’t go overboard just because of the scoreline:
“A crucial win for Liverpool to move into the top five and you shouldn’t sniff at any 5-2 victory in this league, but it’s strange how unconvincing they looked at times and have done during an improved run of form.
“Impossible to predict how this season ends.”
The Liverpool Echo‘s Ian Doyle was similarly unconvinced, despite the result:
“Odd one for LFC today where they did more than enough to win the game easily, did so, but nobody really impressed and nobody did absolutely awful.”
Tom Burrows of The Athletic felt the same way:
“This was undeniably an important victory for Liverpool. It put them level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United, who play at home to Crystal Palace tomorrow, in the race for a Champions League spot.
“But Liverpool were never fully convincing, despite the 5-2 scoreline. The game often felt frantic and end-to-end, with West Ham carrying a threat on the break, through the likes of the impressive Crysencio Summerville.
“Even in the first half, when Liverpool went 3-0 up, things were not quite as comfortable as they seemed. Liverpool’s xG figure was 0.70 in that period, and West Ham had plenty of chances of their own.”
Others were more positive about Liverpool’s performance
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 28, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds 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)
BBC Sport‘s Aadam Patel was most impressed with Liverpool’s ruthlessness at Anfield:
“Perhaps the most impressive aspect from a Liverpool perspective was the fact they virtually put this game to bed in the first half. That has been a rarity this season.
“Though they did make it hard from themselves, losing the ball carelessly on a number of occasions, there can be few complaints when you score five in a game.
“Liverpool were far from brilliant – but Slot’s men were clinical and, for the first time this season, they scored three goals in the first half of a league game.”
Sam Wallace of the Telegraph focused on Liverpool’s new expertise from set-pieces:
“Where once this was a Liverpool team who were the Premier League’s worst performing from set-pieces, there has been a radical transformation since the turn of the year that has put them among the very best.
“The first three goals against West Ham were all the direct result of corners and, in the case of Cody Gakpo’s fourth, one that was recycled soon after…
“It would be unfair to blame the early-season form on the departure of coach Aaron Briggs, formerly responsible for Liverpool set-pieces – but something has changed.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 28, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
But *This Is Anfield*‘s James Nalton was in more positive spirits than most:
“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…
“It helps ensure everyone feels like they contributed to the win and boosts morale for the next game.”
Finally, Lewis Steele of the Mail saw reason for optimism at Anfield:
“The green shoots of spring are now showing after a taxing mid-season slump-cum-crisis for the champions, who have now won four games in a row…
“It was the first time Slot’s men have scored five in the league since they confirmed their status as champions last April.
“We know they won’t be doing the same again this year but this was a significant victory on the way to achieving their new goal of Champions League qualification.”