Liverpool's 5-2 win over West Ham still falls short of elite standard

The 5-2 victory over West Ham was dominated by three first‑half corner goals, turning a potentially tense contest into a comfortable win. With an xG of 1.75 against West Ham’s 1.84, the result was more opportunistic than dominant, and the team’s reliance on dead‑ball work was evident as nine set‑piece goals have been scored since January.

Despite the win, Liverpool still fall short of the elite standard the club aims for. Slot’s initial vision of vertical flair and positional control has been replaced by a pragmatic approach, but defensive vulnerabilities remain, especially in transition and midfield balance. The £450m summer rebuild has not yet translated into the creative dominance expected.