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

Liverpool's emphatic 5-2 victory over West Ham was a statement on the score sheet, but the match revealed that the team still falls short of the club's elite standard. With an xG of 1.75 against West Ham's 1.84, the win was built on three first‑half corner goals and a reliance on set‑piece efficiency rather than true dominance.

Arne Slot's initial vision of a PSG‑lite, vertical, positional side has been replaced by a pragmatic approach that prioritises dead‑ball work. Nine set‑piece goals since January show the shift, yet defensive frailties and a lack of a natural defensive midfielder leave Liverpool vulnerable in transition.