Liverpool vs West Ham
4 / 13 / 2025Liverpool started this game very well, managing to score on a break through a brilliant pass from Mo Salah. West Ham struggled to create many chances, though they had a free header off of a Ward-Prowse corner that could've been a goal as well as a lob from Kudus that Allison got a fingertip to. All-in-all, Liverpool dominated possession and found themselves barely unable to get good shots off, while West Ham relied on balls behind to create chances.
Liverpool dominated possession, with most of it being in the attacking half. They possessed in a back four. The fullbacks started between the winger and the centerbacks, offering the chance to both attack and drop back to receive. Liverpool are very patient in the middle, and focus on moving the ball side-to-side with the ability to attack either side in minimal passes. The fullbacks found themselves in a rotation with the wingers and other attacking players on their side. A common rotation is for the fullback to receive the ball and play it to the winger, then make a run to threaten the opposing back line. At the same time, the winger looks for this long option before carrying the ball backwards. At the same time, again, one of the midfielders would either fill the fullback's space or fill the winger's space. This kept West Ham unsettled defensively even though they were attempting to sit back. When these movements come in unison, the Liverpool players have such a good understanding of where their teammates are that they can move the ball very quickly.
For the first thirty minutes, it felt like West Ham were afraid to play the short passes necessary to maintain possession. They settled a bit towards the end of the half, and I found that Liverpool would back off of their counter-press whenever West Ham were able to break the first line of pressing Reds. Liverpool primarily protected the center of the field, as expected, and West Ham felt very goal-focused in the sense that their attacks were quite fast and direct.
If I'm West Ham, there needs to be more confidence on the ball as well as something to disrupt Liverpool's ability to physically dominate - they need to have more strength and make Liverpool spread out. In addition, I think West Ham should commit an additional defender higher up the pitch to accelerate Liverpool's ball movement in areas that they aren't expecting.
For Liverpool, you need to finish the game off while you have the momentum. Their goal came from brilliant individual skill on a ball forward. They should be okay with dominating the ball and keep attempting to move West Ham's defense to create small breaks through their lines.
The first twenty minutes of the second half were pretty evenly matched. West Ham found themselves with more possession in the midfield and posing more of a threat with direct play. It feels like Liverpool have dropped their intensity while West Ham have raised theirs. West Ham have certainly been more willing to play with the ball and take on Liverpool players.
I'm writing this as I watch the game - just over ten minutes later, it's much of the same. Liverpool are getting beat for speed and effort in one-on-one situations, putting themselves on their heels in important moments. They look visibly frustrated, while West Ham are thriving off of the disruption. A lot of credit goes to Paquetà, who is dancing around the field.
West Ham played into this momentum with their substitutions in the second half, while Liverpool couldn't prevent it with their own. West Ham got a goal back through bad miscommunication between Van Dijk and Robertson. As I write this sentence, Van Dijk redeemed himself with a goal off of a corner.
In the end, it seems like a little extra motivation got Liverpool across the line. Liverpool didn't change much tactically aside from bringing on Endo in place of Salah late in the second half. West Ham succeeded by becoming far more aggressive. Liverpool survive.