Liverpool's Set-Piece Revolution Powers 5-2 Triumph Over West Ham
Liverpool delivered a stunning 5-2 victory against West Ham United at Anfield, with three goals originating from corners highlighting a dramatic shift in their set-piece fortunes. This Premier League clash on Saturday 28 February 2026 saw Arne Slot's side score five times in a league match for the first time since their title-clinching demolition of Tottenham, despite the absence of injured star signings Alexander Isak and another £100m attacker.
From Weakness to Strength
During Liverpool's autumnal slump, head coach Arne Slot emphasized that breaking down defences often required either moments of magic or effective set-pieces. While Hugo Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai performed admirably, the real story was Liverpool's transformation from statistically the worst set-piece team in the division during the first half of the season to potentially the best.
Directly or indirectly, Liverpool scored from three set-pieces before halftime, marking a significant departure from their earlier struggles. Slot had previously lamented his team's "set-piece balance," but now he could celebrate their improvement. "There was a time when we were 23 goals behind Arsenal, including penalties, and we have closed the gap a bit," smiled Slot after the match.
Corner Conversions Define the Match
Liverpool's second goal came directly from a training ground routine, with Szoboszlai delivering a corner that Virgil van Dijk headed home emphatically. The deadlock was broken earlier when, following a bout of head tennis from another corner, Ryan Gravenberch found Ekitike, who hooked in a deflected low half-volley.
The French forward Ekitike contributed two assists alongside his goal, setting up Alexis Mac Allister to volley in Liverpool's third. Cody Gakpo ended his eight-game goal drought with a fortunate deflection off Aaron Wan-Bissaka, while West Ham's Axel Disasi turned Jeremie Frimpong's low cross into his own net for Liverpool's fifth.
Liverpool became just the second team in Premier League history to score three goals from corners in a single first half, underscoring their remarkable set-piece resurgence. They now top the table for most set-piece goals in 2026 with nine, having previously fired their set-piece coach Aaron Briggs in December due to persistent shortcomings.
West Ham's Set-Piece Struggles Continue
For West Ham, the defeat extended their miserable record at Anfield, with just one victory there since 1963. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo expressed frustration at his team's set-piece vulnerabilities. "We really made mistakes from set-pieces," said Nuno. "It is frustrating as a coaching staff. It is something we have been putting a lot of effort and time to put it right."
West Ham has conceded more goals from set-pieces than any other side this season, threatening to undermine their campaign. Despite creating chances and finishing with a higher expected goals score than Liverpool, their defensive lapses proved costly. Taty Castellanos did head in a Jarrod Bowen corner for West Ham's second goal, but Liverpool's set-piece superiority ultimately decided the match.
Strategic Implications
Slot acknowledged that Liverpool's performance wasn't flawless, noting they've played better in losses this season. However, the scoreline reflected their clinical efficiency from dead-ball situations. "The first half of the season, almost every set piece we conceded went in," Slot reflected. "We start scoring from set pieces and things start looking brighter and better than when you don't."
This victory propelled Liverpool to fifth place, returning to probable Champions League qualification spots for the first time in a month. While West Ham manager Nuno found positives in his team's attacking threat, the 5-2 scoreline told a different story. In the set-piece league that increasingly defines modern football, Liverpool demonstrated they've turned a significant corner.
