Arne Slot praised Liverpool’s set-piece efficiency after three first-half corners helped secure a 5-2 victory over West Ham. The Reds scored from three corners in the opening 45 minutes, a feat achieved only twice in Premier League history, with Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister finding the net.
Liverpool, who had the worst set-piece balance in the top flight at the end of 2025, have now become the best since New Year’s Day. Slot admitted the turnaround was welcome after a frustrating first half of the season. “The first half of the season almost every set-piece we conceded went in. We start scoring from set-pieces and things start looking brighter,” he said.
Despite an expected goals (xG) of just 0.7, Liverpool led 3-0 at half-time. West Ham pulled two back through Tomas Soucek and Taty Castellanos, but Cody Gakpo and an Axel Disasi own goal sealed a fourth win in five league matches, lifting Liverpool to fifth.
Slot was without playmaker Florian Wirtz due to a back injury sustained in the warm-up at Nottingham Forest. The German is doubtful for two trips to Wolves next week. “Tuesday will probably be too early… the week after will be tight as things stand now,” Slot added.
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo described taking positives from a 5-2 defeat as “silly” but insisted there were plenty. “At half-time you say ‘boys you are playing good but losing 3-0’ but we really made mistakes from set-pieces,” he said.
