EPL 2016/17: West Ham 0-4 Liverpool, 5 Talking Points

Daniel Sturridge’s future at Liverpool has come under immense speculation over the last few weeks

West Ham hosted Liverpool on the 37th match day in what was an important game for both the sides. While the hosts harboured hopes of finishing in the top half of the table courtesy of a win, Liverpool needed to win the game so as to ensure their chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League remains intact.

It was Daniel Sturridge who started the proceedings in the 35th minute after rounding off West Ham’s Adrian. While West Ham did have a glorious opportunity to level matters late in the first half, with Andre Ayew striking the goal post twice, they missed their chances and the Reds made them pay heavily for it.

A brace from Philippe Coutinho and a goal from Divock Origi meant that Liverpool ran out comfortable winners at the London Stadium and remain in contention to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Here are the talking points from the game between West Ham and Liverpool.


#1 Daniel Sturridge puts in an impressive performance

Daniel Sturridge’s future at Liverpool has come under immense speculation over the last few weeks with several news agencies reporting that Klopp deems the Englishman too fragile to include him in his long-term plans and has hence, decided to let him leave in the summer. The 27-year-old has been used sporadically by Klopp, owing to injuries and lack of opportunities.

With his transfer away from the red half of Liverpool all but inevitable now, the club’s fans were waiting to experience his magic for one more time when it was let known that he would start the game against West Ham and Sturridge did not disappoint.

He scored a wonderful opening goal which was a work of Philippe Coutinho’s vision on the ball and Sturridge’s vision off it. He rounded off the West Ham goalkeeper Adrian and slotted in the ball to mark a wonderful goal and possibly strengthen his side’s chances of qualifying for the upcoming season of the UEFA Champions League.

#2 Philippe Coutinho was absolutely magical

The Brazilian made West Ham pay heavily for their inabilities in defence

If there is one Liverpool player who has made himself a big game player, it has to be Coutinho. The Brazilian magician has put in some incredible match-winning performances in big games in the past and the game away from home against West Ham was one such occasion.

With the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal closing in on the 4th spot, Liverpool were required to win the remainder of their games.

However, West Ham had not been an easy team to beat for the Reds and the fans were understandably nervous going into the game. What followed was a Coutinho masterclass as the Brazilian made West Ham pay heavily for their inabilities in defence.

He set up Sturridge’s opening goal with a brilliant through ball and then followed it up with a brilliant brace that effectively killed West Ham’s spirits.

The playmaker has been extensively linked with Barcelona over the last few days with some agencies even claiming he had agreed to personal terms with the club. Should the move materialise, it would prove detrimental to Liverpool’s chances of winning any kind of silverware in the near future.

#3 Work is not done till the Reds win over Middlesbrough

Liverpool have a tendency of dropping points against weaker sides

Liverpool looked set to challenge for the title going into 2017. The side was playing some beautiful football and had put several teams to the sword. However, what followed was an incredible collapse in the month of January, that not only crushed their dreams of an improbable title, but also threatened the side’s chances of making it to the UEFA Champions League.

The side currently sit in the 3rd spot but with Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United having game(s) to spare. Therefore, the victory against West Ham might not prove enough to guarantee Champions League football for Klopp’s men.

Add to the games available in hand to the other competitors, as well as Liverpool’s inconsistencies and defensive frailties and you know why Liverpool fans are shifting in their seats until they win the game against Middlesbrough on the final day.

After all, Liverpool have a tendency of dropping points against weaker sides and with Boro relegated, the proposition appears to be even more troublesome for the Reds. Perhaps, its time Klopp and his men stopped looking over their shoulders and acted on the fact that they are the masters of their own destiny.

#4 West Ham return to mid-table obscurity

The side has already conceded 12 goals more than they did last season

The loss against Liverpool all but confirms that West Ham will finish the current season in the bottom half of the Premier League table. A lot was expected from the Hammers going into the current season after they had finished 7th in the last campaign. However, Slaven Bilic and his men came up short and are set to finish the season on a poor note.

It is perhaps their poor home form that has come as a surprise to many. A side that lost just three out of the 19 home games last season, has already lost eight games in the current term with a game to spare and it is a point of concern.

Their defence does not seem sturdy enough to contain the growing list of skilled individuals present/set to arrive in the Premier League and that has been the primary cause of their misery.

The side has already conceded 12 goals more than they did last season (The Hammers have shipped 63 goals in the current season compared to 51 in the last season) and it goes without saying that if the side is to improve on their current showing, they need to add some real quality to their back-line.

#5 West Ham have failed to replace Dimitri Payet

Dimitri Payet
Last season, the club was largely dependent on one particular man

Before the West Ham fans come out and take us to the cleaners for making a mention of the Frenchman, please hear us out. Last season, the club was largely dependent on one particular man to create some magic and that was Dimitri Payet.

He created regular chances, scored wonderful goals and was also instrumental in helping his side becoming an attacking threat.

When it became apparent in the middle of the current season that he would inevitably leave the club, the action plan for Bilic and his coaching staff should have been identifying someone who could replace the Frenchman. Cut to the present and the game against the Reds was an indication that the Hammers have truly failed replace him.

While they did create a few chances against the Reds, the side has generally looked bereft of ideas on most occasions. They are heavily dependent on set-pieces and despite the arrival of Robert Snodgrass, have failed to create chances at a regular frequency.

The side needs to beef up its attacking options as its current breed is too fragile and too inconsistent to help their side’s cause.

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Edited by Staff Editor