David Lynch’s 5 Key Takeaways from Liverpool’s 5-2 Win over West Ham | OneFootball

David Lynch’s 5 Key Takeaways from Liverpool’s 5-2 Win over West Ham

Liverpool 5-2 West Ham: Result Stronger Than Performance

Liverpool’s 5-2 victory over West Ham in the Premier League will live long in the scorebooks, yet as Liverpool reporter David Lynch made clear on his YouTube channel, the performance itself remains open to debate.

Lynch framed the discussion around the wider conversation among supporters, saying there is “an intense online debate going on amongst Liverpool fans about whether Liverpool have improved at all during what has definitely been a recent improved run of form.”

The numbers, on the surface, look compelling. “Two defeats in 21 games,” he noted, contrasting that with “nine defeats in 12 in the games prior to that run starting.” Liverpool have “six wins in the last seven games as well, up to fifth,” and sit “only three points off third place Aston Villa.”

Yet he questioned the substance beneath the statistics. Reflecting on the 5-2 win over West Ham, he said, “Were Liverpool good? Probably not. But they win comfortably. Is that good?”

He pointed to the expected goals figures, highlighting that despite Liverpool winning 5-2, “1.73 for Liverpool, 1.83 for West Ham” suggested the visitors created better chances. “West Ham were definitely in this game. The score line doesn’t make it look that way, but they definitely were.”

That tension between outcome and performance defined his analysis.

Richard Hughes Facing Big Summer Call

One of the most compelling themes from Lynch’s podcast was the looming decision facing sporting director Richard Hughes.

“Imagine being Richard Hughes in this moment,” Lynch said, underlining the uncertainty around manager Arne Slot, who will enter the final 12 months of his contract this summer. “It’d be very, very unusual really if he doesn’t feel he has a decision to make this summer.”

Lynch admitted candidly, “I really, really do not know what to make of them. I really, really do not know what to say about Liverpool anymore.”

He praised last season’s title success, calling it “fantastic,” and rejected attempts to downplay Slot’s credit. But he asked key questions about this campaign: “How much of a role has he had to play in the good? How much of a role has he had to play in the bad? And are things improving?”

He also stressed context, urging supporters not to analyse Liverpool “in a vacuum,” pointing to the strength of the Premier League and inconsistency across rivals.

Set Pieces Transforming Liverpool’s Season

If one area has clearly improved during this run, it is set pieces. Liverpool scored three from dead ball situations in the 5-2 win over West Ham, something Lynch described as decisive.

“They score three from set pieces and they win the game by three goals,” he observed.

He highlighted structural changes, saying there has been “a pronounced improvement in these since the new year.” He criticised earlier methods, asking, “Why were they using out swingers? It’s just absolutely crazy. So much harder to defend an inswinger.”

Mohamed Salah’s delivery earned praise, “His delivery has been fantastic,” while the targeting of Virgil van Dijk has become more deliberate.

Lynch also referenced Arne Slot’s press conference comments regarding Lewis Mahoney’s role in analysing set pieces, suggesting the behind the scenes work is bearing fruit. “There’s no question that big changes have been made there,” he said.

Photo: IMAGO

Hugo Ekitike Leading Attack

Another major positive in Liverpool’s 5-2 win over West Ham was Hugo Ekitike. Lynch was emphatic, “He’s Liverpool’s best forward now.”

With “a goal, great finish, early doors, two assists as well,” Ekitike delivered decisively. Yet Lynch balanced praise with development points, noting, “He’s not the greatest header of the ball so definitely something he needs to work on.”

Even so, the conclusion was clear. “A goal and two assists today is absolutely crucial to winning the game.”

Champions League Target Paramount

Ultimately, Lynch returned to the broader objective. Debate about improvement, margins and managerial futures may rage, but the priority remains qualification.

“The most important thing in the meantime is to get into that top four, top five,” he said. On the 5-2 victory over West Ham, the verdict was pragmatic: “The best thing you can say about today is that they did get over the line.”

In a season that continues to perplex, Liverpool’s ability to win, even amid uncertainty, keeps their Premier League ambitions alive.