Liverpool Below Elite Standard Despite Win

The emphatic 5-2 scoreline against West Ham masked underlying issues for Liverpool, with an xG of 1.75 versus West Ham's 1.84 indicating the performance wasn't as dominant as it appeared. Three first-half goals from corners transformed what could have been a tense contest into a comfortable win on paper.

Slot's initial vision of a 'PSG-lite' approach with vertical flair and expressive attacking rotations proved vulnerable to low blocks from opposing teams. The manager has since shifted to a more pragmatic style, with nine set-piece goals since January becoming Liverpool's most reliable weapon. This tactical pivot, while effective, represents an admission that the initial £450m summer rebuild blueprint may have been misjudged.