West Ham United came crashing back to earth somewhat on Sunday as they were thrashed 4-0 by expected title contenders Liverpool at Anfield.
The visitors were thoroughly outplayed as their summer signings did little to bridge the gap to a team of Liverpool’s quality. Goals from Sadio Mane (twice), Mohamed Salah and substitute Daniel Sturridge put the Hammers to the sword in brutal fashion.
West Ham supporters shouldn’t panic, however. Games against the likes of Liverpool will not determine this team’s season. Besides, the Reds have beaten better teams than West Ham by bigger margins than 4-0.
This was merely a reality check for a team that’s still growing against one that’s approaching its peak. Liverpool remain lightyears ahead of West Ham, despite Manuel Pellegrini’s appointment and the club’s excellent summer recruitment drive.
It’s never easy to bed in lots of new arrivals, and Pellegrini’s team featured five new signings. These players, some of whom have arrived from foreign countries, will need time to adapt and Hammers fans must be patient with them.
No one likes seeing their team get dominated as West Ham were on Sunday, but it’s time supporters back the players not lambast them. With time, Felipe Anderson will prove to be an exceptional Premier League player, while the best is yet to come for Ryan Fredericks and Jack Wilshere.
There’s still Javier Hernandez and Andriy Yarmolenko, both of whom appeared off the bench, to bring into the starting eleven, while deadline day signing Lucas Perez lurks as a genuine goal threat.
Pellegrini must look at what he got wrong against Liverpool, though, starting with the high line that presented the West Ham defence with so many problems. To play that far up against attackers as quick as Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino was absolutely suicidal, and the Chilean must take responsibility for that tactical failure.
The team’s defeat in the midfield battle must also be addressed. Wilshere and captain Mark Noble were unable to stem the Red tide on Sunday, and Naby Keita and James Milner in particular had a field day against the overrun Hammers midfield. Perhaps it was the formation, but the ease with which Liverpool controlled the centre of the pitch was alarming.
There’s plenty to work on, but also much promise in this West Ham squad. One defeat doesn’t change that, and the team will emerge from this defeat bruised but more aware of what they need to work on in order to be successful this season.
The optimism that was generated over the summer should not be allowed to evaporate after one bad result, West Ham fans must back their club and look forward to the rest of the season with excitement.
