“Awful long way to go” – Post Match Raw On The West Ham Win

Liverpool Grind Out Vital Win At West Ham, Voices From Post Match Raw Echo Concerns

Liverpool’s 2,0 victory at West Ham should have been the kind of routine Premier League win that settles nerves and resets rhythm. Instead, as the Post Match Raw team on Anfield Index broke it apart piece by piece, the tone was more relief than reassurance. Trev Downey hosted the deep dive, joined by Dave Hendrick and Karl Matchett, and their verdict aligned in one unmistakable theme, Liverpool won, but the performance raised as many questions as answers.

West Ham’s Passivity And Liverpool’s Blunt Edge

Dave Hendrick wasted no time delivering his immediate verdict. “I would say that is one of the most uninspiring games of football I’ve ever watched,” he said, calling it a win that “papers over the cracks.” West Ham’s lack of aggression surprised him most. “I thought they’d be a bit more aggressive. I thought they’d be a bit more front footed given how weak we’ve been.”

Karl Matchett echoed the opinion, adding that Liverpool needed a specific type of opponent to function this way. “I do think it was probably the performance we needed… but it was also the performance from the opposition that we needed to be able to play this way.” His assessment of Liverpool was blunt. “It was a pretty timid and not very good performance… but basically we had a lot more people behind the ball.”

The tactical tweaks did bring isolated positives. Joe Gomez at right back was one. Hendrick emphasised the impact. “It gave us a third defensive player in the team… making us a little bit more balanced.” The other was the decisive moment for Alexander Isak, who finally scored his first Premier League goal. “Really good finish obviously,” Hendrick said, before warning, “there’s an awful long way to go for things to really change for us.”

Photo: IMAGO

Slot’s Selection Calls Take Centre Stage

Arne Slot’s decision to drop Mo Salah dominated the middle section of the discussion. Matchett admitted, “I don’t think either of us had no Salah in the team. I was really surprised about that.” Hendrick was also taken aback. “Mo being left out is obviously a bit of a surprise and the fact he wasn’t even brought on is even more surprising.”

This fed into a broader question the contributors repeatedly circled, namely whether the team’s structure or selections are actually helping Liverpool’s forwards. Hendrick argued Liverpool simply are not platforming their number nines correctly. “Number nines rely on support and supply. We’re not giving them that,” he said, before adding that Isak’s fitness level raised concerns. “He’s been with us since the end of August… and he’s still not fit. You have to ask why.”

Karl Matchett analysed Isak’s movement, insisting the striker still has gears to find. “His movement is not yet anywhere near where I expect it to be,” he said, though he acknowledged the finish itself was excellent.

The Pivotal Moments And A Chaotic West Ham Collapse

Lucas Paquetá’s red card became one of the defining incidents and all three contributors were stunned by the midfielder’s meltdown. Hendrick did not hold back. “He’s just having himself a big cry,” he said, adding that four different players tried to drag him away. “That doesn’t happen at healthy clubs.”

Even with the extra man, Liverpool nearly threw it away. Jarrod Bowen’s late effort had Virgil van Dijk fuming. Moments later came the decisive strike, Cody Gakpo chesting down Joe Gomez’s cross before swivelling a half volley into the corner. Matchett captured the mood. “Nobody’s very happy about it… it was more annoyance,” he said, summing up a performance where quality flickered briefly but never sustained itself.

Three Points Secured, Uncertainty Remains

Hendrick’s closing words summed up the atmosphere. “A win is a win… but it just feels like delaying the inevitable.” Matchett added a small glimmer, pointing out Liverpool’s goal difference “is finally back to zero.” Not exactly a victory parade.