"Liverpool scored three first-half goals, all from corners, with the first of those coming via Ekitike's fifth-minute drive off the second phase of a Dominik Szoboszlai delivery. Virgil van Dijk met another Szoboszlai corner with a towering header in the 24th minute, before Alexis Mac Allister scored the pick of Liverpool's goals two minutes before half-time, adjusting brilliantly to net with the outside of his boot after Ekitike helped Mohamed Salah's corner into his path."
"Slot said Liverpool had no chance of making the Premier League's top four if they did not improve from set-pieces, and it would appear his players heard him. They became just the second team in Premier League history to score three goals from corners in the first half of a match."
"Despite the scoreline, West Ham had threatened throughout the first period, and they pulled a goal back four minutes into the second half as Tomas Soucek met El Hadji Malick Diouf's cross on the slide. Liverpool then appeared to be on the ropes, only for Cody Gakpo's shot to deflect in off Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the 70th minute after the Dutchman took in Ekitike's pass."
Liverpool secured a 5-2 victory over West Ham at Anfield, strengthening their top-four position in the Premier League. Hugo Ekitike was instrumental, scoring and providing two assists in an entertaining match. Liverpool dominated the first half, scoring three goals from corners within 45 minutes—Ekitike's fifth-minute finish, Virgil van Dijk's header in the 24th minute, and Alexis Mac Allister's outside-boot finish before half-time. West Ham responded with Tomas Soucek's goal early in the second half, but Liverpool extended their lead through Cody Gakpo's deflected shot and Valentin Castellanos's own goal. Despite the scoreline, West Ham posed genuine threats throughout, demonstrating competitive underlying performance metrics.
#premier-league #set-piece-effectiveness #liverpool-victory #top-four-race #hugo-ekitike-performance
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