A 4-0 win, a goal from Daniel Sturridge and a clean sheet marks a more than satisfying outing against one of Liverpool’s supposed ‘bogey teams’.
Reds were notably and understandably nervous heading into a contest away to West Ham that threatened to derail the club’s pursuit of a top four spot. Nerves had disappeared by the final whistle, though, after Jurgen Klopp’s men had treated the travelling Kop to a clinical attacking display.
An uncertain start to the game refrained from drawing Liverpool into a state of panic and instead posed as a foundation for the dominant performance that followed.
Klopp has paid tribute to his players for capitalising on a huge missed chance for the home side and emerging victorious to leave themselves one win away from Champions League football next season.
“Looking back now, it was hard work, and there were a few moments where the game could have changed. I thought we had a real deserved win, it was a really good football game. The start was not that good, we changed system obviously [and] the one thing that is then new is a little bit of the situation on the wing,” the Reds boss told Liverpoolfc.com.
“The big chance they had [at] the second post area, we did not that good in this moment. But they couldn’t score, then we controlled the game, then we scored the goal [and] we had another big chance with the header. We were the dominant side [but] they had absolutely one of the biggest chances I’ve ever seen in my life. They didn’t score so that was a lucky moment for us.”
“The start of the second half was brilliant, we played really good football and we were more direct and used the information from the first half and from half-time. We [tried] a few different moves, a few different surprising movements and [had] better timing in passing and running. We scored the goals, controlled the game, could have scored more often but that’s completely OK that we didn’t. A perfect afternoon.”
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The pre-match apprehension amongst supporters made the eventual result all the more enjoyable and reestablished a confidence that a place in Europe’s elite competition is within reach.
Every man sporting that toxic-thunder kit contributed and finished the game worthy of high praise for their efforts. They were back to their menacing selves in front of goal and seemingly thrived in a slightly different system.
Plenty for Klopp to smile about.