“What might have been” for West Ham at Anfield is highlighted this afternoon by the Beeb, who suggest West Ham’s 2-5 loss to Liverpool on Saturday was, as Nuno put it, an ‘unfair reflection’ on his side who conceded three goals from set pieces and went in 3-0 down at half time despite playing some of their best football in between the goals.
BBC.co.uk also make an upbeat suggestion that against Fulham, the Hammers can replicate the positives from Anfield with a likely different outcome on both the score on the night and their whole season:
“With greater focus at set-pieces and ruthlessness in front of goal West Ham might have further intensified the pressure on Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur immediately above them.
More ruthlessness in front of goal could see the irons haul themselves ahead of Forest
“If the Hammers can replicate the way they tested Liverpool’s defence against Fulham on Wednesday the picture at the bottom of the Premier League could suddenly look more favourable.“
Greater focus on at set-pieces is easy to write about but evidently difficult for Nuno’s men to out into action. Sitting at the top of the ‘goals conceded from set pieces’ table after so much focus and training on curing the Hammers’ achilles heel, keeping a clean sheet on Wednesday night will be occupying Nuno’s training sessions and team selection.
Todibo and Areola must fancy their chances of getting a start at Craven Cottage as the Hammers’ head coach searches for a formula to keep Fulham at bay.
However in attack the midfield alongside Castellanos, Bowen and Summerville looked capable of challenging any defence in the league. A repeat performance would surely elevate the Irons ahead of Nottingham Forest which would be a massive, if short term boost before the tests ahead.