Hugh’s match verdict
West Ham’s issue against Liverpool was a lack of self belief and after six wins on the bounce it was that which hurt!
They appeared to leave it all in the dressing room!
They simply didn’t offer enough on an afternoon when Liverpool played like the home side, knocking the ball around for fun.
When teams are playing like that you have to be up their backs and breaking things up – it didn’t happen and although we held on for an hour the result always looked inevitable.
Having said all that I’m not gonna get wildly upset by a defeat which involved three superb goals of entirely different types although it’s always going to be easy to put it down to average defending when sitting in the armchair!
We are a decent team, Liverpool are a team of real quality and that was the simple difference.
David Moyes has made no secret of the fact we aren’t really ready for top six football at this time and this was a wake-up call to those of us – including me – who had started believing our own publicity.
We move onto Villa on Wednesday evening and it will be more than interesting to see our response to a defeat after six wins.
It’s not being knocked down that necessarily matter but how you get up and respond to it!
Come on you Irons!
Liverpool’s goals were all world class. Undefendable really. Maybe we should have played three at the back or three in midfield. Who knows but think we can write this one off, sweep it under the carpet and move on.
No need to elaborate you called it correct but let’s see if this team has that iron will to pick themselves up and respond at villa and not fall back to the ways of yesteryear
You have it Hugh.Fact is Liverpool more than any other team over the decades have the hex over us.It feels psychological and we showed them far too much respect for a team that has won 6 on the bounce.You need to stand toe to toe with them and slug it out not sit back at home even if it means a hiding, go down trying.Never felt confident over this one even b4 a ball was kicked for all our good form because of the name and reputation we played.
Don’t agree with your comments the problem tonight was Moyes negative tactics it was sit back defend hope for a breakaway you could see all the players looked uncomfortable then Moyes comes on and bigs up Liverpool with five reserves in and said we lost our composure nothing about his negative tactics
The players had an off night and Liverpool were on top of their game, would rather this happen against them or City than against other clubs, as you say Hugh, 3 World Class goals, Salah on his own would cost more than our entire squad. In 10 years time if we continue to improve we might expect to win these games, as it is we take the lesson, use it to best Villa COYI!!!
Nothing to do with negative tactics. It was the same team from previous games. Same players. It was the strength of the pressing from the opposition that stopped us from playing.