EPL: Liverpool 5-2 West Ham: Slot Praises Set-Piece Turnaround After Thrilling Victory
Arne Slot admitted Liverpool have played better games this season that ended in defeat, but hailed set-piece improvements after a dominant 5-2 win over West Ham, with three first-half corner goals proving decisive. Full reaction and analysis.
Arne Slot underlined the huge impact of set pieces in Liverpool's 5-2 Premier League win over West Ham, noting his side have performed better in losses...
Arne Slot admitted Liverpool have produced stronger performances this season that still ended in defeat, but he hailed the transformative impact of set pieces after their dominant 5-2 Premier League victory over West Ham United at Anfield on Saturday.
The Reds raced into a commanding 3-0 lead by half-time, with all three goals coming from corners Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, and Alexis Mac Allister finding the net from dead-ball situations. This marked a stark turnaround from earlier in the campaign, when Liverpool struggled badly in both attacking and defending set pieces, often conceding while failing to convert their own opportunities.
Arne Slot discussed our 5-2 win over West Ham United, his side’s improvement in set-pieces and provided an update on the fitness of Florian Wirtz during his post-match press conference ⤵️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 28, 2026
Speaking post-match, Slot downplayed suggestions that it was one of their finest displays of the season, despite the flattering scoreline: “Very pleasing because firstly that is the reason we have won, secondly because people said ‘well played’ and in my opinion we have played better when we lost and better when we conceded from set-pieces.'
He added: “The first half of the season almost every set-piece we conceded went in. We start scoring from set-pieces and things start looking brighter and better than when you don’t.”
The Dutch manager emphasized that set pieces have swung back in Liverpool's favor recently, helping close the gap on rivals and boosting results. While West Ham pulled two goals back through Tomáš Souček and Valentín Castellanos, Liverpool's clinical finishing including further contributions in open play secured a convincing win that lifted spirits at Anfield.
Slot also noted the game wasn't a complete masterclass from his side, but the set-piece efficiency proved decisive in turning control into a dominant result.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is thrilled with his team's set-piece success, which played a crucial role in their 5-2 win over West Ham. “It's very pleasing because, firstly, that's the reason we won, and secondly, people said 'well played',” Slot said. Liverpool scored three goals from first-half corners, with Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, and Alexis Mac Allister finding the net.
This impressive display marks a significant turnaround for Liverpool, as they had previously struggled with set pieces. Slot attributes this success to small changes in their setup and a return to normalcy. The win moves Liverpool up to fifth place, putting them in a strong position for Champions League qualification.
That followed a recent trend as Van Dijk also scored away at Sunderland and Bournemouth in recent weeks, Ibrahima Konate netted from a corner in a 4-1 win over Newcastle, and Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning free-kick opened the scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.
Liverpool have gone from the worst in the Premier League in the difference between the number of goals scored and conceded from set-pieces at the end of 2025 to the best so far in 2026.
Slot downplayed the set-piece coach change. Liverpool's gone from worst to best in set-pieces, but he didn't credit the switch.
VVD at the Kop end 💪 pic.twitter.com/k2bmpZga9j
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 28, 2026
“We have created quite a lot of chances in the first half of the season that too many times did not go in,“ he added.
“Maybe one or two small details have changed defensively and offensively - our set-up is slightly different - but the biggest reason is that things go back to normal.”
Liverpool's win has pushed them back into fifth place, putting them in a strong position to secure a Champions League spot next season. Being in the top five almost guarantees a spot in Europe's premier club competition, thanks to English teams' strong European performances this season.
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