Liverpool 3-1 West Ham

Just a quick one troops as I only saw the highlights on Match of the day.

Another win then to keep our impressive run going but it appeared the problem of slow starts to games continued as West Ham squandered a number of gilt edged chances. How many free headers did they have in our box? The goal Bowen scored was actually by far the most difficult chance of the lot, with Soucek, Antonio and Bowen himself missing far easier chances. We can’t argue with the results we’ve been getting but the ease in which teams are creating big chances against us week in, week out is a cause for concern if we have genuine title ambitions this season. You can only rely on your goal keeper and poor finishing from the opposition for so long, as we could easily have been 3-0 down at halftime in a number of games this season. The need for a proper DM is still there for all to see.

We did get going eventually, with Salah too cute for the West Ham defender, drawing the foul to win a penalty he dispatched himself. Doesn’t take a great penalty Salah, I still think that needs to be addressed when you have specialty penalty takers like Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in the team. Nunez as well has never missed a penalty as a professional.

We saw the attacking threat our new midfielders provide however, as Jones scored from a delightful ball from Szoboszlai, only to have been marginally offside and we then took the lead through a brilliant Nunez volley, after a chipped ball over the top from Mac Allister. At the moment Darwin seems to be scoring the difficult chances but he doesn’t half miss some sitters. He’s growing into this team by the week however and is eventually going to develop into a truly lethal CF in my opinion.

Our attacking depth was then on display once more as Gakpo and Jota came on, the latter scoring the decisive third, with a poachers finish, after Virgil knocked down a Robertson corner.

Job done then and our fine start to the season continues but we very much remain a work in progress. Our new midfielders continue to impress and we get more as an attacking unit week by week. Still far from convincing defensively though and if we really want to challenge City this season then we need to find a way to tighten up at the back. You can only beat what’s in front of you however and that we did. I’ll let those who saw the whole 90 mins choose McMOTM.

Leicester up next in the cup then, followed by a resurgent Spurs next Saturday. Both provide their own tests, the cup will provide minutes for the youngsters and Spurs are playing some good stuff under Postecoglou and will provide the sternest test of our defence so far this season. Still, lots of reasons to be positive right now. Walk on!