5 takeaways for West Ham’s loss to Liverpool
On Sunday West Ham slumped to a 4-0 opening defeat at Anfield. However there are lessons that the Hammers can take from the game.
When the fixture computer gave us Liverpool first up, no-one felt particularly good. Even after a productive summer, most West Ham fans acknowledged that there was very little chance of an upset at Anfield. We have a poor record in the North West, and the Champions League runners up are chasing trophies.
So whilst the 4-0 loss is a big dent in the confidence, we have to take things in context. Pellegrini has a big project on his hands, with multiple new players to integrate. Some players had good first showings, whereas other established players disappointed. What main 5 lessons should the manager be looking at today?
More from Green Street Hammers - West Ham
- Brighton vs West Ham predictions: Can James Ward-Prowse help end the curse?
- West Ham and two Premier League rivals made huge transfer stand
- Lucas Paqueta bet allegations discussed in West Ham and Man City transfer talks
- Bournemouth vs West Ham predictions: Premier League opener amid transfer chaos
- West Ham near Denis Zakaria transfer after final James Ward-Prowse bid
West Ham’s project will take time
When you spend 100m in one summer after years of, at best, patchy success in the transfer market it’s not all going to stick on the first attempt. The Hammers gave debuts to 5 players in the starting lineup, and brought another one on in the second half. You can’t expect these players to come in and perform to the level we were facing on Sunday.
For the most part, the signs were encouraging. Anderson was willing to run at his full back, although he received little support from the middle of the park, Balbuena looked better than Ogbonna, when on the ball Fredericks didn’t look out of place and Fabianski was my man of the match for the Hammers.
But it’s to be expected that Wilshere didn’t look up to pace, that Fredericks will take time adjusting to the quality of the Premier League and Masuaku and Anderson will have to get used to coordinating defensive efforts against the top teams. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it certainly wasn’t built in a day against extreme opposition. Which brings me nicely onto lesson number two…