And here are our scout notes from Anfield.
WIRTZ INJURY LAST
As expected there was none Florian Wirtz (£8.3m) in Liverpool’s squad on Saturday.
It looks like we won’t see him in Gameweek 29 either – and maybe even beyond.
“I think that will be too early, but I said last week that I didn’t expect him not to be available today, so sometimes with an injury it can develop positively or negatively. Now we think it shouldn’t take too long, but Tuesday will probably be too early. The following week will be tight as things stand now, but as I said, I thought he would be available for today as well, which unfortunately didn’t happen.” – Arne Slot on Florian Wirtz
We saw it in Wirtz’s absence Alexis MacAllister (£6.2 million) and Dominik Szoboszlai (£6.8m) swap as the ’10’ in Liverpool’s line-up.
It did not lead to much more of a threat from the Hungarian; he had just one touch in the penalty area and didn’t have a single shot.
The attacking return of both midfielders indeed came from set pieces.
LIVERPOOL’S NEW STRENGTH?
Speaking of which, is Liverpool the new Arsenal?
The Reds suffered from set pieces on both sides of the pitch in the first half of the season, but there was a turnaround in 2026.
Three of their five goals on Saturday came from set-piece situations, bringing their total to nine in six gameweeks:
Above: Premier League teams sorted by fewest goals scored in matchweeks 1-22 (left) and most goals scored in matchweeks 23-28 (right)
The improvement coincides with the departure of Aaron Briggs and a more prominent role for set-piece analyst Lewis Mahoney.
But Arne Slot quickly dodged the Briggs bashing and instead emphasized the role of variance. There may be some truth in that: Liverpool’s nine goals in the past six gameweeks have come from an xG of 2.92!
“We’ve created quite a few [set-piece] opportunities in the first half of the season that were continually missed or too often missed due to bad luck. We were often very close. And even today we conceded the set-piece, they scored one and they could have scored a second in the first half – that would have been the first, but you know what I mean.
“Maybe one or two little details have changed defensively and offensively. I think we have a slightly different mindset. But the biggest reason is that things are getting back to normal.” – Arne Slot about improving set plays
Hugo Ekitike (£9.0 million), Virgil van Dijk (£6.1 million) and Alexis MacAllister (£6.2m) all netted from corners on Saturday, although Ekitike’s is a weak recording as it was a recycled set play.
That was Van Dijk’s third consecutive attacking return, putting him – at least temporarily – third in the FPL defender points standings.
Despite the set-piece goals, there was nothing to go for Mohammed Salah (£14.0m), who took more corners (six) and provided more crosses (nine) than anyone else. The Egyptian also had three shots. He even finished as Liverpool’s best player in terms of expected goal involvement (xGI, 0.49), but without dice.
As for Ekitike, the underlying numbers have been there in recent weeks, just not the tangible Fantasy returns. He finally delivered it on Saturday. While luck may have eluded him over the past six gameweeks, here two of his three attacking returns came via deflections (his goal and the one he assisted). Cody Steel (£7.3m)). Swings and roundabouts.
He had 15 points in the bag and was even taken off the field early, increasing the likelihood – as if there was any doubt given the current injury situation – that he would start in midweek.
FRIMPONG STARTING IN GAMEWEEK 29?
Speaking of changes for Gameweek 29, there probably won’t be that many, given the lack of alternatives.
However, there could be two changes at fullback Jeremy Frimpong (£5.7m) marked his comeback from injury with a cameo to build his fitness. He forced an own goal for Liverpool’s fifth goal.
Good news for Szoboszlai, then, with Liverpool having suitable right-back options to reduce the need for him to play there.
POSITIVE FOR WEST HAM
The result suggested a fairly comfortable victory for Liverpool, but it was hardly routine. The xG race above is proof of that.
The Reds had the scoop, with three of their goals coming off West Ham players.
Konstantinos Mavropanos (£4.4m)Jarrod Bowen (£7.5 million) and Thomas Soucek (£5.7m) could all have scored before Soucek and Taty Castellanos (£5.5 million) yes, while Crysencio Summerville (£5.7m) again went electric down West Ham’s left and came close on a few occasions.
Bowen, far less threatening than his fellow winger, nevertheless walked away with returns: an assist for Taty’s header and more DefCon points.
Some continued encouraging signs for the Hammers, despite the heavy defeat.
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