Mohamed Salah scored an early penalty before Darwin Nunez’s sublime winner secured all three points for Liverpool at home to high-flying West Ham.
Mohamed Salah equaled the Premier League record with a first-half penalty as Liverpool continued their unbeaten run with a 3-1 win over West Ham.
The sides met at Anfield on Sunday with Jurgen Klopp returning to the first team following the Reds’ Europa League exit. It quickly paid off when Salah scored from the penalty spot in the 16th minute.
It meant the Egyptian became only the fifth player to score or assist in each of his team’s first six games. However, the hosts fell behind when a defensive lapse allowed Jarrod Bowen to dive over Virgil van Dijk to head home. Liverpool increased the pressure after the break and were rewarded when Darwin Nunez beat Alexis MacAllister with a superb through ball for the winner. Diogo Jota then came off the bench to add a third from a corner. Here, Mirror Football looks at five of the biggest talking points from the draw.
Salah set the record
Mohamed Salah’s cool penalty ensured the Egyptian became only the fifth player to score or assist in each of his side’s first six Premier League games. Nayef Aguerd brought down the Reds striker in the 16th minute. He stepped up well and fired past Alphonse Areola to score for the hosts. It was a strike that carried extra meaning for the 31-year-old as he added his name to the list of top flight legends.
Salah joins David Beckham (2000/2001), Thierry Henry (2004/2005), Sergio Aguero (2019/2020) and Erling Haaland (2022/2023) to find the back of the net or assist in every team kick. six league games.
TAKE TINS! Who was the man of the match when Liverpool beat West Ham? Comment below. Van Dijk’s nightmare return
Virgil van Dijk experienced a nightmare return to the Premier League in his first game since being sent off against Newcastle. The Dutchman’s ban was extended by one match for his protest to the referees at St James’ Park.
He returned for the visit of the Hammers, lining up alongside Joel Matip at centre-back. But it was an afternoon to forget for the Reds captain, who was at fault for the Hammers’ equaliser.
Liverpool’s defense was completely at sea as Jarrod Bowen burst forward and Van Dijk lost a cross from full-back Vladimir Coufal. This allowed Bowen to dive over him and head the ball past Alisson.
Reds break the trend
Liverpool have been the comeback kings this season, conceding in four of their last five games. While that spirit delighted Jurgen Klopp, he advised his side to stop believing they were fighting for points.
It was a prayer they were finally able to fulfill on Sunday when Salah scored for them early on. It is the first time they have progressed since hosting Aston Villa earlier in the month. It’s possible that Klopp still needs to work on that mentality and the Hammers can pull through. However, the Reds boss is delighted that his side have finally managed to curb their trend of comeback kings.
Nunez keeps running
Darwin Nunez is in sublime form, showing why Liverpool made him their club-record signing last summer. He played a key role in Salah’s opener when he flicked on Luis Diaz’s pass for the Egyptian in the penalty shootout.
The Uruguay international was in the West Ham defense all afternoon. And he scored a deserved goal that proved to be the winner on the hour.
Alexis Mac Allister floated a lovely ball over the backline for the Hammers and Nunez let it fall over his shoulder before stretching out a leg to send it past Alphonse Areola. It was a performance that suggests Klopp should keep the striker as a starter, although he brought him on for Cody Gakpo after 10 minutes.
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While Liverpool certainly deserved their win, West Ham could be forgiven for feeling what could have been. In total, they had 10 shots, three of which were “great chances” from the stations.
The visitors missed all three chances and Liverpool converted two of five. Four of their shots hit the target, while Michail Antonio created a great chance when he fired wide in the first half. Had those opportunities gone, it could have been a different story.
