West Ham 0 Liverpool 4
Man of the Match: Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
There are days when Jurgen Klopp’s breezy confidence feels justified. A lesser character than the Liverpool manager may have been cowed by Arsenal’s growing threat to his top-four place. Instead the German seemed his usual exuberant self.
Klopp has also spent the season seemingly unworried about Barcelona’s interest in Philippe Coutinho. Keeping Liverpool’s silkiest talent out of the Catalans’ clutches may be harder after a glorious display featuring two well-taken goals and a gorgeous assist, but rather than joining Barcelona, he ensured Liverpool should accompany them into next season’s Uefa Champions League. Beat Middlesbrough next Sunday and a top-four finish is theirs, regardless of other results.
But if Klopp can seem the same, Liverpool’s biggest win of 2017 owed everything to his decision to be drastically different. Criticised for his apparent inflexibility, for being wedded to 4-3-3 and for being reluctant to start with Daniel Sturridge, he ripped up his blueprint. Klopp picked the forward, paired him with Divock Origi and introduced a midfield diamond. He moved Coutinho into a deeper role and saw the Brazilian flourish.
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West Ham had halted Tottenham’s title challenge, but Liverpool outwitted and outclassed them. A performance doubled up as a statement. Liverpool, short of goals and ideas in last week’s stalemate with Southampton, were rejuvenated.
A satisfied Klopp’s belief in his own players was vindicated. “We used the good part of the pressure,” he said. “It was a perfect afternoon.”
Contrasting figures were crucial. The marginalised Sturridge, a misfit in a Klopp team, and the talismanic Coutinho, a beneficiary of the German’s appointment, were the architects of a thrashing.
Coutinho, with geometric precision, sliced West Ham’s defence apart with a pass. Sturridge raced on to it, dummied his way past Adrian and found an empty net.
Much of Liverpool’s best football has come because they dispensed with a specialist scorer. This showed the merits of selecting one. One theory is that Sturridge will be a West Ham player next season. This was a way of advertising his quality to prospective buyers. His first league start since January 2 was a triumphant affair.
“What do you think?” replied Klopp, when asked if Sturridge’s inclusion made a difference. “He had a fantastic game.”
Coutinho’s virtuosity has been apparent more often. He scored two goals in four minutes, each a product of his capacity to cut infield and shoot with his right foot. Each, in very different fashion, owed something to Georginio Wijnaldum. The Dutchman hit the bar with a stunning volley. The Brazilian latched on to the rebound, went on a meandering run and unleashed a shot. Then with West Ham arguing that Wijnaldum had both handled and elbowed Winston Reid in his own box, Liverpool broke at pace, Coutinho went on another winding run and it was 3-0.
Coutinho became more potent while starting further away from goal. A temporary switch may become permanent.
“I spoke about the future with Coutinho,” Klopp said. “He’s never a winger, always a playmaker. He needs to be in the decisive area.”
Origi added a fourth after quick footwork from his sidekick Sturridge.
“If you give space to them, sooner or later they will kill you,” said the beaten manager Slaven Bilic.
Liverpool also hit the bar three times, with Origi and Joel Matip discovering the woodwork put up more resistance than a wretched West Ham defence.
Liverpool, though, could also be grateful for the upright. Andre Ayew managed to poke two shots against the upright when he was two yards out. “One of the biggest chances I’ve seen in my life,” Klopp said.
Liverpool led by a solitary goal at the time. They went on to capitalise. West Ham went on to capitulate.
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