Last season Liverpool had lost their hopes to win the league in the early stages of the season when they kept carelessly wasting points (for example, the opening game draw against Watford 3-3). This season, with all the new signings, it looks like Liverpool are hungry for titles, and no one can stop them. Klopp seems ready to bring trophies back to Liverpool where it belongs.

West Ham United are an excellent team and played a decent defensive game, but Liverpool were just too good. And the fact that Hammers played a decent game and lost 4-0 says a lot about this Liverpool team. No one would dare to argue that Liverpool looked 3 times better than Tottenham or MU. To be honest, I'm a little sad that Liverpool don't play against any top 6 teams in the first 4 rounds because it seems like at the moment, Reds have the best form (I am yet to see Arsenal and City). 

Img Source (Sadio Mane scored 2 goals and became the man of the match)

@mikey, don't get too sad about Hammers, they showed some positives today, so your bet is still alive.

First Half

Klopp has left Fabinho on the bench and went with a more offensive player Wijnaldum instead. Fabinho did not play in the World Cup this year, so I hoped to see him start in the starting XI today, but he was not missed in the first half. It feels great to see players like Fabinho sitting on the bench and the team still winning. Also, I was not sure who would start as RB, the youngster Alexander-Arnold or the more experienced Gomez. However, after Lovren pulled just another of his stunts and hid the injury from the Liverpool staff, both Gomez and Arnold received a spot in the starting XI. Also, Shaqiri started the game on the bench as well.

Liverpool started the game with a lot of intensity, and it was clear that they were looking for an early goal. I guess 66 percent possession and 5 shots on target in the first half shows who dominated. However, in the first 15 minutes, Hammers showed that their defensive line is ready for a challenge this year. Hammers CBs Balbuena and Ogbonna caught Liverpool's attacking trio offside a couple of times. However, even those guys couldn't do anything when Liverpool went on a fast break in the 18th minute. Roberston got a pass on the left, took his time to look around and dished the ball to Salah, who opened his campaign with an easy touch. 1-0.

Img Source (Salah is ready to score even more than 32 goals this year)

Things did not change after the goal at all. Arnautovic wasted the only two half chances that West Ham had in the half. And to be honest, those chances did not come from Liverpool's mistakes but rather from some unfortunate events (the referee intervened with the ball). On the other side of the pitch, Liverpool kept pushing, and their efforts were awarded in the form of a goal in the 45+ minute when Roberston made a cross, Milner caught it and passed the ball to Mane, who had all the time in the world to send the ball into the empty net.

During those few seconds that Hammers had a ball in the first half, we could see how talented Anderson and Antonio can be. I have no doubts that they'll prove that in the games against weaker opponents.

Second Half

Nothing much has changed after the halftime. Liverpool came in aggressively looking for that third goal, which would guarantee 3 points, and Mane got that goal in the 53rd minute. Sadly, Mane scored from an offside, but the linesman did not raise his flag. Of course, this goal changed nothing, but I am still mad that Premier League refused to implement VAR. However, Mane is my captain in FPL so I guess I should stop complaining.

The match stopped after the third goal. Both teams did not overplay, and there were a very few chances created. It was like both teams knew the outcome of the game and just wanted to go home. Klopp checked in Shaqiri, Henderson, and Sturridge for the big trio, Mane, Salah, and Firmino. Those changes added some pace to the game as the substitutes wanted to prove to Klopp their worth. Sturridge even scored the 4th goal of the game.

Img Source (How will Klopp distribute time between forwards if Sturridge finds his form?)

It is always beautiful to see that Liverpool never stops to play an attacking football no matter what the score is. I believe it is because Klopp doesn't understand that there is an option to play defensive.

My Thoughts

  1. Liverpool is ready to win the trophy. This team won't lose points against average teams this season, and we already know that Reds know how to defeat Manchester City in a head to head battle.
  2. Nabi Keita dominated the midfield. He will be a critical piece against the more dominant teams this year. We could also see his dribbles inside the Hammers box, so I expect a goal from him from time to time.
  3. Mane, Salah, and Firmino feel just perfect. It looks like none of them played in the World Cup. I am also relieved to see that Salah is fully recovered from the injury.
  4. It would be a shame not to have 3 Liverpool players on your fantasy team.
  5. Hammers are no match to Liverpool, but they showed some discipline which might be enough to win against weaker opponents.
  6. Liverpool fans should not get too carried away just yet. I guess bigger teams like MU or Tottenham won't be that easy to defeat. Also, Alisson and the whole defensive line of Liverpool had no work today, so it is hard to comment anything on that matter. And we all know that it is the defense that Liverpool should worry about the most.