West Ham United failed to take their chances as they lost 5-2 to Liverpool on Saturday. The Hammers produced a higher xG than their opponents, but the Reds were significantly more clinical than the visiting side.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team played well in spells, but could not make their efforts pay off as mistakes from set pieces cost them a chance at any points.
The West Ham boss has called to look at the positives, indicating that West Ham played well, and on another day, would have come away with a result. Speaking to the club’s official website, Nuno acknowledged the frustration, but said his team are improving:
“It’s hard to explain the game. It’s hard to explain. The first half, the way we played, the way we were organised, the way we controlled some aspects of Liverpool and also the way we went forward, the combinations, the way we created so many situations. Then you come to losing 3-0.
“That’s something that we’ve been improving lately and today was poor in terms of set-pieces. We concede three goals from a corner situation and that is what determines the game.
“It didn’t come our way, but there’s a lot of positives to be taken also. I think we had a tough first half, we came to the dressing room [at half-time], we believed again and we went.
“The way we went for the second half, we scored early. We created many, many situations that we could change [the scoreline] but in the end, [we left] spaces, bouncing balls coming and deflections.
“Hopefully, it will turn around. It’s hard to accept that you lose this way when you play good. I think the fans were supportive. They are with us. We try, we try, we try. I have nothing to say about the commitment of the players. There are a lot of positives moving forward.”
West Ham’s character
Whilst Nuno understood that the team need to find the net more, the West Ham boss praised the side’s character, stating the team are becoming one that never gives up on the football pitch:
“I think the team has this character already that never gives up. It’s what we have to do for the next one. We try to look deeply into our mistakes. The set-piece situation is something as a coaching staff, it’s frustrating, it’s disappointing.
“But we have to accept it and realise that our next opponent [Fulham] is also a strong opponent on set-pieces, and that we have to do better. In terms of football, the way we played, I think we should go out from here saying we must continue this way.
“The fans have been amazing with us. They’ve been amazing, we cannot say anything. Every time we go away from home, we have the support, they are here. And I think they understand the way the game went.
“It’s not a 3-0 game at half-time, and definitely not a 5-2 game. So we thank them and hopefully we can change things around and make them happy.”
