West Ham admit they targeted Van Dijk all week

Liverpool’s set-piece risk was the story West Ham United couldn’t clear up at Anfield, and Mateus Fernandes has now admitted the guests focused Virgil van Dijk earlier than kick-off however nonetheless didn’t cease the harm.

Arne Slot’s facet beat West Ham 5-2 within the Premier League on Saturday, with three first-half objectives giving us management of the match, even when the second half carried an edge at 3-1 and once more at 4-2.

Fernandes, talking to whufc.com after the sport, made it clear West Ham felt they had been competing in open play however acquired punished within the moments that determine matches in opposition to prime sides.

“It’s irritating, as a result of I believed we performed nicely total within the first half,” Fernandes stated.

“We conceded three objectives from set-pieces, and these are the main points it’s worthwhile to be on prime of.”

The 21-year-old midfielder then confirmed the precise title on West Ham’s tactical guidelines.

“We labored on stopping Van Dijk in the course of the week, as a result of we all know how good he’s in these conditions, however we weren’t in a position to cease them scoring.”

That line tells you every little thing concerning the Dutch captain’s present affect, as a result of Virgil van Dijk has grow to be greater than a defensive organiser when video games flip into dead-ball battles.

His equal mix of dominance and timing confirmed once more in opposition to West Ham, as he scored as soon as and posted a robust all-round defensive show.

Virgil van Dijk’s West Ham numbers present why he’s such an issue

Here’s what SofaScore credited to Virgil van Dijk within the 5-2 win:

Metric
Van Dijk vs West Ham

Minutes
90′

SofaScore score
7.8

Targets
1

xG
0.20

Pictures on the right track
1

Clearances
5

Interceptions
1

Blocks
1

Aerial duels gained
3/4

Correct passes
55/64 (86%)

These numbers underline why opponents can plan for Van Dijk and nonetheless battle, as a result of you aren’t solely preventing one header, you’re preventing the supply, the blockers, and the chaos that follows.

Liverpool’s management nonetheless has to match our scoring

West Ham did have spells after the break, and Fernandes insisted his facet stayed within the sport mentally.

“We saved believing although, and we went into the second half understanding that every little thing can change in a short time,” Fernandes stated.

“We scored first which was good, however then they killed the sport.”

That “killed the sport” line is fascinating from our perspective, as a result of it sits alongside the broader post-match theme that Liverpool can nonetheless handle moments higher even after we are profitable.

Don Hutchison and Steve Nicol each referenced Ronnie Moran when criticising how open the match turned after it went to 3-1, which is a reminder that the Champions League will punish sloppy sequences much more sharply.

Owen Hargreaves, in the meantime, has backed Liverpool to complete within the prime 5, pointing to expertise as a key distinction within the run-in.

For now, although, this was a match the place West Ham’s personal debrief confirmed the apparent: they tried to remove Van Dijk at set performs, and Liverpool nonetheless discovered a method to land the blows that mattered.