After a four-match unbeaten run, Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham were brutally brought back to reality on Sunday.
Losing 5-0 to this relentless, free-flowing Liverpool side is not much to be ashamed of. However, it is the manner in which it happened that frustrates fans the most.
Over the past four years we have been tough to beat, especially against the so-called “big six” clubs. We rarely conceded more than three goals in a game. Indeed, we might not have always beaten these clubs, but we would always put up a fight. We would make them work for their wins.
But this season it has just been too easy. In all competitions, we have conceded 40 goals in 21 games. We have shipped five goals in three different games, twice against Liverpool. Twenty five per cent of our goals conceded have been against the Reds, with 65% have been against the “big six” clubs.
They might be the strongest clubs in the country, but we have allowed them to blow us away without much resistance.
West Ham fans do not expect to beat teams like Liverpool, contrary to what some might believe. But we do expect effort. We do expect fight. We do expect passion.
We got none of that on Sunday and have rarely seen any of it so far this season.
Going four games unbeaten will have bought Lopetegui more time, and the club are never going to sack him for losing 5-0 to Liverpool. But how much longer can we go on like this?
Probably a little bit longer, because it is Manchester City away up next. We have won just one of our past 19 visits to Etihad Stadium, conceding 2.2 goals-per-game on average and scoring just 0.6 goals-per-game.
It could be a brutal start to 2025 for West Ham.
Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham
