Nuno Espirito Santo makes 'absurd' claim after West Ham suffers 5-2 defeat vs Liverpool

The Hammers were soundly beaten at Anfield, but the Premier League encounter could have been a very different outcome had Liverpool's set-piece routines not proved so decisive

Nuno Espirito Santo said he took lots of positives from the 5-2 defeat to Liverpool

Nuno Espirito Santo has said that despite suffering a three-goal loss at Anfield on Sunday, he felt there were many positives for West Ham United to take.

The relegation-threatened side lost 5-2, with Liverpool making the most of its newfound set-piece prowess. The champions led 3-0 at half-time, courtesy of goals that came either directly or indirectly from set-pieces.

Hugo Ekitike and Alexis Mac Allister netted from the second phase of corner routines, either side of Virgil van Dijk heading in Doimink Szoboszlai’s inswinging set-piece. But there were long spells in open play, certainly in the early stages of the second half, when West Ham carried the greater threat.

Arne Slot admitted there was a nervous energy inside Anfield during those periods, and Espirito Santo was oddly encouraged by West Ham’s performance.

"It's difficult to explain. Maybe it is absurd to say that it is a good performance when you lose 5-2," the former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest coach said.

"But there are a lot of positives in our game. A lot of negatives also. But you go off at half-time and you have your players in front of you and you say: 'Boys you are playing good, but we are losing 3-0'.

Espirito Santo was pleased with elements of West Ham's performance at Liverpool(Image: AFP or licensors)

"We create a lot of situations and we combine well, but we really made mistakes on our set-pieces. The three goals come from corners.

"I think the second half we started well. We scored early and we created problems for Liverpool. Things that can change the game.

"Being in front of you guys [the media] and saying that is a good performance, maybe sounds really silly from myself, but I saw a team that didn't give up, believed that it had a chance in the game, but we go home with a poor result."

West Ham was undone by Set-pieces at Anfield(Image: 2026 Liverpool FC)

West Ham’s deficiencies at set-pieces ultimately cost the side, a frustration compounded by Mateus Fernandes’ admission that a specific plan had been formulated to combat Van Dijk’s aerial threat.

Espirito Santo admitted that is a worrying development, one his side must address if it is to avoid relegation.

"It's frustrating as a coaching staff," he added. "It's something that we've been really putting a lot of effort and time into to make it right.

"Recently, there was improvement. But today, all the first three Liverpool goals come from corner situations. There's no other way to look at it. Admit that we made mistakes and improve for the next one."