West Ham’s resistance became minimal once Lucas Paquetá’s dismissal reduced them to ten men, allowing Liverpool to control the match’s final stages without significant pressure. The numerical disadvantage exposed West Ham’s existing limitations while making Liverpool’s task considerably easier than it would have been against eleven players.
Playing with ten men requires exceptional organization, discipline, and collective commitment to remain competitive. West Ham demonstrated none of these qualities after Paquetá’s dismissal, instead appearing demoralized and disorganized. Better teams can make themselves difficult to break down even when reduced numerically; West Ham simply collapsed.
The minimal resistance made Liverpool’s job straightforward in the final stages. They controlled possession comfortably, created chances without significant pressure, and scored a second goal that put the result beyond doubt. Against eleven men, this level of control might not have materialized.
For Liverpool, the easy final period prevented potential tension or anxiety that might have emerged in a tighter match. Players could relax slightly, confidence could build through comfortable possession, and the result never felt uncertain once West Ham went down to ten men. These psychological benefits have value during difficult periods.
However, Liverpool must recognize that dominating ten-man West Ham doesn’t prove they’ve solved their problems or reached competitive standards. The minimal resistance reflected West Ham’s inadequacy rather than Liverpool’s excellence. When facing better teams at full strength, Liverpool will face significantly greater resistance requiring higher performance levels. The comfortable final stages against depleted West Ham provided a confidence boost but shouldn’t create false impressions about Liverpool’s current quality or readiness to compete at the highest levels they aspire to reach.