Alan Pardew believes that West Ham were set up in the wrong way defensively at times during their defeat against Liverpool at the weekend.
The Hammers suffered a crushing 4-1 home loss and Mohamed Salah’s opening goal of the game has been a talking point for former West Ham boss Pardew.
Liverpool scored a brilliant counter attacking goal which was eventually converted by Salah, but Pardew insisted that the goal was totally avoidable if they had the right players in the right position.
West Ham conceded that goal from their own corner and the blistering pace of their opponents meant they scored moments later on the break.
Pardew feels that having the wrong personnel sitting back in defence on their own corner cost them a goal.
“Liverpool’s dazzling first goal at West Ham shows why it is so important to be switched on and ready for the opposition pouncing to counter from your corners,” Pardew wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
“West Ham had Aaron Cresswell and Edimilson Fernandes, their wing-backs on the day, as their deepest stoppers. Neither are the type of defensive players I mean.
“It’s best to keep a centre half back — one who doesn’t really make an impact on first contact offensively —and a defensive full back or trusted midfield player. You have to keep that risk locked off.”
West Ham’s defeat at the weekend has turned out to be the last game in charge for Slaven Bilic, who was sacked as manager on Monday morning.
The London club are currently 18th-placed in the Premier League table during the international break and are now on the search for a new boss.
OPINION
Bilic’s decline had been noticeable all season for West Ham and defensively they have really struggled. A new man should look to make the defence more resilient and dipping into the transfer window in January should be considered. Pardew highlighted the tactical error for Liverpool’s opening goal, but in truth most teams in the Premier League are struggling to deal with the threat of Jurgen Klopp’s side. Salah and Sadio Mane are two attackers tearing up defences based on their current form, which certainly told at the London Stadium.