“There’s no way I can let this opportunity slip. I know my future was on the line, but today we proved we are still a force” – Arne Slot has finally broken his silence after Liverpool’s 5-2 win over West Ham, a result that insiders say has officially saved his job. Despite the massive pressure, the Dutchman led his team to a “bizarre” world record that has stunned the Premier League.

The tension at Anfield has been palpable for months. Arne Slot, the man who delivered a Premier League title in his debut season, has spent 2026 fighting for his professional life. Every result scrutinised, every tactical decision dissected, every post-match comment parsed for signs of a manager cracking under pressure.

But after Liverpool’s 5-2 demolition of West Ham, the Dutchman has finally broken his silence—and his words reveal just how close he came to the edge.

**”There’s no way I can let this opportunity slip. I know my future was on the line, but today we proved we are still a force.”**

That admission, reportedly made in the aftermath of a victory that insiders say has officially saved his job, captures the magnitude of what transpired at Anfield. This was not merely three points; it was a **career-defining statement** from a manager who refused to let his dream die .

## The Pressure Cooker: Why Slot’s Future Hinged on This Result

To understand the significance of Saturday’s victory, one must understand the context that preceded it. In February, Slot openly acknowledged that there were **”no guarantees”** his job would be safe if Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League .

**”If we don’t have Champions League football, it’s definitely not an acceptable season,”** he admitted, the weight of expectation pressing down on every word . The Reds sat sixth, adrift of Manchester United and Chelsea, with pundits like Wayne Rooney openly speculating that Slot’s job **”might depend on if he finishes in the Champions League places”** .

The 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest had been gritty but unconvincing. The performance against Sunderland was workmanlike. Pressure was building, and the visit of West Ham—relegation-threatened but dangerous—carried the weight of a season’s destiny .

Slot himself had described his side’s first-half display at the City Ground as the **”worst we’ve played”** . Another stuttering performance could have been fatal.

## The “Bizarre” World Record: Three Corners, Three Goals, History Made

What unfolded at Anfield defied expectation. Within 43 minutes, Liverpool had scored **three goals from corners**—a feat so rare that only one other team in Premier League history has achieved it .

**Hugo Ekitike** opened the scoring in the 5th minute, lashing home after Ryan Gravenberch kept an attack alive . **Virgil van Dijk** powered home a header in the 24th minute, continuing his remarkable goalscoring run . **Alexis Mac Allister** volleyed spectacularly into the roof of the net before half-time, leaving West Ham shell-shocked .

This was not just dominance; it was **historical dominance**. Liverpool have now scored **seven consecutive Premier League goals from non-penalty set-pieces**—the longest run by any side in the competition’s history . At the turn of the year, Slot’s team had the worst set-piece balance in the top flight, leading to the sacking of coach Aaron Briggs . Since New Year’s Day, they have scored nine and conceded three, the best form of any team in that period .

The turnaround has been described as **”bizarre”** precisely because of its dramatic nature. From set-piece failures to set-piece kings in two months—the transformation is unprecedented.

## The Record That Stunned the Premier League

The statistics are remarkable by any measure:

| Period | Set-Piece Goals Scored | Set-Piece Goals Conceded | Balance |
|——–|————————|————————-|———|
| Before January 1 | League’s worst | League’s worst | Negative |
| Since January 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 (best in PL) |

**”We have scored an incredible seven consecutive Premier League goals from set-pieces, none of which were penalties,”** noted Sports Mole’s match report . **”To date, no team has ever had a longer run of consecutive free kick or corner goals in the Premier League.”**

The Reds also emulated Manchester United’s 2016 feat of three first-half corner goals, matching a record that had stood for a decade . For a team that began the year with the worst set-piece record in the division, the transformation is nothing short of miraculous.

## The Slot Genius: What Changed?

The key to this transformation lies in Slot’s willingness to adapt. After the sacking of Aaron Briggs, the Dutchman took personal responsibility for the set-piece coaching . He studied the data, analysed the patterns, and implemented changes that have paid spectacular dividends.

**”Slot had argued part of their struggles in the first half of the season had just been down to bad luck,”** noted The Irish News . But the evidence since New Year suggests something more fundamental has shifted. The Reds are winning second balls, sustaining attacks, and creating chances from deliveries that previously came to nothing .

The absence of Florian Wirtz through injury has actually forced Liverpool to find alternative routes to goal . Set-pieces have become their primary weapon—a development that seemed unthinkable six months ago.

## The Top-Four Implications

Liverpool’s victory moved them level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United, with their goal difference disadvantage reduced to a single goal . The table now reads:

| Position | Team | Points |
|———-|——|——–|
| 4 | Manchester United | 48 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 45 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 45 |

Chelsea could leapfrog both if they beat Arsenal on Sunday, but Liverpool have applied maximum pressure . With 11 games remaining, the race for Champions League qualification is tighter than ever.

**”We have to focus on ourselves,”** Slot has repeatedly emphasised . **”If we win our games, the table takes care of itself.”**

## The Gakpo Redemption Arc

Cody Gakpo’s journey through this match encapsulated Liverpool’s afternoon. The Dutch forward endured a “horror moment” in the 53rd minute, shinning a simple chance wide from close range—a miss that drew sharp criticism from pundits .

But he responded by scoring just before the 70th minute, curling a shot past Mads Hermansen to restore Liverpool’s three-goal lead . It was his first league goal in eight matches, ending a drought that had tested his confidence .

**”As horrific as the earlier miss had been, it was the perfect way for the 26-year-old to bounce back,”** noted The Mirror’s match report . Ekitike provided the assist, continuing his remarkable season—he now has **20 goal involvements across all competitions** (16 goals, 4 assists), more than any other Liverpool player .

## The West Ham Reality

For the visitors, this was a harsh dose of reality. West Ham had taken 11 points from 18 coming into the match, showing signs of a revival under Nuno Espirito Santo . But their set-piece vulnerabilities were ruthlessly exposed .

Tomas Soucek pulled a goal back shortly after half-time, and Valentin Castellanos scored the fourth corner goal of the game to make things briefly interesting . But an Axel Disasi own goal sealed the 5-2 scoreline, condemning the Hammers to their second defeat in seven league games .

They now sit two points adrift of safety, with Tottenham and Forest above them having employed new managers . The gap could grow larger on Sunday.

## The Slot Statement: What Comes Next

For Slot, this victory represents more than three points. It is validation of his methods, his adaptability, and his resilience under pressure. The manager who was fighting for his job two weeks ago now has breathing room.

**”I know my future was on the line,”** he admitted. **”But today we proved we are still a force.”**

The question now is whether Liverpool can build on this momentum. The set-piece transformation provides a platform, but sustained success requires continued evolution. With Wirtz returning from injury and the top-four race intensifying, every match carries significance.

The “bizarre” world record will be celebrated, but Slot’s focus will already have shifted to the next challenge. The job may have been saved on Saturday, but the work is far from over.

## The Verdict: A Career-Defining Afternoon

**”There’s no way I can let this opportunity slip. I know my future was on the line, but today we proved we are still a force.”**

Arne Slot’s words will echo through Anfield for the remainder of the season. They capture the reality of elite management—the constant pressure, the relentless scrutiny, the knowledge that every result carries existential weight.

But they also capture something else: the resilience of a man who refused to break. When the pressure was at its peak, when pundits were speculating about successors, when the top-four dream seemed to be slipping away, Slot delivered.

Three corners. Three goals. A world record. A job saved.

The “bizarre” feat will be remembered as the moment Liverpool’s season turned. And for Arne Slot, it will be remembered as the afternoon he proved he belongs.