Throughout the game, the midfielder showed a great deal of class, deftly managing the situation and putting Liverpool players at his mercy. His domination extended to his defensive contributions, as he outran every other player on the field in terms of ball wins.
It was disappointing that so much of his excellent performance took place in deeper areas, mainly because West Ham took an appropriately cautious approach to counter Mohamed Salah’s threat on that flank.
With his arsenal of strategies, Paqueta continually outsmarted Liverpool’s players, leaving them helpless to restrain his ingenuity. He was in a class of his own, whether he was threading the ball through their legs or doing deft flicks over their heads.
Paqueta’s influence had to be restrained on multiple times by the combined efforts of up to three Liverpool players, who frequently committed fouls out of pure desperation. It’s reasonable to say that Paqueta’s performance astounded everyone, from the adoring audience to the commentators who couldn’t stop praising him.
At Anfield, Liverpool supporters honored Paqueta and former striker Danny Ings in a touching display of sportsmanship in the 87th minute. The Anfield faithful gave Paqueta a well-deserved standing ovation as he exited the field, which he acknowledged by lifting his hand in appreciation. In a similar vein, Liverpool fans cheered Ings as he approached the pitch, continuing to display their class.
https://x.com/Watch_LFC/status/1705999473871392785?s=20
