Liverpool 0 West Ham 3: How Liverpool might have avoided an embarrassing defeat and won at Anfield at the weekend

ANALYSIS: We've teamed up with Sports Interactive, the makers of Football Manager, to re-run one of the weekend's key games to see how the losers might have prevailed had they done things differently

Philippe Coutinho dejectedly walks off after being shown a red card (Getty Images)

Liverpool slipped to a shock 3-0 defeat at the weekend to West Ham. The result was as unexpected as it was deserved for the visitors to Anfield. So what could Brendan Rodgers have done differently?

THE RE-RUN

With West Ham's formation remaining the same, Sports Interactive simulated the game over again with various Liverpool line-ups and tactics until it produced an alternative result.

Formation: 4-3-3

Line-up: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Gomez, Can, Lucas, Milner, Firmino, Benteke, Coutinho (one change from real starting eleven – Sakho in for Lovren. West Ham remain unchanged)

Final Score: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham (Scorers: Benteke, Firmino; Sakho)

Liverpool overturn a sloppy home performance in this virtual replay, thanks largely to impressive displays from their front three. Firmino, Benteke and Coutinho give West Ham’s back four a torrid time, linking up with ease and bearing down on Randolph’s goal at will. Liverpool are also much more solid at the back, restricting Bilic’s side to long shots and half chances.

Firmino is the most effective player on the pitch and is deservedly named Man of the Match. His sixty-five per cent pass completion rate is made up predominantly of passes deep in West Ham’s half which just illustrates how often Liverpool are able to pick apart West Ham’s defensive line. Firmino also makes six key passes – including the assist for the Benteke opener – and scores what turns out to be the winner.

Benteke puts in a good effort against Reid and Ogbonna, winning sixty-one per cent of aerial battles. He thrives off the passing play of Coutinho and Firmino as he hits the target six times over the course of the match. He’s unlucky not to score more than once as he hits the post and has an effort from the edge of the area turned onto the bar by Randolph.

Coutinho’s dribbling and crossing ability is brought to the fore against West Ham. He completes fifty-five per cent of crosses into the box and makes six successful dribbles into the box, hitting the target three times. Tomkins wins just one tackle against Coutinho over the course of the ninety minutes and is given just a 5.3 match rating.

Liverpool’s defensive play is almost as well co-ordinated as their attacking intent. Between them, the back four make twelve successful tackles, five interceptions and win, on average, sixty per cent of the aerial battles. Mignolet faces just three shots on target but West Ham do claim a consolation goal courtesy of Sakho. A header from Skrtel falls at the feet of Lanzini who slips in Sakho to slot home with twelve minutes to go. Ultimately though, that is to be West Ham’s last meaningful attack and Liverpool close out a well-earned win.

Football Manager uses a vast database - compiled by approximately 1,300 researchers across the world (including real-life scouts) - to blend reality and fiction. So impressive is the information that it has become a tool used by real life managers. The painstakingly detailing simulation of club management, which allows players to control every aspect of a manager's role, from scouting new player to tactics and training, has sold millions of copies worldwide.