Erik: Weghorst was one of our best players

Weghorst led the line for the Reds in the 3-1 victory over the Hammers and played a particularly prominent role in our equaliser and Fred’s final strike to seal our triumph deep into stoppage-time.

Our no.27 maintained his record of starting in every game for the Reds since his arrival on loan from Burnley in the January transfer window, and his persistence in pressing from the front was exemplified for our third goal, as he won the ball back in the opposition box to set up Fred to supply the finish.

The Dutchman was also the closest man to Naref Aguerd as he inadvertently nodded past his own goalkeeper for our equalising goal, and the boss highlighted our frontman’s positioning and game intelligence as just some of his key qualities.

“I think he was one of the best players on the pitch,” Ten Hag told reporters in his post-match press conference.

“He was involved to see [win] the corner back, but maybe he was also there in front, he came up together with Harry [Maguire] to force the own goal.

“But I think for the Garnacho goal, he was doing pressing in the switch of play. And definitely in the third goal, when he forced the opponent to make a mistake so Fred could score.

“I think he understands positioning in and out of possession. And he’s doing a really good job for the team.”

While Wout himself has not scored since January, in our Carabao Cup semi-final first leg away to Nottingham Forest, Ten Hag is confident that the 30-year-old will eventually find form in front of goal.

“That will come,” Ten Hag added. “I have the experience with so many players. I refer often to Rashford at the start of the season, he also [had] not scored [in] every game.

“But I know in my experience it will come once he’s more settled down. Of course, he has a lot of games with us in a not so long period.

“When he’s [been] longer here, the routines will be there and when he has the next goal, more will come.”