Liverpool 5-1 West Ham (25 September 2024) Match Analysis

Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo scored twice each as defending champions Liverpool crushed West Ham United 5-1 at Anfield on Wednesday to advance to the fourth round of the League Cup.

West Ham – who were down to ten men in the 76th minute following Edson Álvarez's second yellow card – opened the scoring at Anfield when Wataru Endo's attempted corner clearance rebounded off Jarell Quansah and went past goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher into an own goal.

The Hammers' celebrations were short-lived, however, as Jota equalised four minutes later, heading home Federico Chiesa's acrobatic volley. Jota scored his second goal in the 49th minute when Curtis Jones played a back pass to the Portuguese, who slotted home into the bottom corner.

“It is important when you are down to get that [equaliser] to be as quick as possible and score a goal at Anfield. It's always special and I'm happy to be able to help the team,” Jota told Sky Sports.

From then on it belonged only to Liverpool.

Talisman Mohamed Salah made it 3-1 in the 74th minute when he slotted home the rebound from Alexis Mac Allister's shot, and then Gakpo increased Liverpool's lead with goals in the 90th and 93rd minutes.

The Reds won their tenth League Cup last season, a new record. It was manager Jürgen Klopp's last trophy with the team before he resigned at the end of the season.

New coach Slot has left little to be desired. The Reds are second in the Premier League after five games, one point behind Manchester City. Last week they opened their Champions League season with a win over AC Milan.

“We only suffered one defeat,” said Jota. “We are still making progress, developing our ideas – but only through victories do you get better, so we are satisfied.”

“It's tough, but of course we want to win again, we are the reigning champions.”