Liverpool’s Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his crew fourth purpose throughout the English League Cup quarter-final soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 20, 2023. (Photograph by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Liverpool destroyed West Ham 5-1 on Wednesday to arrange a League Cup semifinal towards Fulham, easing the frustration of their weekend Premier League stalemate towards Manchester United.
Curtis Jones scored twice and Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah have been additionally on the scoresheet for Jurgen Klopp’s dominant crew, who have been trophyless final season.
No crew has gained extra League Cups than Liverpool, which lifted the trophy for the ninth time within the 2021/22 season.
The Reds had 34 photographs towards United in Sunday’s Premier League match with out discovering the online, failing to win at residence for the primary time this season to their intense frustration.
Supervisor Jurgen Klopp stated he was delighted together with his crew’s “joyful soccer” as they as soon as once more clicked in entrance of purpose towards West Ham.
“We have been courageous in our positioning, our second ball recreation was distinctive,” he stated.
“It was a extremely, actually good efficiency from begin to end.
“It’s actually robust for all of us, there’s a whole lot of video games and the boys performed a whole lot of soccer already.”
The much-changed residence aspect, with Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench and Alisson Becker rested utterly, launched wave after wave of assaults, with West Ham struggling to put a glove on their opponents.
Harvey Elliott blasted over the bar within the 14th minute and Szoboszlai fired large however the Hungary midfielder gave Liverpool the lead they deserved shortly earlier than the half-hour mark.
It got here after Mentioned Benrahma misplaced the ball carelessly in midfield, squandering an opportunity for a uncommon West Ham break.
Dominant Liverpool
Jarell Quansah fed Szoboszlai on the proper of the Liverpool assault and he let fly with highly effective shot from outdoors the world that flew into the far nook, giving goalkeeper Alphonse Areola no likelihood.
The sport continued in the identical sample, with West Ham compelled to feed off scraps — a well-recognized feeling for a crew who’ve gained simply as soon as at Anfield since 1963.
The house aspect might have doubled their lead within the ultimate moments of the opening interval however Gakpo headed narrowly large following a fantastic cross from Elliott.
Liverpool had 11 photographs within the first 45 minutes to West Ham’s zero.
The London aspect additionally had a clutch of star names on the substitutes’ bench, with the spectacular Lucas Paqueta and James Ward-Prowse omitted from the beginning line-up.
The second half unfolded in an identical method to the primary, with Liverpool probing and David Moyes’ males wanting toothless.
Darwin Nunez, who began the sport and not using a purpose in his previous 10 video games for Liverpool, received a shot away after wriggling clear within the field however Areola was equal to the duty.
Nonetheless, Jones gave Liverpool a buffer within the 56th minute, firing the ball by Areola’s legs on the close to put up.
Moyes threw on Paqueta however Klopp countered by bringing on Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate.
Liverpool made it 3-0 when Gakpo fired low inside Areola’s right-hand put up from the sting of the world following Konate’s cost ahead.
Jarrod Bowen pulled one again, reducing inside Quansah and producing a fantastic curling end round Caoimhin Kelleher however worse was to return for the hapless guests.
Salah netted a breakaway purpose from Alexander-Arnold’s move and Jones capped a fantastic night time together with his second after dancing by the Hammers’ protection.
Liverpool, who host Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday with an opportunity to leapfrog the London aspect, will face Fulham within the first leg of the two-legged League Cup semi-final within the week starting January 8.
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Middlesbrough will tackle Chelsea within the different last-four tie.