Carabao Cup: Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo at the double as Liverpool rack up 5-1 win over West Ham to make fourth round

ByEurosport

Updated 25/09/2024 at 22:12 GMT

Liverpool booked their spot in round four of the Carabao Cup with a 5-1 victory over West Ham United at Anfield, largely thanks to a Diogo Jota double. The Portuguese attacker overturned a Jarrell Quansah own-goal which had given West Ham the lead, before Arne Slot's Reds added the gloss late on through Mo Salah and a Cody Gakpo brace.

Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the second goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on September 25, 2024 in Liverpool, England.

Image credit: Getty Images

Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo both notched braces as holders Liverpool thrashed West Ham United 5-1 in the Carabao Cup third round.

The Hammers went in front midway through the first half when Wataru Endo's clearance deflected off Jarell Quansah and into his own net.

The Reds soon got back on level terms through Jota, who headed home Federico Chiesa's attempted scissor-kick strike.

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Shortly after half-time, Jota put Liverpool in front after fine work from Curtis Jones, and then Mohamed Salah slammed home after Lukasz Fabianski made a good save from Alexis Mac Allister.

The result was harsh on the Hammers and especially their goalkeeper, who made a string of fine saves but could not stop Gakpo's two goals in injury time, the second of which got a big deflection off Jean-Clair Todibo.

Talking Point - Hammers frustrating start to season compounded

Had the Hammers just lost by the odd goal at Anfield there would have been few repercussions internally and externally.

West Ham had two shouts for a penalty with the score at 2-1 which they were convinced they should have been given, though replays suggested even with VAR they were unlikely to be overturned.

The frustration clearly got to the players and staff, with Julen Lopetegui getting a booking after the second appeal and it seemingly also led to Edson Alvarez's silly second yellow card and a sending off, just after Salah netted the third.

Given how competitive the match was before this point, it was harsh on the Hammers to end up losing 5-1 with two goals from the 90th minute onwards, though Lukasz Fabianski's saves stopped the margin extending prior to this.

The next two matches at Brentford and at home to Ipswich Town look like big matches for the Lopetegui project - and the direction of their season.

Player of the Match - Conor Bradley (Liverpool)

Should Trent Alexander-Arnold sign a new contract at Anfield, it is difficult to see how Bradley can stay as a reserve full back.

At the age of 21, Bradley is too good a player not to be playing each week and being a homegrown prospect, by way of County Tyrone, he would also be a useful sale with the FFP rules.

In this match he excelled in attack, setting up the chance which led to Salah's goal, but also in defence where on a couple of occasions he covered for his central defenders to clear the danger.

Player Ratings

Liverpool: Kelleher 7; Bradley 8*, Gomez 6, Quansah 6, Tsimikas 7; Endo 7, Jones 7; Chiesa 6, Diogo Jota 7, Darwin Nunez 6, Gakpo 6.

Subs: Salah 7, Mac Allister 7, Morton 6, Robertson 6.

West Ham: Fabianski 7; Coufal 6, Todibo 5, Kilman 5, Cresswell 6; Alvarez 5, Carlos Soler 7, Soucek 7; Bowen 7, Ings 6, Summerville 6.

Subs: Paqueta 6, Antonio 6, Irving 6, Kudus 6.

Match Highlights

21' GOAL! LIVERPOOL 0-1 WEST HAM (QUANSAH OG)! The corner led to a scramble in the box, Alvarez could not get a shot off but Endo's tackle ricocheted off Quansah and into the net.

25' GOAL! LIVERPOOL (JOTA) 1-1 WEST HAM! The lead didn't last long. Gakpo clipped a ball into the box which Chiesa scissor-kicked towards the goal and then Jota beat the keeper to the ball and nodded home.

49'GOAL! LIVERPOOL (JOTA) 2-1 WEST HAM! Jones with a lovely run from his own half then, after exchanging passes with Gakpo, he slips a ball through for Jota who finishes the aplomb we expect of him.

75' GOAL! LIVERPOOL (SALAH) 3-1 WEST HAM! Bradley with a fine pull back for Mac Allister who sees his shot saved by Fabianski but Salah slams the rebound into the roof of the net.

77' ALVAREZ GETS A SECOND YELLOW CARD! The frustration has got to the Hammers - and their midfielder gets his marching orders for a silly lunging foul on Salah on the touchline.

80' FINE STOP FROM FABIANSKI! Mac Allister launches a piledriver from 25 yards out which the Hammers keeper pushed onto the post and then Fabianski got up to collect Gakpo's rebound.

90' GOAL! LIVERPOOL (GAKPO) 4-1 WEST HAM! The Dutch winger with a fine goal. He exchanges passes with Nunez and then aims a shot just inside the near post which Fabianski could not keep out.

90+3' GOAL! LIVERPOOL (GAKPO) 5-1 WEST HAM! Gakpo turned inside from the left flank and his effort deflects off Todibo then wrong-foots Fabianski and drifts into the net.