Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, and Mohamed Salah all scored as Liverpool came from behind to defeat West Ham 5-1 in the third round of the League Cup.
Goals: Jota 25′, 49′, Salah 74′, Gakpo 90′, 90’+3 – Quansah (own goal) 21′
Red Card: Alvarez 76′ (West Ham)
Manager Arne Slot made nine changes to the starting lineup following their 3-0 victory over Bournemouth in the Premier League, with Caoimhín Kelleher and Darwin Núñez retaining their spots. The starting team also included Curtis Jones, Jarrell Quansah, and Conor Bradley, all of whom came through the club’s youth academy.
Despite having more possession, Liverpool struggled initially. Danny Ings had a goal disallowed for offside in the 18th minute. However, West Ham took the lead shortly after, with Jarrell Quansah inadvertently scoring an own goal following a scramble in the box.
Liverpool equalized just three minutes later when Cody Gakpo broke down the left wing and delivered a cross that Diogo Jota converted with a header from close range.
In the second half, Jota scored again after Curtis Jones set him up, giving Liverpool a 2-1 lead. Salah then added a third after an attempt from Mac Allister was saved. West Ham’s Edson Alvarez received a second yellow card for a foul on Salah, leaving his team with ten men.
With the numerical advantage, Liverpool continued to dominate, and Gakpo scored twice in the final minutes—first with a powerful shot and then with a deflected effort in stoppage time.
This marked Liverpool’s biggest win under new coach Arne Slot. Meanwhile, West Ham, under Julen Lopetegui, has struggled in the Premier League, sitting 14th after losing three of their first five matches, despite significant investment in the summer transfer window.
In the fourth round, Liverpool will face Brighton away from home starting the week of October 28.
Lineups:
Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Gomez, Tsimikas (Robertson 82′), Endo (Morton 82′), Jones, Gakpo, Chiesa (Salah 59′), Núñez, Jota (Mac Allister 59′).
West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Soler (Irving 78′), Alvarez, Soucek (Paquetá 59′), Bowen (Kudus 78′), Ings (Antonio 60′), Summerville.
