Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, and Mohamed Salah were the standout performers as Liverpool staged a thrilling comeback 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 a bold move by introducing nine new players to the lineup following their 3-0 triumph over Bournemouth. Among the starters were Caoimhín Kelleher and Darwin Núñez, alongside academy graduates Curtis Jones, Jarrell Quansah, and Conor Bradley.
Despite dominating possession, Liverpool struggled to find their rhythm early on. A disallowed goal by Danny Ings in the 18th minute was a setback, but West Ham struck first just minutes later. A scramble in the box resulted in Jarrell Quansah inadvertently putting the ball into his own net, giving West Ham a surprising lead.
However, Liverpool responded swiftly. Just three minutes later, Cody Gakpo darted down the left flank and delivered a pinpoint cross for Diogo Jota, who converted with a precise header to level the score.
The second half saw Jota add another goal, thanks to a clever assist from Curtis Jones, putting Liverpool ahead 2-1. Salah then extended the lead after a close-range effort from Mac Allister was parried away. West Ham’s Edson Alvarez received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Salah, leaving the visitors to play with ten men.
With the advantage in numbers, Liverpool unleashed a flurry of attacks, with Gakpo netting twice in the dying minutes—first with a powerful strike into the near post, followed by a deflected shot that sealed the emphatic victory.
This marked Liverpool’s most decisive win under Arne Slot. Meanwhile, West Ham, under Julen Lopetegui, continues to face challenges in the Premier League, currently sitting 14th after three losses in their opening five matches, despite heavy investment during the summer transfer window.
Looking ahead, Liverpool will travel to Brighton in the fourth round, set to kick off 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.