Liverpool’s defense of the Carabao Cup kicked off with a convincing 5-1 victory over West Ham United at Anfield. Last season’s champions showcased their intent to retain the trophy, starting strong under new manager Arne Slot, who took over from Jurgen Klopp.
West Ham initially took the lead with an own goal from Jarell Quansah following a corner, but Liverpool responded swiftly. Diogo Jota equalized before going on to score a second goal, while Cody Gakpo netted twice, and Mohamed Salah added another after coming off the bench. The Hammers struggled to keep up, especially after Edson Alvarez received a red card, further stifling any hopes of a comeback.
Highlights from the match included Gakpo’s deflected second goal and a clinical finish from Salah, sealing the emphatic win for the Reds, who made their mark in the competition once again. The triumph secures Liverpool’s spot in the fourth round, where they will face Brighton.
After the match, Slot praised his team’s control of the game, noting they had significant possession, particularly in the first half. Meanwhile, West Ham’s manager Julen Lopetegui expressed disappointment in the scoreline, feeling it did not reflect his team’s performance and acknowledged the challenge of playing with ten men.
As the night wrapped up, the draw for the next round saw Liverpool matched up against Brighton, while other fixtures included Tottenham facing Manchester City and Arsenal meeting Preston North End.