Liverpool eased into the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a convincing 5-1 win over West Ham at Anfield.
The Reds were dominant throughout as Jurgen Klopp’s side bounced back from a disappointing draw with Manchester United at the weekend with a fine performance against a lacklustre West Ham.
Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring with a thumping drive from distance to hand Liverpool a lead the home side never looked like surrendering. Curtis Jones doubled the advantage from a narrow angle early in the second half, before Cody Gakpo drilled in a third from outside the area.
Jarrod Bowen’s fine effort for West Ham proved little more than consolation, as Liverpool scored a fourth through substitute Mohamed Salah just moments later. Jones rounded off an outstanding individual – and team – performance with a superb solo fifth.
“The performance, the scoresheet, the result and the individual performances put together to make a team on the pitch,” Klopp said to Sky Sports.
“We were brave in our positioning, our second ball game was exceptional. It was a really, really good performance from start to finish.
“It is really tough for all of us, there’s a lot of games and the boys played a lot of football already. It was a game both teams had to win, it will be the same on Saturday and all the time. It is how it is so really nice to have a nice like that.
“The boys enjoyed it a lot, they worked hard but enjoyed it too with joyful football in moments. Nice to see.”
Liverpool, who had 66% possession and 29 shots on goal, move into the last four as the Reds look to win a record-extending 10th League Cup title.
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