Liverpool 5-1 West Ham United
Carabao Cup quarter final, Anfield, Wednesday 20 December 2023
West Ham United’s 2023/24 Carabao Cup journey came to an end at the quarter-final stage with a 5-1 loss away at Liverpool on Wednesday evening.
The Reds took a one-goal advantage before half-time, when Dominik Szoboszlai fired in a powerful effort from distance, and added another shortly after the break through Curtis Jones.
Cody Gakpo scored Liverpool’s third before Jarrod Bowen marked his 27th birthday with a well-taken finish, sparking a glimmer of hope of a magical fightback.
But Jones’ personal second – and the hosts’ fourth – and Mohammed Salah’s low finish wrapped up a resounding win for the Reds and put them into the Carabao Cup last four, where they will face Fulham.
Both sides made six changes from their respective Premier League outings on Sunday, and it was one Liverpool’s introduced players who had the game’s first real effort on ten minutes.
Harvey Elliott dribbled into space and fired a shot from just outside the area, only for the ball to bobble wide of the far post.
The hosts were fully in control of possession, limiting the Irons’ passing opportunities through the midfield and into the attacking line. One such attempt allowed the Reds to break again, with Elliott again letting loose on the West Ham goal. This time, his shot was narrowly past the top corner.
Saïd Benrahma created space inside the Liverpool penalty area in a push forward from the visitors, but the Algerian’s slip a few minutes later would allow Jürgen Klopp’s side the opening goal. Jarell Quansah took possession, gave the ball to Szoboszlai, who turned and found the bottom corner from 25 yards.
In truth, it was no less than the Reds deserved for an impressive first-half showing. Gakpo almost doubled the advantage on the stroke of half-time with a header, only for his header to also go wide.
A goal down at the interval was frustrating for David Moyes’ Hammers but could take heart in the fact that only a single finish separated the two sides.
A downpour greeted the two team at the start of the second half and, in the swirling rain, Alphonse Areola could only palm away Núñez’s stinging effort.
The Irons forced a decent opening minutes later when Ben Johnson did superbly well to get down the left wing. The No2 found Bowen, who slid a tasty ball across the face of goal. If not for the interception of Konstantinos Tsimikas, there was an opportunity at goal for Pablo Fornals.
Liverpool’s second came just moments after. Núñez was again involved, finding Jones’ run into the area. The Reds midfielder looked like he had taken the ball too narrow but slid the ball under Areola to double the hosts’ advantage.
Manager Moyes introduced Lucas Paquetá moments after as the Hammers sought an avenue back into the quarter-final. Mohammed Kudus fired a shot over the bar.
The Irons would concede a third on 71 minutes, when Cody Gakpo found the near post with a low effort.
There was time for a West Ham consolation, and a merited one for Bowen, who curled in an excellent finish on his right-foot from Johnson’s dinked pass; a great goal to mark his 27th birthday.
But Liverpool would restore their three-goal advantage just minutes later, as substitute Salah raced through to slot home. Four would become five as Jones scored his own second, sending the Reds through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals at West Ham’s expense.
Liverpool: Kelleher, Gomez, Van Dijk © (Konate 61), Quansah, Tsimikas (Bradley 69), Endo (Alexander-Arnold 60), Jones, Szoboszlai (Salah 60), Elliot, Gakpo (Diaz 74), Núñez
Subs not used: Adrian (GK), Clark, Gordon, McConnell,
Goals: Szoboszlai 28, Jones 56, 85, Gakpo 71, Salah 82
Booked: Núñez
West Ham United: Areola, Coufal (Kehrer 71), Mavropanos, Ogbonna ©, Johnson, Álvarez (Ings 81), Souček, Fornals, Kudus (Ward-Prowse 71), Benrahma (Paquetá 57), Bowen
Subs not used: Fabiański (GK), Zouma, Cresswell, Emerson, Mubama
Goal: Bowen 77
Booked: Álvarez
Referee: Tim Robinson
