Liverpool hit five in seven-goal thriller against West Ham

Liverpool delivered a statement performance at Anfield, dismantling long-time visitors West Ham United 5–2 in a pulsating Round 28 clash of the Premier League.
The tone was set inside five minutes. After a sharp pass from Ryan Gravenberch, Hugo Ekitike fired past the helpless goalkeeper to ignite the home crowd. It was a lightning start, and Liverpool never truly looked back.
Midway through the first half, the inevitable arrived. From a corner delivered by Dominik Szoboszlai, captain Virgil van Dijk powered home a trademark header to double the advantage. Just before the interval, the hosts added a third in spectacular fashion — Alexis Mac Allister meeting a lay-off from Ekitike with a stunning first-time strike into the top corner.
To their credit, West Ham United responded immediately after the restart. Tomas Soucek reacted quickest in the box, stretching in a half-volley to convert a driven cross from El Hadji Malick Diouf, reducing the deficit and briefly raising hopes of a comeback.
But this was Liverpool at full throttle. On 70 minutes, Cody Gakpo ended his recent drought in emphatic style, rifling a powerful drive into the far corner. Five minutes later, Taty Castellanos nodded in from a tight angle following a set-piece routine to keep the contest alive at 4–2.
Yet the final word belonged to the hosts. A fierce effort from Jeremie Frimpong from an acute angle took a decisive deflection off Axel Disasi and looped into the net, sealing a comprehensive 5–2 victory.
2025-26, England - Premier League
Liverpool - West Ham 5:2 (3:0)
Goals: Ekitike, 5 (1:0); van Dijk, 24 (2:0); Mac Allister A., 43 (3:0); Soucek, 49 (3:1); Gakpo, 70 (4:1); Castellanos, 75 (4:2); Disasi, 82 (own goal) (5:2)
Liverpool: Alisson; Gomez (Frimpong J., 77); van Dijk; Konate; Kerkez M.; Szoboszlai; Mac Allister A.; Gravenberch R. (Nyoni, 86); Salah; Gakpo; Ekitike (Ngumoha, 76)
Substitution: Ngumoha (from 76); Frimpong J. (from 77); Nyoni (from 86)
Bench: Mamardashvili; Woodman; Robertson A.; Ramsay C.; Chiesa F.; Jones Cur.
Yellow Cards: Gakpo 55; Szoboszlai 85
West Ham: Hermansen; Disasi; Mavropanos; Magassa (Traoré Ad., 76); Diouf Mal. (Mayers E., 90); Soucek (Kanté M., 90); Wan-Bissaka; Fernandes M.; Summerville; Castellanos; Bowen
Substitution: Traoré Ad. (from 76); Mayers E. (from 90); Kanté M. (from 90)
Bench: Areola; Walker-Peters; Kilman; Scarles; Todibo; Wilson C.
Yellow Cards: Magassa 45; Summerville 79
