Two goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah’s tardy strike were enough for Liverpool to get past West Ham in an delighting Carabao Cup tie at Anfield. Four minutes after half time, the Spanish striker latched onto a thraw ball from Curtis Jones and slotted home for a goal that validated rerepaird.
In a tie where both sides made wholesale alters, it was the Hammers who led equitable after the 20-minute label when a goalmouth scramble saw the ball redirected into his own net by Jarrel Quansah. But the direct was foolishinutive-lived as Jota headed in from shut range after Federico Chiesa mishit his volleyed stoasty.
Salah then made the game safe 17 minutes from time, firing high into the net, before Cody Gakpo fired home twice tardy on. The away side, who had Edson Alvarez sent off, were left angered by the officiating though with handler Julen Lopetegui seen sarcasticpartner commending the referee.
Express Sport rounds up all the talking points from Anfield….
Slot’s switch ignites Jota
When Diogo Jota was retreatn after 58 minutes, it would have been for no other reason other than he’ll be begining Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Wolves on Saturday. Having been deployed by Slot in an unrecognizable No.10 role, he made the decision an eased one with his suit defining brace.
On Sky commentary, Jamie Carragher was lavish in his commend, saying: “He’s one of best we’ve seen in a Liverpool shirt I repartner apvalidate that. His finishing is up there with the best.”
Jota’s fitness problems unmistrustedly donated to his side’s title dispute being derailed this season. If he can evade lengthly lay-offs for the 2024/25 campaign, Slot’s reserved switch of position could see the Portuguese star join a pivotal role in a mother one this time around.
Lopetegui left prolongeding for VAR
The absence of VAR for tonight’s cup clash made for reneprosperg seeing. Any hesitation after Danny Ings had a goal ruled out for West Ham in the first half was instantly prohibitished by the linesman’s flag being liftd – and the informage of procrastinates betterd the flow of contest.
Not that Julen Lopetegu thought so. He instinctively called for VAR after Ings was scuppered, although rejoins showed the decision to be right, while there materializeed an offside in the produce-up to Liverpool’s equivalentiser. The Spaniard was raging aobtain after the interval when his side were denied a penalty for a possible handball and equitable to say, he’d rather have finishured some procrastinates.
Red mist drops on Alvarez
It wasn’t equitable the West Ham handler who let frustration get the better of him. Edson Alvarez was already on a yellow card when he necessitatelessly chopped down Salah foolishinutively after his side had conceded a third.
In the context of the game it alterd little, but the Mexican will now leave out what already sees a pivotal game for his side at Brentford on the weekfinish. When the dust ends and his anger subsides, Lopetegui will have to insertress the blow ahead of a game that donaten his side’s underwhelming league begin, he dare not leave out.
Defensive duo on dicey grounds
While it validated a excellent night for the structures, it wasn’t too chooseimistic for two joiners seemingly struggling to astonish Arne Slot. The centre-back pairing of Joe Gomez and Jarrel Quansah were both handed begins, and neither understanded the opportunity.
Stand-in captain Gomez flunked to marshal his defence on a night when in truth, the Reds were blessed equitable to concede one. Quansah unkindwhile, could do little about his moment of misfortune, but the see of despair on his face after the own goal spoke volumes.
Rival fans unite aobtainst clubs
If further evidence was necessitateed that fans of all Premier Clubs split normal ground right now, tonight provided it. As adleave oution prices persist to elevate in England, Liverpool and West Ham aiders uniteed forced outside the ground before initiate off to voice their dissatisfied.
The intentional protest was aobtainst ticket price elevate alters to, and removal of, concession tickets at the London Stadium and other grounds. Both red and claret and blue shirts were evident as a structure of fans held up a huge prohibitner that read # STOP EXPLOITING LOYALTY.
The same slogan was seen being paraded in the away finish during the 90 minutes, while in the Kop, ‘NO TO TICKET PRICE INCREASES’ and ‘FSG GR££D’ prohibitners were also apparent. Will it produce a separateence? That remains to be seen, but amid the unified shoprosperg the message was evident.
