LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND — Anfield was rocking from the fifth minute as Liverpool dismantled a beleaguered West Ham United side 5-2 in a breathless Premier League contest that swung wildly before the hosts ultimately asserted their authority. Hugo Ekitiké announced himself as the evening's central figure with an early strike and a decisive assist, while Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, and Virgil van Dijk all left their mark on a night that will live long in the memory for the home faithful. West Ham, rooted in 18th place with just 25 points, offered spirited resistance but were ultimately overwhelmed by Liverpool's attacking firepower.
Ekitiké wasted no time making his presence felt. Just five minutes in, the striker latched onto Ryan Gravenberch's delivery following a corner and drilled a right-footed effort from the left side of the box into the bottom left corner, giving Mads Hermansen no chance. Anfield erupted, and the tone was set. Liverpool pressed for a second, and Gravenberch himself came close in the 20th minute, forcing Hermansen into a comfortable central save after being teed up by Gakpo. The second goal arrived through a different route — van Dijk rising imperiously to nod home from close range in the 24th minute, guided to the top right corner from Dominik Szoboszlai's pinpoint corner delivery. Two goals to the good and in complete control, Liverpool looked set for a comfortable evening.
Mac Allister added a third just before the interval, rifling a right-footed effort from the centre of the box into the top left corner in the 43rd minute, again from a corner routine with Ekitiké providing the assist. It was a goal that appeared to put the game to bed — but West Ham had other ideas. Four minutes into the second half, Tomás Soucek pulled one back with a clinical close-range finish to the top right corner, converting El Hadji Malick Diouf's cross to make it 3-1 and inject fresh tension into the contest.
The visitors sensed blood. Alisson Becker was called into action in the 64th minute, pushing away a Mateus Fernandes effort from outside the box, and the Brazilian goalkeeper was tested again in the 74th minute, this time producing a fine save to deny Crysencio Summerville's left-footed strike. But Liverpool responded emphatically. Gakpo, who had been a constant menace, slotted home from the left side of the box in the 70th minute — assisted by the tireless Ekitiké — to restore the three-goal cushion at 4-1. West Ham refused to capitulate, and Valentín Castellanos headed home from a Jarrod Bowen cross in the 75th minute to make it 4-2, briefly raising hopes of a dramatic comeback. Those hopes were extinguished seven minutes later when Axel Disasi turned the ball into his own net to complete the scoring at 5-2. Substitute Rio Ngumoha, introduced for Ekitiké in the 76th minute, tested Hermansen late on but was denied by the goalkeeper.
The statistics told a compelling story of Liverpool's dominance in the areas that mattered most. Despite West Ham edging possession at 51.1% to 48.9%, Liverpool created significantly more danger, registering 18 shots to the visitors' 11, with seven on target compared to West Ham's four. Alisson made three saves to Hermansen's two, reflecting the hosts' superior attacking output. Both sides were cautioned twice — Gakpo and Szoboszlai for Liverpool, Summerville picking up a booking for West Ham — but the four yellow cards never threatened to boil over into something uglier. Jeremie Frimpong and Trey Nyoni added fresh legs from the bench as Liverpool managed the closing stages with authority.
Ibrahima Konaté was commanding at the back alongside van Dijk, snuffing out West Ham's sporadic forays forward, while Milos Kerkez provided energy on the left flank throughout. Gravenberch's engine in midfield was a constant feature before being replaced by Nyoni in the 86th minute, and Szoboszlai's delivery from set pieces — most notably for van Dijk's header — proved a recurring weapon that West Ham simply could not contain.
Liverpool will look to build on this when Wolverhampton Wanderers visit on March 3, while West Ham, who desperately need points to haul themselves clear of the drop zone, host Fulham on March 4 in a fixture that carries enormous relegation significance.