LIVERPOOL have sailed into the Carabao Cup semi-final after thrashing West Ham 5-1.
Curtis Jones was on the double as Jurgen Klopp’s much-changed Reds battered the Hammers.
Sub Mo Salah also scored as Klopp looks ahead to the huge visit of Premier League leaders Arsenal this weekend.
- Result: Liverpool 5 West Ham 1
- Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Gomez, Quansah, Virgil, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Endo, Jones, Elliott, Nunez, Gakpo
- West Ham XI: Areola, Coufal, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Johnson, Alvarez, Soucek, Fornals, Kudus, Benrahma, Bowen
- Carabao Cup semi-final draw latest updates
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Confidence sky-high for crunch clash
Liverpool now head into their huge clash with Arsenal at Anfield on the weekend full of confidence.
In their last two games, The Reds have had 63 shots, which is an insane stat.
Mikel Arteta will know his side will certainly have their title credentials tested Saturday evening.
Carabao Cup semi-final draw
Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
Liverpool vs Fulham
Opportunity missed for West Ham
With the chance to get into the last four of a domestic trophy, The Hammers really failed to turn up today.
David Moyes rotated his side and they were left wanting.
It will disappoint the manager as he would have seen this as a chance to cause an upset at Anfield this evening.
Boss pleased with team performance
After the disappointment of the draw on the weekend, you can guarantee that Jurgen Klopp set his players the challenge of proving their worth this evening.
He will have wanted a response from them, to show everyone that the Man Utd result was just a bad day at the office.
They listened to their manager’s thoughts and went out and put in a display against West Ham tonight.
Credit: Getty Credit: AFP Reds book place in semi-finals
Liverpool will now go into the draw for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, which will take place soon.
The final four will consist of Jurgen Klopp’s side along with Chelsea, Fulham and Middlesbrough.
In the next round there will be two legs to be played.
The Reds go into the draw as favourites to win the trophy with the bookies.
Curtis brings the gifts to Anfield
Liverpool-born Curtis Jones put in one of his best performances for the club in this quarter-final this evening.
From start to finish, he put in a polished display and looked to get forward and score goals whenever the chance presented itself.
He showed the wider footballing world why the manager rates him so highly.
FT: Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
After that goalless draw with Man Utd, that will be just what the doctor ordered for Liverpool.
Klopp’s side were dominant from start to finish.
West Ham just could not handle them today.
FT: Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
The referee brings the game to a close.
It will be a long trip home for the West Ham fans.
Liverpool have been dominant today and deserve their victory.
Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
90+2. Curtis Jones has been awarded man of the match today.
The Reds pass the ball around, looking to create another opening.
Salah tries to cross but it is deflected wide for a corner.
Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
90. This has been a great team performance by Liverpool.
You cannot pick out a player who has not played well really.
Nunez is shown a yellow card as he catches the West Ham defender in the face as he tries to flick the ball.
We are going to have four minutes added.
Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
88. Liverpool do not seem done with this scoreline.
They are continuing to pile forward, looking to punish the visitors every time they attack.
David Moyes does not look happy with what he is seeing from his team.
Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
86. It seems crazy to think West Ham were back in this now.
Curtis Jones weaves his way through The Hammers defence and slots the ball into the bottom corner.
What a performance it has been by the local lad.
Credit: Getty Goal – Curtis Jones (West Ham)
Liverpool 4-1 West Ham
84. As West Ham are attacking, Alexander-Arnold clears the ball to set Salah clear through on goal.
He holds off the defenders and slots the ball past Areola.
That puts the game to bed for Jurgen Klopp’s side now surely.
Goal – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
82. As Liverpool come forward, looking to find a goal to kill the game off, Nunez lets fly from outside the box.
His shot rattles the inside of the post with Areola at full stretch.
Somehow, Salah fails to knock the rebound into an empty net as it just goes wide.
In all fairness, it did come at him rather sharply.
Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
80. Liverpool have brought Luis Diaz on for a run out.
Another goal for the visitors and this could be a nervy finish.
As we saw in yesterday’s ties, late goals have completely changed some of these quarter-final results.
Liverpool 3-1 West Ham
78. We may have a game on our hands after all.
The ball is played up to Bowen, he squares Quansah up and cuts onto his right foot.
Bowen unleashes a bending right-footed shot into the top corner.
Great strike.
Goal – Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
76. The Reds force another corner.
West Ham win the initial header but fail to clear their lines.
As a result, they have to resort to hacking clear.
Liverpool regain possession and come forward once again.
Credit: Getty Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
74. West Ham have both Paqueta and Ward-Prowse on now.
It is a big ask of them to repair the damage that has already been done.
Liverpool are continuing to pile on the pressure, looking for more goals.
Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
72. Just after Kudus narrowly sends one over the bar with their first attempt on goal of the game, Liverpool offer the ultimate sucker punch.
Konate picks the ball up and runs through the middle of the park, the visitors just watching him.
The defender feeds it to Gakpo, who steadies himself before burying his shot in the bottom corner of the goal from outside the box.
Game over for The Hammers.
Goal – Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
Liverpool 2-0 West Ham
70. Not a bad first touch from Bradley as he cushions it into the path of Salah in the box.
He allows it to bounce and it just gets away from him slightly as he stretches to shoot.
As a result he does not trouble the West Ham keeper.
Liverpool 2-0 West Ham
68. The travelling fans will be disappointed with this performance.
It begs the question whether their side have failed to turn up or Liverpool have just not allowed them to get into their groove.
Either way, time is running down and they need to find goals.
Bradley is coming on for Tsimikas for The Reds.
Credit: Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
