Hugo Ekitike scored and offered two assists as Liverpool boosted their top-four hopes with a 5-2 win over West Ham.
West Ham’s energetic away efficiency was not sufficient to disclaim Arne Slott’s facet at Anfield, who’re stage on factors with Manchester United in fourth place within the Premier League desk.
Liverpool scored three targets within the first half, all from corners, the primary of which was scored by Ekitike 5 minutes into Dominik Szoboszlai’s second part.
Virgil van Dijk headed in Szoboszlai’s nook kick within the twenty fourth minute, and Alexis Mac Allister scored for Liverpool two minutes earlier than half-time. Ekitike assisted Mohamed Salah’s nook kick after which slotted it into the web with the surface of his boot.
Regardless of the scoreline, West Ham threatened all through the primary interval and scored 4 minutes into the second half when Tomas Soucek slid in a cross from El Hadji Malic Diouf.
Liverpool then regarded doomed, however within the seventieth minute Kodi Gakpo’s shot after receiving Ekitike’s go was deflected into the web by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Valentin Castellanos headed residence a free from Jarrod Bowen’s nook kick to make it 4-2, however Crisencio Somerville held his nerve and went shut earlier than Axel Disasi scored within the 82nd minute, firing a shot by way of the center of Jeremy Frimpong into his personal web.
Liverpool 5-2 West Ham
It is one-sided on the scoresheet and nothing by way of the underlying numbers.
Set piece, set piece, set piece. #ribfu pic.twitter.com/60eFIYfR8c
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 28, 2026
Knowledge report: Slot set-piece appeals heard
Earlier this season, Slott mentioned Liverpool had no likelihood of ending within the Premier League’s prime 4 until they improved from set-pieces, and it seems to be just like the gamers listened to him.
They grew to become the second workforce in Premier League historical past to attain three targets from corners within the first half of a sport, the primary being Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Leicester Metropolis in September 2016.
Ekitike’s opening aim made him the primary Liverpool participant to achieve 20 aim involvements in all competitions this season (at present on 16 targets and 6 assists), whereas Van Dijk’s aim was his twenty eighth within the Premier League. Excluding penalties, John Terry is the one defender with extra factors (41).
Nonetheless, West Ham could also be glad with their efficiency, with 11 photographs on aim and 1.84 anticipated targets (xG) in comparison with Liverpool’s 18 photographs and 1.75 anticipated targets.
Regardless of this, Nuno Espirito Santo has at present misplaced 9 video games in opposition to the Reds within the Premier League, which is greater than in opposition to every other opponent.
