Hugo Ekitike scored and offered two assists as Liverpool bolstered their top-four hopes with an entertaining 5-2 victory over West Ham.
A vigorous away efficiency from West Ham was not sufficient to disclaim Arne Slot’s males at Anfield, as they moved stage on factors with fourth-placed Manchester United within the Premier League desk.
Liverpool scored three first-half targets, all from corners, with the primary of these coming by way of Ekitike’s fifth-minute drive off the second section of a Dominik Szoboszlai supply.
Virgil van Dijk met one other Szoboszlai nook with a towering header within the twenty fourth minute, earlier than Alexis Mac Allister scored the decide of Liverpool’s targets two minutes earlier than half-time, adjusting brilliantly to internet with the surface of his boot after Ekitike helped Mohamed Salah’s nook into his path.
Regardless of the scoreline, West Ham had threatened all through the primary interval, they usually pulled a purpose again 4 minutes into the second half as Tomas Soucek met El Hadji Malick Diouf’s cross on the slide.
Liverpool then seemed to be on the ropes, just for Cody Gakpo’s shot to deflect in off Aaron Wan-Bissaka within the seventieth minute after the Dutchman took in Ekitike’s move.
Valentin Castellanos was unmarked as he headed Jarrod Bowen’s nook in for 4-2, however after Crysencio Summerville went near teeing up a nervy end, Axel Disasi turned Jeremie Frimpong’s centre into his personal internet to cap the scoring within the 82nd minute.
Liverpool 5-2 West Ham
One-sided on the scoresheet, something however when it comes to the underlying numbers.
Set-pieces, set-pieces, set-pieces. #LIVWHU pic.twitter.com/60eFIYfR8c
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 28, 2026
Knowledge Debrief: Slot’s set-piece plea heard
Earlier this season, Slot stated Liverpool had no likelihood of constructing the Premier League’s high 4 if they didn’t enhance from set-pieces, and it could seem his gamers heard him.
They grew to become simply the second group in Premier League historical past to attain three targets from corners within the first half of a match, after Manchester United did so in a 4-1 win over Leicester Metropolis in September 2016.
Ekitike’s opener made him the primary Liverpool participant to succeed in 20 purpose involvements in all competitions this season (now 16 targets, six assists), whereas Van Dijk’s purpose was his twenty eighth within the Premier League. Excluding penalties, John Terry is the one defender with extra (41).
However West Ham may very well be happy with points of their efficiency, having racked up 11 pictures and 1.84 anticipated targets (xG) in comparison with 18 pictures and 1.75 xG for Liverpool.
Nonetheless, Nuno Espirito Santo has now misplaced 9 Premier League video games in opposition to the Reds – greater than he has in opposition to some other opponent.