First Half: Competitive Beginning
The match commenced with West Ham on the front foot, and after pouncing on a defensive nugget, Quansah put the ball into his net. Liverpool did not waste any time and responded only four minutes later, with an interruption from Diogo Jota, who has been in great form, powering the ball in with a header, and signalling what would be a long night ahead for the visitors.
West Ham certainly had their bites in the first half – having two penalty appeals that would be controversially turned down. Carlos Soler’s flick appeared to strike Joe Gomez’s arm in a questionable location that wasn’t given by referee Andy Madley, but despite the opportunities went missing, West Ham could not find reward from the rear end, soon Liverpool were on the offensive.
Second Half: Liverpool Take Control
Liverpool came out in the second half flying. Jota quickly moved to a second goal, putting Liverpool ahead and the West Ham defender behind the eight ball. Salah, who was very quiet in the first half, stamped his authority and smashed a strong shot past Łukasz Fabiański, making it 3-1.
The match went from bad to worse for West Ham when Edson Álvarez received his second yellow card, reducing the visitors to ten men. Liverpool took full advantage of the numerical superiority, with Cody Gakpo scoring twice in the final minutes to seal the win and send Liverpool comfortably into the next round.
Post-Match Reactions: Coaches’ Conferences
In the post-match press conference, Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot praised his team’s resilience and ability to bounce back after going a goal down early in the game. “The lads showed great character,” Slot said. “Even when we conceded, there was no panic. We stuck to our game plan, and it paid off. The quality we have in this squad means we’re always capable of turning things around, and today was a perfect example of that.”
On the other side, West Ham’s manager Julen Lopetegui expressed his disappointment with the result but remained positive about his team’s performance, especially in the first hour of the match. “We started well and had some good chances,” Lopetegui noted. “The decisions didn’t go our way, and that’s football. But we have to keep our heads up and focus on improving. We’re still in a transition period, and these things take time. I’m confident we will bounce back.”
Lopetegui also touched on the two denied penalty appeals, which he felt could have changed the course of the game. “I believe we were unlucky with the decisions today,” he added. “At 1-1, those moments are crucial. But we have to accept them and move forward.”
Looking Ahead
Liverpool’s victory sends them confidently into the next round of the Carabao Cup and continues their strong start to the season under Slot. West Ham, meanwhile, must regroup quickly as they face a tough Premier League fixture against Brentford. For both teams, this match was a reminder of the fine margins in football and the importance of resilience and focus.
Liverpool will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming matches, while West Ham will aim to learn
