Liverpool 5-2 West Ham - Ruthless Hugo Ekitike and co. punish relegation battlers in breathless Premier League victory at Anfield

Premier League / Matchday 28

Anfield / 28.02.2026

Liverpool

Finished

West Ham United

T. Soucek(49')
V. Castellanos(75')

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05:15 PM

RUTHLESS LIVERPOOL PUNISH WEST HAM IN 5-2 VICTORY

Liverpool made it four wins on the bounce across all competitions with a 5-2 victory over sprightly West Ham United.

Mo Salah’s goal drought extended to a career-high 10 Premier League games, but superstar-in-the-making Hugo Ekitike once again stepped up, as Liverpool showed their ruthless side in what was a potential banana skin against an in-form team.

"It’s actually impossible to win the league if you have a set-piece balance like ours," bemoaned manager Arne Slot earlier this month, but The Reds have emphatically responded to that.

All three first-half goals were the result of corners, as Liverpool punished West Ham’s lack of a finishing touch in an entertaining match-up, and one which was more well-matched than the scoreline suggests.

After a historic rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone - which included the lyrics from a sign language interpreter on the Anfield turf for the first time, to help hard-of-hearing supporters - Liverpool made a bright start in the Merseyside sunshine.

Ekitike put the hosts ahead early with Premier League goal No. 11 of his debut campaign - a total only three players in the division can top.

A Reds corner was cleared only as far as Ryan Gravenberch, who was twice onto it - on the second attempt finding Ekitike completely open on the left side of the area. The France international took one touch and slotted home through the legs of a defender.

Image credit: Getty Images

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men - who had lost just one of their previous eight games across all competitions - then woke up, and had the better of the play over the next 20 minutes, with Crysencio Summerville, in particular, purring.

It was in vain, though, as captain Virgil van Dijk rose highest at a corner for the second time in three games, putting Liverpool 2-0 ahead.

Jarrod Bowen, lively as ever, made some intelligent runs to chase down Liverpool passing lanes in their own box, twice coming close to punishing Alisson and Gravenberch. West Ham were looking dangerous.

But again, just as the Irons looked most likely to strike, Liverpool produced a devastating blow. This time, a corner was headed only as far as Ekitike at the back post. The France forward's first touch off-balance was put into the patch of Alexis Mac Allister, who had no hesitation in blasting a volley home.

After waiting all season for a goal, he now has two in two, having scored the winner at Nottingham Forest last time out.

West Ham had the perfect response after half-time. Tomas Soucek - who had also netted against Manchester United earlier this month - got himself in a good position at the back post to stab in El Hadji Malick Diouf’s ball across the face of goal.

Cody Gakpo, who was on an eight-week scoring drought then fluffed his lines at the back post under no pressure, as he skewed wide.

Within 10 minutes, though, he had his name on the scoresheet. The Dutch forward stepped inside from the left flank, again with little resistance, and got his finish between three defenders and inside the far stick.

The Hammers were still not done. Taty Castellanos, the January arrival, immediately bit back with a header from a corner - his third goal in England - as Alisson's swipe on the line was unable to keep the ball out.

As West Ham again searched for a way back into the game - Summerville and Bowen leading the charge very well, alongside Matheus Fernandes - Liverpool wrapped it up with seven minutes to play.

Gakpo threaded a brilliant ball from the edge of the box to the right-hand side, where the returning Jeremie Frimpong picked it up. His cross was deflected into his own net by Axel Disasi, finally putting the points beyond doubt.

Image credit: Getty Images

Liverpool rise into fifth place, level on points with bitter rivals Manchester United in fourth, albeit having played a game more. Aston Villa are now just three points ahead of The Reds after their shock defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

And it's bottom-placed Wolves who Liverpool will face next, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Tuesday.

West Ham, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone, now having played a game more than main rivals Nottingham Forest (two points ahead) and Tottenham Hotspur (four points).

The Irons' next game is away to Fulham on Wednesday, also live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

05:02 PM

NEXT UP ON TNT SPORTS

There's a full round of Premier League games this midweek, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Liverpool travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers in one of four games on Tuesday.

All eyes are on the title race on Wednesday, as Arsenal go to Brighton & Hove Albion, and Manchester City host Nottingham Forest.

The round closes on Thursday night with relegation fighters Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace meeting.

Watch: Why have Arsenal been so good in the Champions League this season?

Video credit: TNT Sports

Full time

FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 5-2 WEST HAM

After an entertaining afternoon at Anfield, Liverpool emerge with a big win in the race for a UEFA Champions League spot.

They went 3-0 up by half-time against a spirited West Ham team, who twice cut the deficit to two goals, but Arne Slot's men punished the visitors with two second-half goals of their own.

More to follow.

92'

NYONI BLASTS OVER

He saw his name in lights, but Nyoni will have to wait for his first senior goal. Frimpong plays a ball across perfectly into his path on the run in the middle of the box, but he can't keep it down.

91'

INTO STOPPAGE-TIME

Seven additional minutes to play.

88'

NGUMOHA TRIES TO MAKE HIS MARK

After coming off the bench, teenage sensation Ngumoha cuts in from the left and unleashes a series of stopovers on two defenders before his shot is saved.

83'

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 5-2 WEST HAM!

Now it's finally over!

Gakpo threads a brilliant ball from the edge of the box to the right edge, where substitute Frimpong gets on the end of it. His cross in is then deflected in by Disasi.

Own goal

A. DisasiLiverpool

82'

SUPER SUMMERVILLE

The former Leeds man has been impressive once again today, and he has another chance here that he can't keep down after strong play. He intricately dribbles his way into a shooting position in the box before unleashing a shot with a little too much power. West Ham still have hope.

75'

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-2 WEST HAM!

This game is breathless!

Summerville stings the palms of Alisson to win a corner, from which West Ham cut the deficit to two goals again.

Bowen's corner swings all the way through traffic to Castellanos at the back post, who heads in, with Alisson's swipe on the line unable to keep it out.

Image credit: Getty Images

Goal

V. CastellanosWest Ham United

70'

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-1 WEST HAM!

Gakpo gets on the scoresheet! The Dutchman really needed that, particularly after his earlier miss.

He steps inside from the left flank with little pressure, then gets it between three defenders inside the far post.

Image credit: Getty Images

Goal

C. GakpoLiverpool

65'

EFFORTS FROM FERNANDES AND SALAH

First Fernandes has a long-range which swerves and takes a deflection on its way through to trouble Alisson, but is held.

At the other end, Salah threatens a trademark finish as he cuts in, drops a shoulder and fires a left-footed shot, but it goes over.

62'

FINAL BALL LETTING IRONS DOWN

Liverpool are looking far from assured at the back, with some sloppy moments in defence, while the game is moving further and further into their territory.

The final ball is letting West Ham down, though, with wild crosses from Diouf and co. Bowen is looking the most likely man to thread the needle.

54'

GLORIOUS CHANCE GOES BEGGING

That's a very bad miss.

Gakpo is open at the back post as a cross bounces to him at a good pace, begging to be hit first time with his left foot.

He does that, but the squanders the opportunity as it goes hopelessly wide from a tight angle, failing to stike it back across goal.

51'

SOUCEK STEPPING UP

It's a second goal in three games for the Czech midfielder, and he's saved them for the big boys - the other one coming in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

The goal is nothing less than The Irons deserve, having played well for long portions of an entertaining first half.

Image credit: Getty Images

49'

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-1 WEST HAM!

A perfect start to the second half for the visitors as Soucek strikes!

Diouf fires in a ball across the face of goal, with Soucek in the right place to stab in at the back post.

Goal

T. SoucekWest Ham United

46'

Half-time

46'

KICK-OFF

The second half is underway at Anfield.

04:02 PM

SERIE A ACTION

As for football, the next live games on TNT Sports come from the top end of Serie A.

Leaders Inter host Genoa this evening from 19:45 UK time, before a huge game in the Champions League race at the same time tomorrow, as Roma face Juventus.

Both matches are live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Highlights: Serie A leaders Inter go ten points clear with win against Lecce

Video credit: TNT Sports

03:58 PM

MOTOGP SEASON OPENER

Elsewhere in the sporting world, this weekend sees the MotoGP season begin.

Watch all the action from Grand Prix Thailand live on TNT Sports and discovery+ tomorrow morning.

'Now we start the main event' - Bezzecchi targets victory after securing Grand Prix Thailand pole

Video credit: TNT Sports

50'

HALF-TIME

Liverpool are 3-0 up at the break - but the scoreline really doesn't tell the full story, with West Ham having had their bright periods of play.

Set-pieces have troubled the visitors, though, with the first and third goals - from Ekitike and Mac Allister, respectively - coming from corners which were not sufficiently cleared.

And the second, a header from Van Dijk, was directly from a corner.

45'

LIKE LONDON BUSES...

Mac Allister waited all season for a Premier League goal, now he has two in two.

The midfielder also scored the winner last time out against Nottingham Forest.

Image credit: Getty Images