Dominik Szoboszlai scored a rocket from 30 yards in the first half (Picture: Shutterstock)
Liverpool have booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a dominant 5-1 victory over West Ham at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Dominik Szoboszlai scored a rocket from outside the box in the first half – with Sky Sports commentator Jamie Carragher describing it as ‘Cristiano Ronaldo-esque’ – before Curtis Jones bagged two goals in the second half while Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah also got on the scoresheet after the break.
After failing to lift silverware last term, Liverpool will be keen to win a record-extending 10th Carabao Cup trophy, with the final set for February 25 – but they must first progress from their last-four clash – which takes place in January.
Both Liverpool and West Ham made six changes to their XIs heading into Wednesday’s quarter-final meeting with Jurgen Klopp deciding to bench Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold until the hour mark.
Liverpool started on the front foot and dominated the early possession with Harvey Elliott looking particularly dangerous in the opening 20 minutes with a series of chances.
Szoboszlai then fired the hosts with a fine finish ahead just before the half-hour mark, smashing the ball into Alphonse Areola’s bottom corner from 30 yards.
West Ham failed to create any real opportunities in the opening 45 minutes and Gakpo went close to doubling Liverpool’s lead before the break with a header inside the box, which flew just wide of the post as it stayed 1-0.
Liverpool continued to look in control in the early stages of the second half with Jones seeing an effort blocked behind for a corner and Darwin Nunez turning away from three defenders before seeing his driven shot pushed over.
Jones doubled Liverpool’s lead on 56 minutes, managing to squeeze a shot in from a very tight angle following a great pass from Nunes as the Reds put one foot in the semi-finals.
Liverpool then looked to make it three as West Ham continued to struggle – with substitute Salah finding Elliott in the box – but his shot from an angle around six yards out was blocked by Areola.
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With just under 20 minutes left, Gakpo deservedly made it 3-0, rifling a shot into the bottom corner out of Areola’s reach after a surging run and pass from defender Ibrahima Konate.
West Ham star Bowen, who Klopp described as his ‘favourite player’ outside of Liverpool in his pre-match interview, scored a superb solo goal to pull one back from the visitors, bending a brilliant shot into the far corner with his right foot.
But Salah and Jones made sure of the victory as they both produced goals in the last 10 minutes, as Liverpool reached the semi-finals with an impressive performance.
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