Liverpool booked their place in the final four of the Carabao Cup after brushing aside West Ham at Anfield.
Curtis Jones of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the fifth goal for Liverpool during the Carabao Cup quarter-final
Curtis Jones of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the fifth goal for Liverpool during the Carabao Cup quarter-final
Liverpool moved another step closer to Wembley on Wednesday evening after a one-sided Carabao Cup quarter-final victory at the expense of West Ham United.
The Reds ran out 5-1 winners on home soil after goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones (2), Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah. West Ham pulled one back through Jarrod Bowen, this their only real attempt of the entire evening.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will now face Fulham in a two-legged semi-final tie next month for a place at Wembley to face one of Middlesbrough and Chelsea.
Sharing their assessment of the events that unfolded at Anfield the national media, along with the ECHO’s own Paul Gorst, whose thoughts on proceedings can be found below.
‘A ferocious unleashing of artillery’
Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph wrote:
“Liverpool picked the ideal moment to reconnect with their attacking swagger.
“The Premier League leaders are on the horizon, there were whispers about strikers firing too many blanks after their toils against Manchester United, and some of the new midfielders were discovering English football is not as easy as they initially made it look. A ferocious unleashing of artillery answered lingering questions as Jurgen Klopp’s side took their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
“This was arguably the most complete Liverpool performance of the season. It was certainly the most sustained exhibition of attacking brilliance, the 5-1 victory flattering West Ham, even if Klopp felt too many spectators were blase about what they were witnessing.
“Whatever the growing expectations in the league, the Carabao Cup has a habit of moving stealthily up the priority lists as teams advance. Klopp said the best way to speed up the growth of a new-look team is to win a trophy. They’re now a couple of games away and on this form will take some stopping.
“Arteta and the Arsenal players probably switched off after an hour, what they will face on the pitch and from the stands now immeasurably tougher than it seemed 72 hours earlier.”
‘An alluring opportunity’
Paul Joyce of the Times wrote:
“There have been times when the prospect of a two-legged League Cup semi-final in the midst of an already cluttered calendar would have left Jürgen Klopp wondering if it was worth all the hassle. Not today though. Today, that will feel like an alluring opportunity.
“Liverpool should consider themselves favourites to go on and lift the first trophy of the season even with the hurdles that are left to clear as their hunger, intent and squad depth rode roughshod over a feeble, abject West Ham United.
“From the confidence-boosting goal from Dominik Szoboszlai, which broke the deadlock, Harvey Elliott’s mesmeric cameo and much more besides, there was plenty for Klopp to admire in an embarrassingly one-sided tie.”
‘Constant blur of red shirts’
Andy Hunter of the Guardian wrote:
“After the stalemate, the slaughter.
“Liverpool channelled the frustration of being held by Manchester United into an emphatic destruction of West Ham to book their place in the League Cup semi-finals for a record 19th time. David Moyes’s team were abysmal, and the 6,000-strong travelling support let them know it, but the truth is West Ham were pounded into submission.
“Liverpool were intent on making the night a horrible experience for West Ham from the kick-off. There was illness in the visiting camp, depriving Moyes of several options, but the West Ham players fit to start must have felt queasy from the constant blur of red shirts that swarmed around them.
“The intensity of Liverpool’s counter-press was remarkable. Klopp’s side had started with similar energy against Manchester United but were unable to make it count because of a poor final ball or decision. Despite fielding six changes to the goalless draw on Sunday, there was more composure and patience to Liverpool’s attacking play against the Hammers and no way out for Moyes’s team.”
‘The perfect showcase for his enthusiasm to take on players’
Joe Bernstein of the Daily Mail wrote:
“Jones ran at Mexican international Edson Alvarez every chance he got and scored his first brace at Anfield with two different, but equally classy, goals.
“For the first, he feigned to centre before rolling the ball between Alphonse Areola’s legs at the near post. His second was a powerful surge into the box followed by an emphatic finish into the corner.
“The 22-year-old is a local lad who has sometimes found it hard at a club who can sign players from all over the world. Klopp has always seen potential – ‘we’ll have some fun with him’ – and this was a perfect showcase for his enthusiasm to take on players.”
‘This increasingly intriguing seasons continues to take real shape’
Paul Gorst of the Liverpool ECHO wrote:
“Klopp knows full well about the value of this competition beyond the winners’ medals and the trophy in the cabinet. It was nearly two years ago that the Reds snared a record ninth win, on penalties against Chelsea, to fuel talk of a quadruple charge for the remainder of that season. A subsequent feelgood factor was wrapped around the entire club and chatter started to emerge about a new contract for the manager that was later signed in April en route to 92 Premier League points and a Champions League final spot.
“The opportunity to provide a similar injection of impetus and momentum could yet be massive for Liverpool as this increasingly intriguing season continues to take real shape. It’s an exciting time to be following this club once more.
