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Liverpool 5-2 West Ham: Arne Slot’s side kept their chase for a Champions League place on track with victory
Richard Jolly at Anfield & Harry Latham-CoyleSaturday 28 February 2026 18:43 GMT- Bookmark
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(AFP via Getty Images)Liverpool kept up the pace in the race for Champions League qualification as they survived a chaotic clash with West Ham at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s side had appeared on course for a comfortable victory when they surged into a 3-0 lead before the interval, striking twice more from corners to add to Hugo Ekitike’s early opener from a set-piece. But Tomas Soucek pegged them back and instilled a nervous energy around Anfield, which resurfaced after Taty Castellanos responded swiftly to a fourth for the home side from Cody Gakpo.
An own goal from Axel Disasi killed the contest for good, though, leaving West Ham still in real relegation strife despite another positive performance in some ways. For Liverpool, meanwhile, a five-goal showing was welcome after some recent struggles in the final third, with Slot’s side sitting fifth ahead of Sunday’s Premier League action.
Follow all the latest from Anfield with our live blog below:
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- Liverpool beat West Ham in the Premier League
- Hosts go fifth after surviving chaotic clash at Anfield as visitors remain in bottom three
- GOAL! LIVERPOOL 5-2 West Ham (Axel Disasi own goal, 82 minutes)
- GOAL! Liverpool 4-2 WEST HAM (Taty Castellanos, 75 minutes)
- GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-1 West Ham (Cody Gakpo, 69 minutes)
- GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 WEST HAM (Tomas Soucek, 49 minutes)
- GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-0 West Ham (Alexis Mac Allister, 43 minutes)
- GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 West Ham (Virgil van Dijk, 24 minutes)
- GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 West Ham (Hugo Ekitike, 6 minutes)
How Liverpool turned their set-piece weakness into a strength to brush West Ham aside
This was the sort of scoreline Liverpool might have envisaged posting rather more often when they spent nine-figure sums on the attacking talents of Alexander Isak. Except that, as they scored five times in a league game for the first time since clinching the title by demolishing Tottenham, the two £100m men were absent, both injured.
They didn’t need the German’s creativity to be prolific, or the Swede’s speed. Rather, they may have underlined one of Arne Slot’s mantras. During their autumnal slump, the Liverpool head coach said that unlocking a defence often involved a moment of magic or a set-piece. Well as Hugo Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai played, Liverpool were not magical. But the team who were statistically the worst in the division at set-pieces in the first half of the season may now be officially the best. Directly or indirectly, they scored from three before the break.
How Liverpool turned their set-piece weakness into a strength to brush West Ham aside
Liverpool 5-2 West Ham: Arne Slot’s side converted three corners on their way to victory at AnfieldRichard Jolly at Anfield28 February 2026 18:43Elsewhere...
Meanwhile, Burnley have just been denied a late equaliser against Brentford due to an Ashley Barnes handball - that goal was overturned by VAR, and the hosts aren’t too happy at Turf Moor. Some game, that, with Burnley coming back from 3-0 down to level and briefly lead before another VAR intervention, allowing Brentford to escape with a 4-3 win.
Plenty of action, too, at St James’s Park - Everton continue their good away from with a 3-2 success against Newcastle.
(Action Images via Reuters)Harry Latham-Coyle28 February 2026 17:07FT: Liverpool 5-2 West Ham
An imperfect performance, then, from Liverpool, but five goals and three points are most certainly not to be sniffed at. West Ham can count themselves a little unfortunate, as our man at the ground notes, yet you can’t really afford to concede two such soft goals from corners in the first half and expect to come back to earn a point.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 February 2026 17:04Arne Slot with a familiar goal haul against West Ham
Final thoughts from Richard Jolly, at Anfield
“Liverpool go fifth as, for the third time in Arne Slot's reign, they have scored five in a game against West Ham.
“Nuno Espirito Santo's team won the xG, but that may not be of much consolation...”
(AP)Luke Baker28 February 2026 16:58FULL TIME: Liverpool 5-2 West Ham
Liverpool sealed a 5-2 victory at Anfield (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Harry Latham-Coyle28 February 2026 16:57Liverpool 5-2 West Ham, 90 + 7 minutes
Into the last knockings.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 February 2026 16:56Liverpool 5-2 West Ham, 90 + 5 minutes
Liverpool push again for another. Mohamed Salah is desperate for a goal, ignoring Cody Gakpo perhaps in a better position to go it alone. Gakpo’s wry smile reveals his understanding of the Egyptian’s plight as the wait for his goal continues.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 February 2026 16:55Liverpool 5-2 West Ham, 90 + 2 minutes
Nearly a Liverpool sixth! Trey Nyoni is the man with the chance, and he should do better, leaning back in his excitement at a fine opportunity and troubling the fans beyond the goal.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 February 2026 16:52Liverpool 5-2 West Ham, 90 minutes
Seven goals in the game, seven minutes of stoppage time. Mohamadou Kante replaces Tomas Soucek.
(Getty Images)Harry Latham-Coyle28 February 2026 16:51Liverpool 5-2 West Ham, 89 minutes
Into the final few minutes. There will be a bit of stoppage time after four second-half goals, and Nuno Espirito Santo looks to be readying a couple of alterations, too. It’s Fulham next up for West Ham on Wednesday night.
Harry Latham-Coyle28 February 2026 16:49Newer1 / 10OlderMore about
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