LIVERPOOL 5-2 WEST HAM: Goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo gave Arne Slot's side their third Premier League win on the trot
Liverpool's Dutch defender #04 Virgil van Dijk celebrates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.
Liverpool's Dutch defender #04 Virgil van Dijk celebrates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.
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Liverpool have jumped back into the top five after an entertaining 5-2 win at home to West Ham. The Reds boosted their Champions League hopes while ensuring that Nuno Espirito Santo's side remain in the relegation zone.
Arne Slot described his side's first-half performance at Nottingham Forest last weekend as the 'worst we've played', but it was different story at Anfield. The Reds raced into a 1-0 lead through Hugo Ekitike.
Virgil van Dijk soon doubled Liverpool's advantage to continue his fine goalscoring form. West Ham were in the game, though, and had chances to get back in it.
The Irons' hopes looked to be dashed when Alexis Mac Allister made it 3-0 before half-time, only for Tomas Soucek to pull a goal back shortly after the break. But Cody Gakpo's strike and an own goal made sure of the three points.
Here are five talking points from Anfield.
1. Liverpool's lightning-fast start
After leaving it very late against Forest, Liverpool wasted no time to break the deadlock here. West Ham initially dealt with a corner in the fifth minute, only for Ryan Gravenberch to pick up the pieces on the edge of the penalty area.
Gravenberch whipped the ball into Ekitike, who found space and lashed a shot past Mads Hermansen courtesy of a deflection off Konstantinos Mavropanos. The Frenchman celebrated with a thumbs-up to the Kop, where his new banner was unfurled ahead of kick-off.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on February 28, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Hugo Ekitike put Liverpool in front inside five minutes(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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2. Van Dijk continues hot streak
You just can't keep him off the scoresheet. No, not Ekitike, Van Dijk!
Liverpool's captain headed home his third goal in six Premier League games to double the Reds' lead on 24 minutes. Once again, West Ham failed to deal with a corner and it proved fatal.
There was a brief VAR check for offside, due to the position which Joe Gomez was taking up, but the goal stood. Liverpool were in the mood for goals.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool scores his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on February 28, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk has scored three goals in his last six Premier League games(Image: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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3. West Ham's set-piece woes
The Reds had time for another goal before half-time which, you guessed it, came from a corner. With the interval approaching and West Ham still in with a chance of a making it a contest, Liverpool put the nail in their coffin.
Mo Salah's delivery was inadvertently flicked to back post by Jarrod Bowen, allowing Ekitike to volley it back to Mac Allister in acres of space. The midfielder then produced a volley of his own, rifling it past Hermansen.
It was just the kind of first half Liverpool needed after Slot slated their opening 45 minutes at the City Ground. But for West Ham, it was all going wrong.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Mads Hermansen of West Ham United reacts after conceding the third goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on February 28, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
West Ham conceded three goals from corners(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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4. Gakpo back in the goals
Liverpool were given a few scares after Soucek's goal and their win was under threat. But Gakpo, who'd missed a guilt-edged earlier in the second half, allayed the home crowd's fears with his first goal in eight league matches.
Ekitike provided the assist again, but it was the Netherlands international who did the hard work. Standing up Aaron Wan-Bissaka before cutting inside on his right foot, Gakpo ended his drought in style.
Still West Ham didn't give up, though. Valentin Castellanos scored the sixth goal of the game and fourth from a corner to restore the two-goal deficit. But it was too little, too late, as Axel Disasi's own goal made it 5-2.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Cody Gakpo of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on February 28, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Cody Gakpo made it 4-1 with a well-taken goal(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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5. Irons resurgence halted
Although this only goes down as West Ham's second defeat in seven league games, it's now three without a win for the Irons, who are two points adrift of safety. With the two teams directly above them - Tottenham and Forest - having employed managers, West Ham supporters will be worrying about that gap getting larger on Sunday.
Although Santo's side were by no means hammered by Liverpool, they paid the price for poor defending. Things don't get much easier for West Ham, with Fulham away up next before they host Manchester City either side of an FA Cup fifth-round clash tie against Brentford.