Curtis Jones scored twice as Liverpool thrashed West Ham 5-1 at Anfield to set up a Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham.
The midfielder struck Liverpool’s second and fifth goals, adding to Dominik Szoboszlai’s long-range stunner, a precise finish from Cody Gakpo and a breakaway strike by substitute Mohamed Salah.
Jarrod Bowen scored a consolation goal for West Ham but the scoreline reflected the one-sidedness of the contest, with Liverpool registering 29 shots on goal to the visitors’ two.
The win pits Liverpool against Fulham in the last four of a competition they have won a record nine times, with Middlesbrough facing Chelsea in the other tie. It also serves as a perfect warm-up for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.
David Moyes had not won any of his previous 20 visits to Anfield and West Ham offered nothing to suggest that record was about to change as a completely one-sided first half set the tone.
Harvey Elliot was first to threaten, sending a couple of efforts wide, and Szoboszlai might have made the breakthrough earlier had he not slipped when shooting from Darwin Nunez’s cut-back.
His goal came from a far more difficult chance as he latched onto Jarell Quansah’s pass following a turnover near the halfway line and drilled a stunning strike into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.
SkySport
