Welcome to Arne Slot’s fruitful Anfield rotation policy whereby he can heap fulsome praise on a different Liverpool striker following every match. Mohamed Salah after Old Trafford, Cody Gakpo post-AC Milan, Luis Diaz every weekend this season, Darwin Nunez a few days ago, and now Diogo Jota, whose double against West Ham saw the holders safely progress to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. This is truly a billionaire’s inheritance for Liverpool’s new coach, such luxuries guaranteeing wholesale changes do not diminish his firepower.
Three goals a game is starting to look compulsory, Slot’s side notching at least that total in successive fixtures over the past eight days to send a warning they can attack on all fronts. They grabbed five here, Salah and a late Gakpo double inflicting punishment on a side reduced to 10 men following Edson Alvarez’s red card. Liverpool have FIVE against West Ham! 🔴 — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) The scoreline was tough.
West Ham were much better than the side limping along in the Premier League and for 70 minutes were unfortunate to find Caoimhin Kelleher in the kind of form that makes it strange no clubs made an offer that could not be refused for his services. But Liverpool have the capacity to switch gears and demolish when invited, and there are few more accomplished finishers operating than their Portuguese striker. West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui is in danger of enjoying the worst honeymoon since the Bride of Frankens.