Liverpool secured a 5-2 victory over West Ham United in the Premier League on February 28, 2026, at Anfield, moving up to fifth place level on points with Manchester United. Goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, and Cody Gakpo, plus an own goal by Axel Disasi, gave the hosts the win despite a second-half fightback from the visitors. The result leaves West Ham in the relegation zone, two points from safety.
The match at Anfield kicked off at 15:00 GMT, with Liverpool starting strongly. Just five minutes in, Hugo Ekitike opened the scoring, finishing from close range after Ryan Gravenberch found him following a corner. The hosts doubled their lead around the 25-minute mark when Virgil van Dijk headed in a corner from Cody Gakpo. Before halftime, Alexis Mac Allister made it 3-0, rifling home from a set-piece delivery by Ekitike.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half, with Tomas Soucek converting a cross from El Hadji Malick Diouf on 49 minutes. Liverpool restored their three-goal advantage in the 70th minute as Gakpo's shot deflected off Aaron Wan-Bissaka into the net. Taty Castellanos briefly revived hopes for the visitors with a close-range finish late on, but an own goal by Axel Disasi off Jeremie Frimpong's effort with less than 10 minutes remaining sealed the points for Arne Slot's side.
Liverpool's starting lineup included Alisson in goal, with defenders Joe Gomez, Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Milos Kerkez, midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, and Gravenberch, and forwards Mohamed Salah, Gakpo, and Ekitike. West Ham lined up with Mads Hermansen in goal, defenders Wan-Bissaka, Disasi, Konstantinos Mavropanos, and Diouf, midfielders Soucek, Carlos Magassa, and Mateus Fernandes, and forwards Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen, and Taty Castellanos.
The win highlighted Liverpool's improved set-piece threat, with three goals from corners in the first half. As Slot noted, "Set pieces can make a massive difference." Gakpo added, "In some games, when the game is stuck... it's very important." Despite the scoreline, West Ham enjoyed more possession and higher expected goals (xG), underscoring a nervy second half for the Reds. Liverpool now sit level with fourth-placed Manchester United, boosting their Champions League qualification hopes, while West Ham remain third-bottom.
