Liverpool mixed sharp finishing with a few shaky moments at the back to beat West Ham United 5-2 at Anfield on Saturday, February 28, 2026. As a result, Arne Slot’s side made it four wins in five Premier League matches, climbed to fifth, and kept their Champions League chase moving. – Watch the Highlights
Most importantly, Liverpool did the damage from dead balls. They scored three times from first-half corners, a rare feat that brought back memories of Manchester United’s three-corner burst in 2016. West Ham showed some fight after the break and landed two punches of their own, but Liverpool stayed calm. A late own goal then finished off a wild, open seven-goal game.
Match highlights: How Liverpool got past West Ham
- 5′ – Hugo Ekitike puts Liverpool ahead – Liverpool struck early from a corner that West Ham only half cleared. Dominik Szoboszlai kept it alive, Ryan Gravenberch squared it, and Ekitike drove the ball through traffic for 1-0.
- 24′ – Virgil van Dijk makes it 2-0 – Next, Szoboszlai curled in another dangerous corner. Van Dijk attacked it well and powered a header home, his fifth goal this season.
- 43′ – Alexis Mac Allister adds a third – Liverpool’s corner routines kept paying off. This time, Mac Allister found space close in and finished neatly for a 3-0 lead at halftime.
- 49′ – Tomás Soucek gives West Ham hope – West Ham responded right after the restart. Soucek met a delivery and headed in to cut it to 3-1.
- 70′ – Cody Gakpo restores control – Liverpool needed a steadying moment, and Gakpo delivered it. He hit a clean strike to make it 4-1 and lift the tension around Anfield.
- 75′ – Valentín Castellanos pulls one back again – West Ham refused to fold, and Castellanos punished Liverpool to bring it to 4-2.
- 82′ – Axel Disasi’s own goal ends the contest – Jeremie Frimpong sent in a dangerous ball, and it took a deflection off Disasi and into the net, sealing the 5-2 scoreline.
Even with the score, West Ham had spells where they looked dangerous, especially on the break through Crysencio Summerville. Still, Liverpool’s edge at corners decided the match, even if the chances created didn’t always match the final numbers. Afterward, Slot pointed to improved work on set pieces as a key reason for the win.
Liverpool player ratings and key stats
Liverpool saw plenty of the ball and created a long list of chances. However, they also gave West Ham openings that better sides could punish.
| Player | Position | Key contribution | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alisson | GK | Strong saves, good distribution | 7.5 |
| Joe Gomez | DEF | Steady shift at right-back | 7 |
| Ibrahima Konaté | DEF | Won key duels | 7.5 |
| Virgil van Dijk | DEF (C) | Goal, led the line well | 8.5 |
| Milos Kerkez | DEF | Won an important corner | 7 |
| Ryan Gravenberch | MID | Assist, carried the ball well | 8 |
| Alexis Mac Allister | MID | Goal, smart link play | 8.5 |
| Dominik Szoboszlai | MID | Two assists from corners | 8 |
| Mohamed Salah | FWD | Lively involvement, no goal | 7 |
| Cody Gakpo | FWD | Goal, constant threat | 8 |
| Hugo Ekitike | FWD | Goal, big influence throughout | 9 (Man of the Match) |
From the bench, Liverpool added more control late on. Overall, the set-piece return underlined how Slot’s team has added another weapon.
West Ham player ratings and ongoing issues
West Ham competed and had moments going forward. However, they kept losing key battles on corners and paid for it.
| Player | Position | Key contribution | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mads Hermansen | GK | Some saves, conceded five | 6 |
| Aaron Wan-Bissaka | DEF | Worked hard defensively | 6.5 |
| Axel Disasi | DEF | Own goal, tough day | 5 |
| Konstantinos Mavropanos | DEF | Struggled in the air | 5.5 |
| Diouf (or similar) | DEF | Quiet game | 6 |
| Tomás Soucek | MID | Goal, physical presence | 7 |
| Other mids | MID | Fought for second balls | 6 |
| Jarrod Bowen | FWD | A few dangerous moments | 6.5 |
| Crysencio Summerville | FWD | Looked sharp on counters | 7 |
| Valentín Castellanos | FWD | Goal, held play up | 7 |
Those corner problems added to West Ham’s bigger worries. They stayed stuck in the relegation battle, and defensive lapses on dead balls continue to hurt them.
What it means for both teams
Liverpool’s recent run keeps building, and this win pushes them into fifth. The form also keeps the top-four race within reach. Slot praised the dead-ball work after the match, while also admitting Liverpool can tighten up in open play.
For West Ham, the loss adds pressure in the bottom half. They’ve picked up points in patches this season, yet mistakes at set pieces keep dragging them back. Anfield enjoyed a loud, goal-heavy afternoon as Liverpool grabbed three points in style.
