Liverpool produced a clinical first-half performance to score three set-piece goals in a chaotic 5-2 win over relegation-fighting West Ham.
2025/2026 Premier League
5-2
Match Report
A lively away performance from West Ham was not enough to deny Arne Slot's men at Anfield, as they moved level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United in the Premier League table.
Liverpool scored three first-half goals, all from corners, with the first of those coming via Ekitike's fifth-minute drive off the second phase of a Dominik Szoboszlai delivery.
Virgil van Dijk met another Szoboszlai corner with a towering header in the 24th minute, before Alexis Mac Allister scored the pick of Liverpool's goals two minutes before half-time, adjusting brilliantly to net with the outside of his boot after Ekitike helped Mohamed Salah's corner into his path.
Despite the scoreline, West Ham had threatened throughout the first period, and they pulled a goal back four minutes into the second half as Tomas Soucek met El Hadji Malick Diouf's cross on the slide.
Liverpool then appeared to be on the ropes, only for Cody Gakpo's shot to deflect in off Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the 70th minute after the Dutchman took in Ekitike's pass.
Valentin Castellanos was unmarked as he headed Jarrod Bowen's corner in for 4-2, but after Crysencio Summerville went close to teeing up a nervy finish, Axel Disasi turned Jeremie Frimpong's centre into his own net to cap the scoring in the 82nd minute.
Liverpool 5-2 West Ham
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 28, 2026
One-sided on the scoresheet, anything but in terms of the underlying numbers.
Set-pieces, set-pieces, set-pieces. #LIVWHU pic.twitter.com/60eFIYfR8c
Data Debrief: Slot's set-piece plea heard
Earlier this season, Slot said Liverpool had no chance of making the Premier League's top four if they did not improve from set-pieces, and it would appear his players heard him.
They became just the second team in Premier League history to score three goals from corners in the first half of a match, after Manchester United did so in a 4-1 win over Leicester City in September 2016.
Ekitike's opener made him the first Liverpool player to reach 20 goal involvements in all competitions this season (now 16 goals, six assists), while Van Dijk's goal was his 28th in the Premier League. Excluding penalties, John Terry is the only defender with more (41).
But West Ham could be pleased with aspects of their performance, having racked up 11 shots and 1.84 expected goals (xG) compared to 18 shots and 1.75 xG for Liverpool.
Nevertheless, Nuno Espirito Santo has now lost nine Premier League games against the Reds – more than he has against any other opponent.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Hugo Ekitiké beats Hermansen at his near post! Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
19' Gravenberch tests Hermansen from range
24' Szoboszlai corner delivery is glanced in by Van Dijk! Liverpool 2-0 West Ham
31' Alisson passes straight to Bowen but gets away with it
37' Alisson with stop at near post from Konate while attempting to stop Soucek
43' Mac Allister fires in a volley!! Liverpool 3-0 West Ham (Mac Allister)
49' West Ham pull one back through Soucek! Liverpool 3-1 West Ham (Tomáš Souček)
54' Gakpo misses an absolute sitter after a Gomez long throw
54' No penalty after Ekitike goes down in box
71' Gakpo's shot deflects off wan-Bissaka! Liverpool 4-1 West Ham
75' Castellanos heads home from a corner for West Ham! Liverpool 4-2 West Ham
82' OWN GOAL! Liverpool 5-2 West Ham (Axel Disasi)
Line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Salah, Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Konate, Gakpo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Hugo Ekitiké, Milos Kerkez
Subs: Robertson, Freddie Woodman, Chiesa, Curtis Jones, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Calvin Ramsay, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha
West Ham XI: Soucek, Bowen, Disasi, Mavropanos, Wan-Bissaka, Taty Castellanos, Crysencio Summerville, Mads Hermansen, Soungoutou Magassa, Mateus Fernandes, El Hadji Malick Diouf
Subs: Callum Wilson, Areola, Traore, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Todibo, Oliver Scarles, Mohamadou Kanté, Ezra Mayers