Faces may change in the technical areas and out on the pitch but the story remains the same for Liverpool and West Ham in the Carabao Cup. It was another sorry tale for the Hammers, routed 5-1 in the competition for the second successive season at Anfield, and a further demonstration of the rich resources bequeathed to Arne Slot. The holders ultimately advanced with ease.
While Liverpool’s head coach utilised the depth of his squad to oversee another hugely encouraging display, the problems increase for his West Ham counterpart Julen Lopetegui. His team threatened in spells but lacked the clinical edge displayed by Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s goalscorers on the night they booked a fourth‑round trip to Brighton. They also disintegrated defensively after Edson Álvarez’s deserved red card. Lopetegui’s troubles were not confined to his team. He sustained a calf injury when stamping angrily on the ground after a glaring miss by Crysencio Summerville and left the stadium on crutches.
