West Ham’s hopes of reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals were dashed as they suffered a 5-1 hammering at the hands of Liverpool.
David Moyes paid the price for making six changes to his starting lineup as the Reds joined Fulham, Chelsea and Middlesbrough in the last four.
The home side had only Dominik Szoboszlai’s strike to show for their first-half dominance, but Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo struck after the break to kill the game.
Jarrod Bowen hit back with a fine consolation, but substitute Mohames Salah ran clear to add a fourth, before Jones’s second completed the rout.
Here's how David Moyes's side rated at Anfield...
Alphonse Areola 4
Returned from a wrist injury. Kicking was shaky early on and then beaten between his legs by Jones on the angle. Top save late on to tip Darwun Nunez strike onto post.
Vladimir Coufal 6
Tough physical battle as Nunez drifted wide.
Konstantinos Mavropanos 4
Really poor in possession and caught ball-watching as Jones drifted in behind for crucial second goal.
Angelo Ogbonna 4
A surprise starter with Nayef Aguerd out ill. Lack of mobility was clear and better depth is needed in January.
Ben Johnson 6
Hasn't featured in the League all season but drafted in here. An admirable show, brought drive to the side and picked up an assist for Bowen goal.
Edson Alvarez 6
The best of West Ham's midfielders by some margin. Booked for a cruncher on Harvey Elliott.
Tomas Soucek 3
So wasteful in possession. A poor display when Moyes needed his regulars to step up most. Capped it off with blunder in lead-up to Gakpo third.
Pablo Fornals 4
Unable to lay a glove on Liverpool midfield as Elliott, Gakpo and Szoboszlai drifted between the lines.
Mohammed Kudus 4
Clear effort to double up on the Ghanaian worked. His quietest night in a West Ham shirt.
Jarrod Bowen 6
A rare night on which you might have preferred Michail Antonio as a more physical presence but took his consolation brilliantly.
Said Benrahma 3
Blew a chance to release Bowen on the break and within seconds Liverpool had scored.
Substitutes
Lucas Paqueta (Benrahma 57') 5
Was waiting to come on when second goal flew in.
Thilo Kehrer (Coufal 72') 5
Given the amount of rotation, will no doubt be miserable not to have gotten a start.
James Ward-Prowse (Kudus 72') 5
Was waiting to come on when third goal went in.
Danny Ings (Alvarez 81') N/A
Got a nice ovation on return to Anfield.
Unused: Fabianski, Cresswell, Zouma, Emerson, Mubama
