Darwin Nunez scored again as Liverpool moved up to 2nd in the Premier League table.
Liverpool had a quick turnaround from their Thursday night win in Austria in the Europa League as they hosted David Moyes’ West Ham United at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp handed Darwin Nunez another start up front alongside Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz. Curtis Jones’ career revival continued as he started with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.
Joe Gomez was retained at right-back, as he was last weekend against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Trent Alexander-Arnold still sidelined through injury.
An early scare for the Reds as Tomas Soucek had the opportunity to give the visitors an early lead – only to see his header denied by a superb, lunging save from Alisson.
Liverpool were awarded a penalty fifteen minutes in as Salah was brought down in the box by Nayef Aguerd before he could get a shot away. The Egyptian made no mistake in thumping the ball past Alphonse Areola.
The lead wouldn’t last, however, as Jarrod Bowen equalised with minutes to go in the first half with a sweeping header into the far corner.
The story of Liverpool’s season has been one of second half success. Poor, lax starts were overturned by impressive team performances after a midway cuppa. Sunday’s match was no different against the Hammers.
A sublime, defence-splitting ball over the backline from Mac Allister found Nunez, whose deft finish put Liverpool ahead at Anfield.
Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo were introduced late on into the game, and it was the former that sealed a third consecutive 3-1 win for Liverpool. Virgil van Dijk knocked the ball down from a corner for the Portuguese to tap home in front of a reinvigorated Kop.
Liverpool’s fifth Premier League win in a row takes them up to 2nd in the table – just two points behind leaders Manchester City. The unbeaten run in the Premier League extended to 17 matches, the longest of any side in the competition by some distance.
It’s been an above average start for the Reds, hinting at the possibilities of a return to the football seen during Jurgen Klopp’s ‘first successful era’ at the club.
Liverpool 2.0 is in full swing. Championship side Leicester City are up next for the Reds as they take on Enzo Maresca’s side in the third round of the EFL Cup.
Liverpool team: Alisson, Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Endo 88), Jones (Gravenberch 77), Salah, Nunez (Gakpo 81), Diaz (Jota 81).
West Ham United team: Areola, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson, Soucek (Fornals 74), Alvarez, Bowen, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta (Ings 87), Antonio (Kudus 74).
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