Liverpool moved into fifth place in the Premier League after a 5-2 victory over West Ham United Anfield, drawing level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.
Set-piece precision
Liverpool struck early when Hugo Ekitike finished smartly from close range after a pass from Ryan Gravenberch in the fifth minute.
Just before the break, Alexis Mac Allister’s volley took a deflection and found the net to make it 3-0. All three goals came from set-plays.
West Ham had opportunities through Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek but failed to convert.
Visitors rally briefly
Soucek reduced the deficit early in the second half, finishing from a cross by El Hadji Malick Diouf.
However, Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal cushion in the 70th minute with a deflected strike.
Taty Castellanos gave West Ham renewed hope with a second goal, but a cross from Jeremie Frimpong was turned into his own net by Axel Disasi to complete the scoring.
Liverpool’s first five-goal league haul of the campaign lifts them above Chelsea, who face leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
West Ham remain 18th, two points behind Nottingham Forest, as the relegation battle intensifies.