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.
Three first-half set-piece goals put the hosts in control before West Ham mounted a brief response after the interval.
Set-piece precision
Liverpool struck early when Hugo Ekitike finished smartly from close range after a pass from Ryan Gravenberch in the fifth minute.
The advantage doubled against the run of play as Virgil van Dijk headed home a corner delivered by Dominik Szoboszlai.
<img class="size-full wp-image-1254237 entered exited" src="data:;base64,” alt=”EPL: Liverpool hammer West Ham 5-2 to climb table” width=”720″ height=”480″ data-lazy-srcset=”https://www.gistreel.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/liverpool-players-celebrate-goal-premier-1062764987.webp 720w, https://www.gistreel.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/liverpool-players-celebrate-goal-premier-1062764987-300×200.webp 300w, https://www.gistreel.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/liverpool-players-celebrate-goal-premier-1062764987-220×147.webp 220w, https://www.gistreel.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/liverpool-players-celebrate-goal-premier-1062764987-330×220.webp 330w” data-lazy-sizes=”(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px” data-lazy-src=”https://www.gistreel.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/liverpool-players-celebrate-goal-premier-1062764987.webp” />Liverpool thrash West Ham to move fifth – Getty image
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.
Erling Haaland struck a stoppage-time penalty as Manchester City came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield, breathing new life into the Premier League title race.
The dramatic win cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to six points with 13 matches remaining, while City moved to second place after a rare victory on Merseyside.
Liverpool had taken the lead in the 74th minute through Dominik Szoboszlai, who curled a superb free-kick beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma after a tight and largely cagey contest.
Late goals turn the game
City responded strongly and were level six minutes from time when Bernardo Silva finished from close range after sustained pressure in the Liverpool penalty area.
The decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time. Matheus Nunes went down under a challenge from goalkeeper Alisson inside the box, and referee Craig Pawson pointed straight to the spot.
Haaland scored late penalty to hand Manchester City the win – Getty image
Haaland stepped up and calmly converted in the 93rd minute, registering his 21st Premier League goal of the season.
Chaotic finale at Anfield
Liverpool almost snatched an equaliser moments later, but Donnarumma produced a fine save to deny Alexis Mac Allister.
City then thought they had scored a third when Rayan Cherki found the net from inside his own half with Alisson out of position.
However, VAR intervened and ruled the goal out after Szoboszlai was penalised and sent off for a foul on Haaland earlier in the move, with City instead awarded a free-kick.
Historic away win for City
Despite the late controversy, City held on to claim a landmark victory, their first league win at Anfield since 2021, and their first there in front of supporters since 2003.
The result keeps Guardiola’s side firmly in the title hunt, while Liverpool were left to rue a dramatic late collapse after appearing on course for a crucial home win.
Arsenal failed to capitalise fully on dropped points elsewhere but still strengthened their grip on the Premier League title race after a goalless draw with Liverpool.
The Gunners had the chance to open an eight-point gap at the summit following midweek draws for Manchester City and Aston Villa. Instead, they had to settle for a point, extending their lead to six.
Missed chances in first half
Arsenal controlled much of the opening period, claiming possession and territory, but struggled to translate dominance into clear-cut chances.
Their approach relied heavily on crosses into the box, yet lacked the decisive movement required to finish them off.
Liverpool hold Arsenal in Premier League title race – Getty image
Despite being second best early on, Liverpool carved out the best opportunity of the half. Conor Bradley pounced on a miscommunication between David Raya and William Saliba before clipping an effort that rattled the crossbar.
Liverpool improve after the break
Arne Slot’s side, operating without a recognised striker due to Hugo Ekitike’s absence, grew into the contest after the interval and posed greater attacking threat. However, their improved intent still failed to produce a breakthrough.
Neither side managed to find the cutting edge needed to claim all three points, with defences ultimately on top.
The draw keeps Arsenal top of the table, now six points clear, while Liverpool remain fourth as the title race continues to take shape.
Liverpool secured a high-leverage Champions League win over Inter Milan after Dominik Szoboszlai converted an 88th-minute penalty, delivering a timely operational rebound during a turbulent week for the club.
The narrative heading into the fixture was dominated by Mohamed Salah’s omission following his explosive interview, but the squad recalibrated on the pitch to capture three critical points.
Liverpool regain control amid off-field turbulence
With Salah left in England, responsibility changed hands. A VAR review flagged Alessandro Bastoni’s shirt pull on Florian Wirtz, and Szoboszlai executed under pressure, beating Yann Sommer despite the goalkeeper reading the direction correctly.
The strike maintained Liverpool’s upward trajectory, extending their unbeaten run to four after a damaging sequence of nine defeats in 12.
The Reds now sit on 12 points from six league-phase matches, re-entering the top-eight bracket that guarantees automatic progression to the last 16.
Szoboszlai scored from the spot to hand Liverpool a vital win vs Inter after – Getty image
Inter threaten but falter late
Inter entered the match on a 19-game unbeaten home run in the competition but saw it collapse despite generating key moments.
Liverpool thought they had broken through earlier when Ibrahima Konaté headed in from a corner, only for VAR to rule Hugo Ekitike had handled the ball in the buildup.
Curtis Jones, Szoboszlai, and Ekitike all forced Sommer into action, while Inter lost Piotr Zielinski and Yann Aurel Bisseck to injury disruptions.
The hosts gained momentum midway through the first half, with Nicolò Barella going close from a free-kick and Lautaro Martínez denied by Alisson.
Mohamed Salah says he feels he has been “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool, adding that his relationship with head coach Arne Slot has collapsed.
The Egypt forward was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United, the third consecutive match he has started on the bench.
Breakdown in relationship with Slot
After the match, Salah delivered an unusually blunt interview, claiming he was being positioned to take the blame for Liverpool’s struggles.
“I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame,” Salah said.
“I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems someone doesn’t want me in the club.”
Salah feels he’s no longer needed at Liverpool – Getty image
Salah added that the situation had become “unacceptable,” insisting that he had “earned” his position in the squad and felt unfairly treated.
Future at Liverpool uncertain
The 33-year-old, who signed a two-year contract extension in April, admitted he is unsure about his long-term future at Anfield as he prepares for the Africa Cup of Nations from 15 December.
Salah scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool won the title under Slot. However, he has struggled to reproduce that form, scoring only four league goals in 13 appearances this term.
Saudi interest growing
Salah remains a prime target for the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Hilal among the clubs tracking him. Liverpool are said to be “open-minded” about his future amid renewed interest from the region.
Slot explains decision to bench Salah
Slot defended his decision not to introduce Salah at Elland Road, saying the team needed to “control the game” when leading 3-2.
He acknowledged the interest around Salah’s benching but maintained that the forward remains a “top professional.”
Legendary status but a sour ending?
Salah is third on Liverpool’s all-time scoring list with 250 goals in 420 appearances. Since joining from Roma in 2017, he has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.
He has also collected four Premier League Golden Boots, matching Thierry Henry’s record, and won last season’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
Salah rarely stops to speak in the mixed zone, making his latest remarks even more significant. “I’m very disappointed. I have done so much for this club,” he said on Saturday. “It seems to me that someone doesn’t want me in the club.”
Unless the situation changes quickly, Salah’s impending departure to AFCON may mark the beginning of the end.
The key question now is whether he returns in January as a Liverpool player, or whether the breakdown becomes permanent.
Liverpool snapped their alarming slump with a 2-0 win over West Ham United at the London Stadium, as Alexander Isak finally scored his first Premier League goal for the club since his £130million move from Newcastle.
The champions entered the fixture on the back of nine defeats in 12 matches across competitions, their worst spell in more than seven decades, prompting questions over manager Arne Slot’s future.
Slot responded by dropping Mohamed Salah for the first time in the league since April 2024, and his reshuffle yielded the breakthrough Liverpool desperately needed.
Isak delivers under pressure
After being denied by a superb first-half save from Alphonse Areola, Isak broke the deadlock on the hour mark.
Found in space by Cody Gakpo, the striker produced a calm, clinical finish that justified his record transfer fee and relieved weeks of tension around the squad.
Gakpo then completed the job deep into stoppage time, smashing a loose ball past Areola to end a professional away performance and move Liverpool up to eighth, now just two points off the top four.
West Ham reduced to ten
West Ham’s hopes deteriorated further when Lucas Paquetá was sent off in bizarre fashion.
The Brazilian, returning from suspension, received a yellow card for dissent after disputing a challenge, then immediately talked himself into a second caution as he continued protesting.
Down to ten men, the Hammers struggled for rhythm on an emotional day marked by the passing of club legend Billy Bonds at age 79.
The club adjusted their pre-match playlist to honour their former captain and manager.
Liverpool still a work in progress
Despite the victory, Liverpool remain short of their peak levels. However, the result stops the bleeding after a chaotic run and provides a platform from which Slot’s side can attempt to rebuild momentum.
Pep Guardiola celebrated his 1,000th game as a manager with a stunning 3-0 win over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, cutting Arsenal’s Premier League lead to four points.
Manchester City took control early, and halting Liverpool’s resurgence. Erling Haaland missed a penalty after Giorgi Mamardashvili fouled Jeremy Doku but made amends minutes later with a towering header from Matheus Nunes’ cross, his 28th goal of the season.
Haaland led the line well, supported by Doku, Phil Fode, and Bernardo Silva, while Gianluigi Donnarumma was solid in goal, denying Dominik Szoboszlai’s late effort.
Liverpool delivered a masterclass at Anfield on Tuesday night, overpowering Real Madrid in a performance that signaled a full return to their ruthless best in the Champions League.
Arne Slot’s men, who recently ended a poor run of six defeats in seven matches with a hard-fought win against Aston Villa, looked fully rejuvenated as they dismantled the Spanish giants in front of their home supporters.
Mac Allister breaks the deadlock
Despite Liverpool’s first-half dominance, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois kept the visitors in the game with a series of superb saves.
The Belgian denied Dominik Szoboszlai on multiple occasions and produced a remarkable reflex stop from Virgil van Dijk’s header.
The breakthrough finally came in the 61st minute when Alexis Mac Allister found space in the box to nod home Szoboszlai’s well-delivered free-kick, leaving Courtois helpless and sending the Kop into raptures.
Real Madrid fall short
Real’s key men, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, were effectively neutralized by Liverpool’s high press and physical dominance in midfield. Arne Slot’s tactical discipline ensured the Spanish side never settled into rhythm.
Former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, now with Real Madrid, was introduced late in the game but received a hostile reception from fans who once idolized him.
His brief cameo did little to alter the outcome as Real remained second best until the final whistle.
Harry Maguire’s dramatic late goal earned Manchester United their first victory at Anfield in nearly 10 years, sealing a 2-1 win and condemning Liverpool to a fourth consecutive defeat.
United strike early amid controversy
The match began in chaotic fashion as United took the lead inside two minutes.
Referee Michael Oliver allowed play to continue despite Alex Mac Allister lying on the turf with a head injury following an accidental elbow from teammate Virgil van Dijk.
United capitalized immediately, with Bryan Mbeumo slotting home past stand-in goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was deputizing for the injured Alisson.
Gakpo’s persistence finally pays off
Liverpool responded with intensity, but Cody Gakpo endured a frustrating evening, striking the woodwork twice before halftime and again after the restart.
Chelsea secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, with youngster Estevao Willian netting a last-gasp winner deep into added time to hand Arne Slot his third straight defeat as Reds boss.
The Blues took the lead early through Moises Caicedo, who unleashed a stunning strike from distance to open the scoring.
However, Cody Gakpo equalised for Liverpool after a defensive lapse from the hosts.
Despite losing control in some parts of the game, Chelsea kept pressing until Estevao’s decisive moment sealed all three points.
Injury concerns for Chelsea
The victory came at a cost for Enzo Maresca’s men, as Benoit Badiashile and Josh Acheampong were forced off with injuries late in the game.
The result lifts Chelsea to sixth place, while Liverpool withdraw to take the second spot in the league table.
