Liverpool’s Curtis Jones celebrates scoring his facet’s fifth purpose in the course of the English League Cup quarterfinal match in opposition to West Ham United on the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, on December 20, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
Curtis Jones scored twice and Liverpool booked a report nineteenth look within the League Cup semi-finals with a 5-1 thrashing of West Ham United on Wednesday, claiming the final of the 4 berths.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and talisman Mohamed Salah, who didn’t enter the sport till it was an hour previous, additionally scored for Juergen Klopp’s group in what unravelled right into a rout within the ultimate 20 minutes.
“The performance, the scoresheet, the result and the individual performances put together to make a team on the pitch,” a delighted Klopp instructed Sky Sports. “The boys enjoyed it a lot, they worked hard but enjoyed it too with joyful football in moments. Nice to see.”
Szoboszlai netted within the twenty eighth minute with a thunderous strike from 20 yards that sailed into the far nook. Jones doubled Liverpool’s lead together with his first purpose minutes into the second half after a give-and-go with Darwin Nunez, sprinting onto Nunez’s cross to one-time his shot by way of keeper Alphonse Areola’s legs.
Gakpo scored from the highest of the 18-yard field earlier than Jarrod Bowen pulled one again for the Hammers within the 77th minute. Salah put the sport away within the 82nd minute and Jones accomplished his brace two minutes later, slashing by way of West Ham’s defence with such ease it had supervisor David Moyes seething with anger.
“I want to score goals and help the team,” Jones mentioned. “It is okay playing well but you need to score goals, I’ve scored two so a big smile on my face.”
West Ham had been in for a tricky evening in opposition to the nine-time League Cup champions even earlier than the opening whistle, hampered by sickness forward of the sport and having solely gained as soon as within the cauldron of Anfield in 60 years.
Chelsea, Fulham and Championship facet Middlebrough additionally made the final 4. Chelsea and Fulham booked their locations on Tuesday evening with penalty-shootout wins over Newcastle United and Everton respectively.
“An important game to get through. We did our best and it was a good game in the end,” Gakpo mentioned. “We have a good team, we have amazing players. The only thing we have to do is stay focused and stay together and keep working hard and then the quality will come out.”
The semi-final first legs will probably be performed the week of Jan. 8, and the second legs starting Jan. 22. The ultimate is Feb. 25 at Wembley Stadium, and followers at rain-lashed Anfield, eager to see their group within the ultimate, chanted “Wembley” within the ultimate minutes on Wednesday.
Liverpool had been coming off a irritating 0-0 Premier League draw in opposition to Manchester United on Sunday. Wednesday’s rating might have been much more lop-sided with a number of near-misses, together with a Darwin Nunez shot that rang off the submit within the second half. Salah then despatched the rebound simply large.
Source: www.thehindu.com
