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By John Ogunsemore
Captain Virgil van Dijk was on the scorers sheet as Liverpool recorded an emphatic 5-2 victory over West Ham at Anfield on Saturday.
The Reds took an early lead in the sixth minute when Hugo Ekitike scored with a half-volley after West Ham failed to clear a corner.
Van Dijk doubled the advantage in the 24th minute, heading home from Dominik Szoboszlai’s inswinging corner.
Alexis Mac Allister added a third just before halftime in the 43rd minute, volleying in after a lay-off from Ekitike following Mohamed Salah’s corner.
West Ham pulled one back early in the second half when Tomas Soucek slid in to meet a low cross from El Hadji Malick Diouf in the 49th minute.
However, Liverpool restored their three-goal cushion in the 70th minute as Cody Gakpo shimmied inside and finished into the bottom corner.
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Valentin Castellanos reduced the deficit again for the visitors in the 75th minute with a header from a corner, but the scoring was completed in the 83rd minute when Jeremie Frimpong’s cross was turned into his own net by Axel Disasi.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker made crucial saves, including a fingertip stop on Crysencio Summerville and a denial of Mateus Fernandes’ long-range effort, helping Liverpool maintain control despite West Ham’s brief resurgence.
Substitutions saw Frimpong return from injury to contribute to the final goal, while young talents Elijah Ngumoha and Freddie Nyoni also featured late on.
The result leaves Liverpool level on 48 points with fourth-placed Manchester United, who play on Sunday, and three points behind third-placed Aston Villa.
Chelsea, now sixth, can climb back into fifth place with a victory over league leaders and London rivals, Arsenal on Sunday.
West Ham remain rooted in the relegation zone, increasing pressure on their campaign.
