Virgil van Dijk had urged Liverpool supporters to pump up the volume for this League Cup quarter-final. And if a record Anfield crowd for the competition responded to the rallying cry, the loudest noises were being made by the players on the pitch.
Having scrapped their way beyond Leicester City and Bournemouth in the previous rounds, here Jurgen Klopp’s side progressed in impressively forceful fashion to the semi-finals for the fourth time during his tenure.
In doing so, they also calmed any jitters that had emerged after Sunday’s frustrating goalless stalemate against Manchester United and silenced murmurs over the lack of atmosphere inside Anfield. With the top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal next up, it was a timely reminder of how Liverpool’s home form has proven the bedrock of their encouraging campaign.
Yes, West Ham United were strangely compliant, barely able to lay a glove on a highly-motivated Reds side that benefited from Klopp once again rotating his resources. And while the ‘midweek team’ had an increasingly weekend feel to it, it was perhaps telling the two best performers were those who arguably had most to prove ahead of the visit of Gunners.
With Alexis Mac Allister remaining out with an injured knee and Ryan Gravenberch also absent, there are places up for grabs in midfield, although the substitutions on the hour of both Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai offered a major hint both are likely to start on Saturday evening.
Endo was key during the opening stages against the Hammers, helping put Liverpool on the front foot and snapping into challenges. But if the Japan international set the tempo, it was Szoboszlai – much improved on his poor showing against United – who sparked the romp with a trademark blistering opener.
Both, though, had to cede centre stage to outstanding duo Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones. Elliott, while starting on the right flank, flitted all over the pitch and constantly demonstrated one of his best traits, an ability to bring other players into the game. Jones, meanwhile, worked hard in the first half before breaking loose after the break with a brace of well-taken goals
Certainly, Quansah doesn’t lack confidence. And nor should he, given the string of encouraging performances he has already posted since breaking into the first team back in August.
This was another. The 20-year-old had already prompted purrs of appreciation from the home fans with his ability to break the lines with purposeful passes into midfield – almost, dare it be said, similar to Matip – when his front-footed defending helped prompt the opener, nicking the ball ahead of Said Benrahma and feeding Szoboszlai to thrash home.
Quansah’s composure belies his inexperience, rarely appearing flustered which, alongside Virgil van Dijk, takes some doing.
Jarrod Bowen’s late West Ham consolation, outsprinting Quansah to a long ball and then turning inside the defender before curling beyond Caoimhin Kelleher, was a little reminder of how standards cannot slip at the highest level. Quansah, though, appears the real deal.
Nunez and Gakpo stake claim
If there’s one game with which Darwin Nunez could claim any affinity as a Liverpool player, it’s the visit of West Ham. The striker scored his first Anfield goal for the Reds when heading in the winner against the Londoners last season, and in September scored an impressive volley in a 3-1 win over the same opposition.
So this League Cup clash against the Hammers appeared the perfect fixture for Nunez to bring an end to a 10-game barren streak that has prompted some nervous looks from the Liverpool fanbase, his last goal the memorable winner at Bournemouth that set up this quarter-final encounter.
It didn't quite work out. Nunez started on the left and, while not at his best, was still unfortunate not to end with a goal, contentiously flagged offside when clean through first half – no VAR this time – and hitting the inside of the post late on. Still, he could claim an assist for Jones's first goal.
And the mini-drought from the forward line was addressed with Gakpo, here down the centre, scoring his first goal in six matches before Mohamed Salah, on from the bench, notched his 15th of the campaign to become the Reds’ all-time leading scorer against West Ham. Luis Diaz was restricted to a late cameo.
Salah is a certainty for Arsenal on Saturday. The identity of the other two forwards, though, is not quite so clear-cut.
Another League Cup hint
Klopp was pretty reluctant at first. But, ultimately, he gave the Kop the moment they were eager to see, delivering his trademark triple fist-pump in celebration after the final whistle. It was a Liverpool performance that merited such a response and ensured their challenge on four fronts goes into the New Year.
Indeed, nobody embraces the League Cup quite like the Reds, the January double-header against Fulham a record 19th appearance in the semi-finals. While the Cottagers gave Liverpool a fright at Anfield earlier this month and triumphed at Everton on Tuesday, Klopp’s men will be favourites to reach a 14th final as they look to regain the trophy they claimed by beating Chelsea – who play Middlesbrough in the other semi-final – in 2022.
A League Cup final appearance, albeit defeated by Manchester City back in 2016, was a first sign of what could be possible under Klopp. Edging ever nearer another is a barometer of the potential of his latest Liverpool iteration.
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