Carabao Cup holders Liverpool came from a goal down to demolish West Ham at Anfield and book their place in the fourth round.
A shock appeared to be on the cards when the Hammers took a 21st-minute lead courtesy of a Jarell Quansah own goal.
But that notion was soon quashed as two strikes by Diogo Jota put the Reds ahead before Mo Salah made it 3-1.
Edson Alvarez was then sent off and Cody Gakpo added two more goals against Julen Lopetegui’s 10 men.
Mail Sport’s JAMES SHARPE was at Anfield. Read on for his player ratings.
Liverpool thrashed West Ham United 5-1 at Anfield in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night
Jarell Quansah (right) scored an own goal in the 21st minute but ended up on the winning side
Diogo Jota (left) and Cody Gakpo (right) both bagged braces for the Reds on Wednesday night
Liverpool (4-4-2)
Caoimhin Kelleher 7
Kept a clean sheet deputising for the injured Alisson in Liverpool’s victory in the league at the weekend but not as spotless this time. Scooped up an early long-range Jarrod Bowen and had little else to do until a couple of saves in quick succession after the hour.
Conor Bradley 6
Every time you see him, looks a more-than-capable second-in-command to Trent Alexander-Arnold. Looked to get forward when he could even though Liverpool more often looked to attack down the left.
Joe Gomez 5
Making his 250th Liverpool appearance in his first start of the season but didn’t always look comfortable in the heart of defence. You can see why he’s not top of the Premier League pecking order.
Joe Gomez (right) did not always look comfortable in the heart of Liverpool’s defence
Jarell Quansah 5
Not kicked a ball since being dragged at half-time by Arne Slot in the opening game of the season and, in his first opportunity since, puts the ball into his own net to give West Ham the lead. He couldn’t do much about it but, blimey, talk about a rocky start to your Liverpool career for the 21-year-old. Was booked in the second half too. Poor lad. Things can only get better, at least.
Konstantinos Tsimikas 7
Liverpool looked dangerous down the left-flank all night and so much of that was down to the excellent link-up and understanding with Cody Gakpo, the two combining for Liverpool’s fourth. Caught out at the back post in the second half but Max Kilman, thankfully for him, fluffed his chance.
Federico Chiesa 7
The Italy international made his first start since his summer move from Juventus. Bagged an assist after his mishit volley was headed in by Jota, brought the Anfield crowd to their feet when he nutmegged Vladimír Coufal but less so when he shanked a long-range shot midway up the Anfield Road stand. Replaced just before the hour.
Wataru Endo 7
A decent first start of the season, always snapping in the heart of Liverpool’s midfield. Won the most duels (6) and recoveries (7) while on the pitch for Liverpool. Was unfortunate to see his attempted clearance cannon off Quansah and into the net.
Curtis Jones 7
Was finding it tough to make his mark on the game until he suddenly picked the ball up outside his own area, drove forward most of the length of the pitch, and eventually played a needle-threading pass to set up Jota for Liverpool’s second. Had a good chance to score in the second half. Needs to do more of this, though.
Curtis Jones produced an assist and he also registered four shots without scoring himself
Cody Gakpo 9
Caused havoc down the Liverpool left and deserved his two late goals. It was his cross that led to Liverpool’s equaliser and fired a shot narrowly wide in the first half. West Ham found it so difficult to stop him they often just had to resort to agricultural brute force.
Darwin Nunez 7
It’ll be his team-mates who take the headlines but Nunez deserves credit for the way he led the line and brought his Liverpool colleagues into play. Didn’t get the goal but Slot will be pleased with what he saw. 7
Diogo Jota 9
What a brilliant little pest this guy is. His movement is sublime, impossible to pick up, and his finishing is top-class. Dropped deep to start and then finish Liverpool’s equaliser as he somehow outjumped both the 6ft 3in Lukas Fabianski and a 6ft 4in Max Kilman to nod the ball home. He’s 5ft 10in. A lovely finish for his second goal before being subbed for Salah just before the hour.
Jota scored his second and third goals of the season in a brilliant 59-minute performance
Subs
Mo Salah 7
You just can’t keep him out the game can you. Reacted quickest when Fabianksi parried away a shot and buried his chance.
Alexis Mac Allister 6
Had an immediate impact on the game with a beaut of a pass to Jones, who couldn’t finish the chance.
Manager: Arne Slot 8
Made nine changes but this Liverpool machine chugs along in his new style. Have lots more control in midfield and can call on so many quality options in attack.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot pictured celebrating one of his team’s five goals against West Ham
West Ham (4-2-3-1)
Lukasz Fabianski 5
I know he’s nearly 40 but a goalkeeper of his quality shouldn’t be getting beaten in the air to a looping ball by the head of a jumping Diogo Jota. It could easily have been more than five were it not for a string of smart saves in the second half.
Vladimir Coufal 4
A busy, busy night for the West Ham full-back. Liverpool targeted his side and he so often found himself dealing with both Gakpo and Tsimikas and rarely came out on top.
Jean-Clair Todibo 5
Spurned a big chance after 14 minutes, heading wide from a free-kick but looks like he could form a strong long-term defensive partnership this season with Max Kilman.
West Ham No 25 Jean-Clair Todibo, a summer signing from Nice, pictured challenging Jota
Max Kilman 5
The standout signing of West Ham’s summer transfer window, starting every league game so far, and showed his excellent passing range with pinging balls out wide but beaten poorly in the air for Liverpool’s equaliser by a bloke half-a-foot shorter than him then got nutmegged in the build-up to their second. Failed to convert a decent second-half chance.
Aaron Cresswell 5
He’s done it for years and years and he still has one of the best dead-ball deliveries in the league. His curling corner sparked the penalty area scramble for West Ham’s opener and it was his superb ball into the box from a free-kick that Todibo nodded wide. Struggled defensively, though.
Edson Alvarez 3
Sent off for a stupid, rash tackle on Salah while already on a yellow. Brain-dead challenge. Hasn’t been anywhere near the player he was last season and struggling to be that imposing presence in the West Ham midfield that they need.
Edson Alvarez (centre) was sent off for two yellow card offences, including a foul on Mo Salah
Carlos Soler 4
A summer loan signing from Paris Saint-Germain but it was unclear, especially in the first half, whether he was actually on the pitch. Had the second fewest touches of anyone in the opening 45 minutes, fewer than Kelleher in the Liverpool goal. Then flailed a decent chance high and wide in the second.
Jarrod Bowen 7
Always looks dangerous down the Hammers. Had an early long-range effort saved and was convinced his cross in the second half should have earned West Ham a penalty when it struck the arm of Tsimikas inside the box.
Tomas Soucek 4
The Czech international is so often a key player for West Ham. He’s scored big goals and put in big performances when it matters. This was not one of them. Subbed on the hour.
Crysencio Summerville 6
The summer signing from Leeds looked sharp every time he got the ball. Made a hash of a promising position in the first half and put a shot narrowly wide. But looks like he could bring some much-needed excitement into what has been a dreary start to the season.
Danny Ings 4
Had the ball in the net in the first half but was flagged for offside. After that, barely touched the ball and was subbed on the hour. His replacement, Michail Antonio, did more in the first few minutes on the pitch.
Subs
Michail Antonio 6
Changed the game when he came on. His physical presence led to a flurry of chances for West Ham that they didn’t take. 6
Lucas Paqueta 4
Got booked not long after he came on and perhaps lucky not to follow Alvarez into the early bath.
Manager: Julen Lopetegui 5
Well, West Ham haven’t seen the style revolution they wanted yet. Nowhere near it. And the results aren’t there either. They did create chances but it’s another capitulation.