Liverpool moved up to fifth in the table after running out 5-2 winners against West Ham in a thrilling Premier League contest at Anfield.
Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister put Arne Slot’s side in a commanding position going into half time, only for Tomas Soucek to pull one back shortly after the break.
Cody Gakpo added a fourth before Taty Castellanos again gave the Hammers a lifeline. However, an Axel Disasi own goal with less than 10 minutes to go ensured there was to be no late comeback from the visitors.
The result means the Reds move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United, while West Ham remain in the relegation zone, two points adrift of safety.
All but over by half-time
It took just five minutes for the hosts to open the scoring when West Ham failed could only half-clear a corner.
Ryan Gravenberch found Ekitike in the box and Frenchman made no mistake from close range, taking a touch before beating Mads Hermansen at the near post.
West Ham went close to levelling things up when Konstantinos Mavropanos fired over, but Slot’s side soon doubled their advantage from another corner.
Gakpo’s delivery was this time met by Van Dijk, and the Liverpool captain rose highest to head into the far corner.
The Hammers’ response was bright but fleeting, Soucek forcing Alisson into an important save after being played in by Jarrod Bowen.
The visitors then fell further behind when, from another set-piece, Ekitike found Mac Allister who rifled home to all but wrap up the contest before the break.
Hammers show some fight
The visitors launched another fightback following the restart, with Soucek reducing the deficit on 49 minutes following El Hadji Malick Diouf’s delivery into the area.
Gakpo then wasted a great chance to restore Liverpool’s three goal advantage with West Ham looking increasingly threatening.
The Dutch international would not be denied for long, however, when he found the net with 20 minutes remaining with a shot that deflected off Aaron Wan-Bissaka to beat Hermansen.
Moments later, Castellanos pulled one back when the ball dropped kindly to the Argentine striker in the box and he made no mistake from a yard out.
There was to be no late drama, however. Substitute Jeremie Frimpong, who looked dangerous after coming on, saw his effort take a slight nick off Disasi but it proved enough to take it past the West Ham keeper.
Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni came close to adding a sixth in the closing stages as the hosts saw out the game to take all three points.
