Liverpool v West Ham live: Gakpo adds fourth to keep Reds in control at Anfield

FootballSports
1 Mar 2026 • 12:37 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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Liverpool will hope to keep up the pace in the race for Champions League qualification as they take on a rejuvenated West Ham side in the thick of a relegation fight.

The hosts just about saw off another struggling side last time out as a 97th-minute winner from Alexis Mac Allister beat Nottingham Forest in a performance that perhaps showed new-found resilience within Arne Slot’s squad. That it required such a late goal illustrated the problems Slot is facing, with Mohamed Salah short of form and goals and growing calls for a bigger role for teenage talent Rio Ngumoha, who again begins on the bench today.

That Forest defeat did West Ham a favour, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side can climb out of the bottom three with victory today for the first time since September. An upturn in form has seen the London club lose just once in their last five league outings, and an upset win would most certainly bolster their survival bid.

Follow all the latest from Anfield with our live blog below:

Read More

Liverpool and the curse of the seven right-backs

Arne Slot defends Liverpool’s summer signings: ‘£450m very well spent’

Can Arne Slot resist the clamour for Liverpool’s teenage star Rio Ngumoha any longer?

Liverpool vs West Ham live

  • Liverpool host West Ham in the Premier League
  • GOAL! Liverpool 4-2 WEST HAM (Taty Castellanos, 75 minutes)
  • GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-1 West Ham (Cody Gakpo, 69 minutes)
  • GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 WEST HAM (Tomas Soucek, 49 minutes)
  • GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-0 West Ham (Alexis Mac Allister, 43 minutes)
  • GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 West Ham (Virgil van Dijk, 24 minutes)
  • GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 West Ham (Hugo Ekitike, 6 minutes)

Liverpool 4-2 West Ham, 76 minutes

16:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Changes for both teams. Adama Traore steps in for Soungoutou Magassa for West Ham as they search for a late fightback, while Rio Ngumoha and Jeremie Frimpong replace Hugo Ekitike and Joe Gomez.

GOAL! Liverpool 4-2 WEST HAM (Taty Castellanos, 75 minutes)

16:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Another twist? Alisson fails to deal with a corner and Taty Castellanos heads in!

It looks a simple finish on first view for the West Ham striker, but that’s really cannily done, an awkward bounce in front of him dealt with well to divert past Ryan Gravenberch on the line. Just when you thought they were totally out of it...

Liverpool 4-1 West Ham, 74 minutes

16:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle

West Ham have had their chances. Another very fine save from Alisson at full strength denies Crysencio Summerville.

A response from Gakpo

16:33 , Richard Jolly at Anfield

“Cody Gakpo missed a sitter a quarter of an hour ago and has become something of a scapegoat for fans,” says Richard Jolly, at Anfield.

“That is a response of sorts, his first goal in eight games, even if it did involve a deflection. And it may justify Arne Slot's decision to pick him ahead of Rio Ngumoha, too.”

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Liverpool 4-1 West Ham, 72 minutes

16:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That’ll calm the nerves that had coursed around Anfield since Tomas Soucek’s goal. Adama Traore will soon be with us - the West Ham replacement is stripped and ready.

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-1 West Ham (Cody Gakpo, 69 minutes)

16:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That will seal it! Cody Gakpo makes certain of victory!

Aaron Wan-Bissaka gets himself in a muddle, backing off and backing off and inviting Gakpo to cut inside on his right foot. A peck off the leg of Tomas Soucek helps the shot on its way into the back of the net - a pleasing goal, no doubt, for the Dutchman after some tough times of late.

Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 68 minutes

16:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Diouf is helped out by a retreating Crysencio Summerville, tracking back to concede a corner after Joe Gomez had overlapped.

Mohamed Salah delivers and Axel Disasi rises high to win a strong defensive header.

Liverpool don't have control

16:28 , Richard Jolly at Anfield

More from our Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly at Anfield.

“Liverpool don't have a great deal of control in this game. Indeed, they aren't really trying to have it. That should allow West Ham some hope.

“Matheus Fernandes has just tested Alisson with a long-range shot and the Liverpool keeper has played well so far.”

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Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 67 minutes

16:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Salah has felt on the periphery a little again for Liverpool today, his goal drought continuing. El Hadji Malick Diouf has done a good job with him, it should be said.

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Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 65 minutes

16:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

No changes yet to either side, though they cannot be far away. Alexis Mac Allister is thrown to the floor by Mateus Fernandes but advantage is played, allowing Liverpool to plough on. Mohamed Salah fails to find the target with his effort, though.

Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 64 minutes

16:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Aaron Wan-Bissaka retrieves a cross that sails over the Liverpool box and reloads, allowing Mateus Fernandes to fire a shot on goal. Alisson does well to hold it with a couple of would-be scavengers waiting to feed on any carrion.

Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 62 minutes

16:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There’s a degree of anxious energy around Anfield, and the Liverpool side, which has been a theme of the season. This should feel more straightforward, surely? It feels very, very open at the moment.

Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 60 minutes

16:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Loose stuff at the back from Liverpool, and looser still from West Ham, failing to capitalise on Ibrahima Konate’s error.

Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 59 minutes

16:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The travelling West Ham fans lift the volume, hoping to impel their team back into the game a bit after that early second half rally. There is still, of course, a heck of a lot to do.

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Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 57 minutes

16:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Will Liverpool rue not taking those chances? Cody Gakpo looks to have moved into a more central role briefly, with Hugo Ekitike sliding wider to the left.

Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 55 minutes

16:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Appeals for a Liverpool penalty as Hugo Ekitike first goes around Konstantinos Mavropanos and then goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, but he goes down a little too easily, and is perhaps fortunate not to be booked for diving.

Tim Robinson does, though, go to his pocket when Cody Gakpo hauls back Mateus Fernandes.

Comeback or consolation?

16:15 , Richard Jolly at Anfield

“Tomas Soucek has done the double of scoring against Manchester United and Liverpool this month,” says Richard Jolly, on the ground at Anfield.

“The start of a comeback or a consolation? West Ham had something of a threat in the first half. They just didn't defend well enough.”

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Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 54 minutes

16:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle

How has Cody Gakpo missed?!? It’s a sitter, just six yards out, but a big swing of the left leg shins the ball wide.

Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 52 minutes

16:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A superb pass from Ryan Gravenberch springs Hugo Ekitike, who rather curiously chooses not to shoot to instead search for Dominik Szoboszlai. He fails to find him.

Liverpool 3-1 West Ham, 50 minutes

16:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Back come the West Ham fans now with some life restored to their side. If they can get another soon...

GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 WEST HAM (Tomas Soucek, 49 minutes)

16:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Hope for West Ham! Tomas Soucek plants it home!

Jarrod Bowen picks the ball up on the right and Liverpool fail to deal with his cross. El-Hadji Malick Diouf zips it back across and Soucek, such a proficient goalscorer, is there to knock it in.

Was Bowen onside, though? VAR will have a look...goal stands! Liverpool are pegged back.

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Liverpool 3-0 West Ham, 47 minutes

16:07 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There are a fair few empty seats in the away end, perhaps some of those who departed earlier are already making tracks having seen enough.

Second half...

16:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Is there any hope for West Ham at 3-0 down? They’ve played pretty well at times, but they’ll want to get one back quickly. Back underway with no changes to either side.

Elsewhere...

15:57 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There are goals right around the grounds in the 3pm slate. Burnley have got one back on the stroke of half time against Brentford but still trail 3-1, while Everton are 2-1 up at Newcastle.

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HT: Liverpool 3-0 West Ham

15:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Liverpool have contrived to throw a couple of games away this season but this one already seems beyond doubt. The hosts began with real purpose and struck early through Hugo Ekitike, and while West Ham have threatened a times, two goals from corner kicks have surely left them with too much to do with Liverpool in total control.

HALF TIME: Liverpool 3-0 West Ham

15:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

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Liverpool 3-0 West Ham, 45 + 4 minutes

15:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That’s poor from West Ham. A free kick gives them a chance to load the edge of the Liverpool box in stoppage time but there is a foul soon after the set-piece is struck. Back they all trudge.

Liverpool break new ground

15:47 , Richard Jolly at Anfield

“This is only the second time Liverpool have scored three in a first half this season, and the first they have gone 3-0 up before the break,” says Richard Jolly, our man on the ground at Anfield.

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Liverpool 3-0 West Ham, 45 + 1 minutes

15:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Almost a first Joe Gomez goal! The defender has never scored at senior level but flashes a shot past the post via a deflection. It’ll come one day, surely?

Liverpool 3-0 West Ham, 44 minutes

15:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A number of West Ham fans head from their seats, probably in search of a pint and a pie rather than a train home at this stage. Soungoutou Magassa is booked for a pull-back.

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-0 West Ham (Alexis Mac Allister, 43 minutes)

15:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle

But West Ham’s task just got taller! Another goal from a set piece and a brilliant finish from Alexis Mac Allister!

It’s Mohamed Salah’s delivery that this time causes problems, and Mac Allister capitalises after strong work from Hugo Ekitike. Three goals, and three points, you’d think, sewn up before the interval.

Liverpool 2-0 West Ham, 41 minutes

15:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Nuno Espirito Santo strokes his chin, considering his options. There’s been enough in this half’s performance to suggest that West Ham can turn this around but he has got options in Adama Traore, Callum Wilson and co on the bench.

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Liverpool 2-0 West Ham, 38 minutes

15:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Another fluent passing move from West Ham works the ball forward with speed, but it just runs out of steam and accuracy on the edge of the Liverpool box.

Liverpool 2-0 West Ham, 36 minutes

15:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Smothered by Alisson! A good chance for Tomas Soucek, turning goalwards from close range - in fact, he didn’t manage to get a touch on it, with Ibrahima Konate instead diverting towards his own goal. Regardless, sharp work from the Liverpool goalkeeper.

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Liverpool 2-0 West Ham, 35 minutes

15:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Tomas Soucek reaches one of his long legs out to try and corral a pass from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but can’t quite manage it, worrying a little as he was about Virgil van Dijk’s looming presence.

Liverpool then give the ball away in their own half, Ryan Gravenberch guilty of passing blindly and Jarrod Bowen nipping in. They scramble well, though, and crowd him out.

Liverpool 2-0 West Ham, 32 minutes

15:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Appeals from a penalty from the away end as Taty Castellanos goes over near Ibrahima Konate and...well, that’s a dive. A pretty shoddy one, too. The West Ham striker is fortunate to escape punishment.

'Others may have cleverer corner routines...'

15:32 , Richard Jolly at Anfield

Here’s more from Rich Jolly at Anfield.

“A second goal in three games for Virgil van Dijk. Others may have cleverer corner routines. Liverpool aim inswingers at a very tall man, who heads them in. It has worked rather well in 2026.”

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Liverpool 2-0 West Ham, 30 minutes

15:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Yikes! So nearly a burglary from Jarrod Bowen, showing real desire and intelligence to get in the passing lane of Alisson and block. It could go anywhere; it ends up back with the goalkeeper, much to his relief.

Liverpool 2-0 West Ham, 29 minutes

15:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

West Ham had done really well to re-establish themselves in the game after that early Hugo Ekitike opener, but that header has taken the wind from their sails.

Liverpool attack again. Milos Kerkez swings in a sublime ball from the left but Ekitike is a little too physical with Axel Disasi for the referee’s liking.

Liverpool 2-0 West Ham, 27 minutes

15:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle

No such issues for Arne Slot, of course, who may be hoping for a slightly calmer afternoon after the late drama lasst weekend.

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Liverpool 2-0 West Ham, 26 minutes

15:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The concession of that goal will really frustrate Nuno Espirito Santo. There is plenty of height in the West Ham side but they just didn’t look comfortable in that passage of corners.

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 West Ham (Virgil van Dijk, 24 minutes)

15:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Third time lucky! A commanding header from Virgil van Dijk converts another superb Dominik Szoboszlai delivery, rising highest and using his burl to keep the West Ham bodies away.

A fifth goal of the campaign from the Liverpool captain to put his side in control at Anfield.

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Liverpool 1-0 West Ham, 23 minutes

15:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Repeat corners as Virgil van Dijk is squeezed out by Tomas Soucek. Ooh - was that an effort on goal? I think it was from Dominik Szoboszlai, trying to find the near post and seemingly on course if not for Jarrod Bowen’s touch.

Another set piece.

Liverpool 1-0 West Ham, 22 minutes

15:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Jarrod Bowen links up with Crysencio Summerville, but the West Ham wide-man is a little short of options and, eventually, ideas.

Liverpool break, but Hugo Ekitike is dispossessed. The hosts reload and Cody Gakpo looks for the byline, earning a corner.

Liverpool 1-0 West Ham, 21 minutes

15:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Top stop from Mads Hermansen! Ryan Gravenberch bends one around a body or two and the West Ham keeper is forced to sprawl to his left to keep it out.

Liverpool 1-0 West Ham, 18 minutes

15:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There is a definite brightness to West Ham’s play, which has been true across the recent run that has given them hope of survival. Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville finding form has really taken some of the load off Jarrod Bowen, and it’s that former pair that are doing much of the illustrating here.

Liverpool just starting to feel a little bit of pressure.

Liverpool 1-0 West Ham, 16 minutes

15:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle

West Ham break with speed after Disasi’s clearance, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka tries to be too cute and find Jarrod Bowen rather than shoot, ending the opportunity.

A good zip to this game early on.

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Liverpool 1-0 West Ham, 15 minutes

15:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Strong defending from Axel Disasi, tracking back to get to Mohamed Salah after West Ham had been caught a little short. Disasi celebrates the tackle, perhaps a little too enthusiastically, though then wins the header after the corner comes in.

Liverpool 1-0 West Ham, 14 minutes

15:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Referee Tim Robinson is the target of the home fans’ frustration after Ryan Gravenberch is deemed to have fouled Mateus Fernandes. It looked a foul, in truth.

Liverpool 1-0 West Ham, 13 minutes

15:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Better again from West Ham, Mateus Fernandes getting on the ball and interchanging neatly with Tomas Soucek. Crysencio Summerville, revitalised of late, draws a corner off of Joe Gomez.

It’s another decent ball in, but Hugo Ekitike heads away and the follow up is wild and wayward. Goal kick.

Liverpool 1-0 West Ham, 11 minutes

15:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A first real foray forward from the visitors, and they earn a corner. Jarrod Bowen delivers...out for a goal kick off a West Ham head.

Clinical from Ekitike to grant Slot's wish

15:08 , Richard Jolly at Anfield

Here’s the latest from our Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly, who is at Anfield today

“Hugo Ekitike has been guilty of a few glaring misses in recent games but that was a clinical finish. Slot said yesterday he wanted more goals from his forwards. That was Ekitike's 16th goal of the season and his 11th in the Premier League.”

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Liverpool 1-0 West Ham, 8 minutes

15:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle

After plenty of toil before that latest of late winners against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool have just looked purposeful from the minute they stepped out at Anfield today. West Ham have barely had a kick in these opening skirmishes.

GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 West Ham (Hugo Ekitike, 6 minutes)

15:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There’s the opener! Just reward for a fast start from Liverpool as Hugo Ekitike fires home!

West Ham twice head the ball away following the corner but fail to fully clear, and Ryan Gravenberch sets up Ekitike. A stern strike takes a flick off Konstantinos Mavropanos and rifles past Mads Hermansen. Another fine finish, taken at real speed, from a player enjoying a fine season.

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Liverpool 0-0 West Ham, 5 minutes

15:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Milos Kerkez gets forward and earns a corner off the legs of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Liverpool 0-0 West Ham, 4 minutes

15:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Mohamed Salah looks lively. Nine games without a goal will frustrate him more than anyone - does that run end today?

Liverpool 0-0 West Ham, 2 minutes

15:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A bright start from the hosts, plenty of energy in the early press. Mohamed Salah looks to combine with Szoboszlai, who makes a top run, but the pass runs through to Mads Hermansen.

Liverpool 0-0 West Ham, 1 minute

15:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle

As expected, it looks like Dominik Szoboszlai will be given that freer role in midfield for Liverpool in the absence of Florian Wirtz. He’s been excellent this year, the Hungarian, and you’d think this should allow him to have more influence.

KICK OFF!

15:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Up and running at Anfield.

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Liverpool vs West Ham

14:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Right, it’s time for action. A straightforward home wins? Or more reason for optimism in West Ham’s battle for survival? Given Liverpool’s season, perhaps we should expect a late show either way...

Liverpool vs West Ham

14:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle

After seemingly months of miserable weather, brighter times appear to be ahead but it’s not yet that warm on Merseyside. It is dry, though, with sun dappling parts of Anfield as kick off nears.

Top five chase ramps up

14:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Aston Villa’s shock defeat to Wolves last night has livened up the chase for Champions League places even more, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all now nipping at the heels of a team that were once talking of a title race. Though Chelsea face a tough trip to Arsenal tomorrow, three points are surely a must for Liverpool today.

Liverpool confirm profit boost after title triumph as wage bill soars

14:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Liverpool were, however, in profit last year - though not perhaps by as much as they might have hoped after a title triumph....

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Liverpool confirm profit boost after title triumph as wage bill soars

Arne Slot defends Liverpool’s summer signings: ‘£450m very well spent’

14:30 , Richard Jolly

Arne Slot has launched into a defence of Liverpool’s record spending spree by declaring they bought “great” players who will be a “big, big, big success” at Anfield and insisting they did very well with their money.

Liverpool spent £450m last summer, more than any English club had ever paid out in one transfer window, and broke first their own transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz for £100m and then the British record to buy Alexander Isak for £125m.

Liverpool began the weekend only sixth in the Premier League, despite their huge outlay, with Isak, who is currently out with a broken leg, scoring just three goals in 17 games for the club.

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Arne Slot defends Liverpool’s summer signings: ‘£450m very well spent’

Liverpool and the curse of the seven right-backs

14:20 , Luke Baker

Alas, not an Enid Blyton story but a reality for Liverpool this season...

Trent Alexander-Arnold had always looked irreplaceable, with no successor likely to be able to duplicate his remarkable passing range and pinpoint crossing. But Jeremie Frimpong’s three hamstring injuries have made the transition even tougher.

Frimpong’s latest return to fitness means that today, for the first time in a month, Liverpool will be able to call upon a right-back who actually is a right-back - will wonders never cease?

Read Richard Jolly’s assessment of the bizarre situation

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Liverpool and the curse of the seven right-backs

Nuno Espirito Santo explains goalkeeping shake-up

14:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Nuno Espirito Santo says Mads Hermansen has earned his second chance at being first-choice goalkeeper at West Ham.

Hermansen, a £20million summer buy from Leicester, endured a torrid start to his Hammers career and was eventually dropped by previous boss Graham Potter and replaced by Alphonse Areola.

But Nuno recalled Hermansen three matches ago and has been rewarded with two clean sheets - the first since he took charge - and five points to boost their survival bid.

"I think he's getting confident, he has the confidence of his team-mates and he has the confidence of our coaching staff," said Nuno.

"I think inside of the group of goalkeepers they are helping each other very, very much to try and make us a better team and Mads is doing well. Credit to him.

"He was patient to wait for his chance. He never stopped working, preparing himself. The chance came and I think he's delivering.

"It's not only about the goalkeeper. I think it has a lot to do with the way we defend set-pieces. We are improving.

"It requires a lot of individual focus, determination to go and head the ball in the right moment, to stop and contain difficult opponents, to try and solve what's happening these days - it's almost like wrestling inside the six-yard box.

"All these things I think we have improved, which helps the task of the goalkeeper."

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Mohamed Salah backed to break longest goal drought of Liverpool career

14:00 , Richard Jolly

Arne Slot has insisted Mohamed Salah will soon start scoring again as he insisted he is not concerned by the longest Premier League goal drought of the Egyptian’s Liverpool career.

Salah has not struck in his last nine top-flight appearances, with his most recent goal in the division coming on 1 November against Aston Villa.

But Slot pointed to the 33-year-old’s FA Cup penalty against Brighton to argue that statistic does not matter much and said talk about Salah is merely a consequence of his extraordinary goalscoring feats for Liverpool.

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Mohamed Salah backed to break longest goal drought of Liverpool career

Liverpool's selection in focus

13:58 , Richard Jolly at Anfield

Liverpool have Dominik Szoboszlai starting as a No 10. Which happened a lot last season, and rather less this. There is no Florian Wirtz, for the second consecutive game. But there is a defender capable of playing right-back, in Joe Gomez, so Szoboszlai doesn't have to start there. Gomez in for Curtis Jones is the one change Arne Slot makes. West Ham have an awful record at Anfield, but Nuno Espirito Santo won here last season with Nottingham Forest to inflict Slot's first defeat.

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Team news - West Ham

13:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Nuno Espirito Santo makes no changes to the West Ham side that drew with Bournemouth last weekend, with Taty Castellanos again leading the line.

West Ham XI: Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf; Soucek, Magassa, Fernandes; Bowen, Castellanos, Summerville.

Team news - Liverpool

13:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Arne Slot resists the temptation to give young Rio Ngumoha a start in a familiar looking Liverpool team.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo.

Team news on the way...

13:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Righty, then, let’s get going - team news will soon be with us from Anfield, and Liverpool are without Florian Wirtz for certain...

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot gives concerning Florian Wirtz injury update

This is the most competitive Premier League in years – and that’s very bad news for Spurs

13:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Tottenham’s plight plays in to a wider point, Miguel Delaney argues, about the competitiveness of the Premier League, which has arguably never been greater:

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This is the most competitive league in years – and that’s very bad news for Spurs

Tottenham are haunted by risk of historic humiliation but one game could save them

13:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Tottenham are another team looking ahead to a Champions League knockout tie - but also peering over their shoulder at their relegation rivals. Miguel Delaney explores their situation, and what might come next:

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Tottenham are facing a historic humiliation but one game could save them

Liverpool’s Champions League draw and path to final revealed

13:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

From a continental competition point of view, Liverpool found out their Champions League round of 16 fate yesterday as their possible path to the final became clear:

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Liverpool’s Champions League draw and path to final revealed

Today's Premier League action

13:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s an intriguing day of action in the Premier League, with a slightly slimmed down schedule after some European fixtures in midweek. Bournemouth and Sunderland are already underway on the south coast - a long trip for the away fans, that - while this is the rest of Saturday’s offerings:

Liverpool vs West Ham (3pm)

Newcastle vs Everton (3pm)

Burnley vs Brentford (3pm)

Leeds vs Manchester City (5.30pm)

Jarrod Bowen tells teammates to keep stepping up

12:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen has also sent an emphatic message to his teammates ahead of a chance to climb out of the bottom three.

“We’ve all got to continue stepping up, that’s the situation that we find ourselves in,” said Bowen. “We know outside noise happens and, I think it’s individually, for one, how you deal with that, but certainly as a group we can take criticism from each other and I think it’s an important time to be criticising each other.

“In the situation that we’re in, we need everyone pointing fingers and people to accept that responsibility, which we’re doing. I think we’ve seen a change certainly in the last few weeks.

“It’s not easy, don’t get me wrong. It’s not easy, and that’s not an excuse, because this is where we find ourselves from what we’ve done at the start of the season, so now we have to fight our way out of it, and we’ve certainly got enough, not just talking about quality, but talking about characters and people who are grabbing each other by the scruff of the neck when times are tough.”

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Nuno Espirito Santo says West Ham are up for survival fight

12:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Nuno Espirito Santo has fired a warning to West Ham's relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and Tottenham by declaring his side are back "in the fight".

The Hammers looked consigned to the drop just last month when they slipped seven points from safety.

But a run of just one defeat in six has seen them move to within two points of Forest and four behind free-falling Spurs.

They could even climb out of the bottom three before their rivals play on Sunday if they overcome Liverpool at Anfield today.

"We know it's going to be tough. Going to Anfield is always tough, but at the same time a big challenge for us," Nuno said.

"We are going to face a fantastic team full of talented players that only can bring the best out of us.

"This is what our major motivation is and to realise that we have to keep chasing, chasing, chasing.

"It's the reality. It's been that for some while now. We are in the fight."

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Can Arne Slot resist the clamour for Liverpool’s teenage star Rio Ngumoha any longer?

12:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Mohamed Salah could be a fascinating figure in the selection shake-up, too, for Arne Slot. Richard Jolly feels a changing of the guard is surely coming...

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Can Arne Slot resist the clamour for Liverpool’s teenage star Rio Ngumoha any longer?

Rio Ngumoha’s time is now - but is Cody Gakpo as much of a problem as Liverpool fans make out?

12:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Liverpool have a few selection decisions to make today, among them how best to utilise Rio Ngumoha. Could he supplant Cody Gakpo? Will Castle assesses the merits:

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Is Gakpo really as much of a problem as Liverpool fans make out?

Virgil van Dijk responds to questions over Liverpool’s resilience after late Nottingham Forest win

12:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Virgil van Dijk made a point of talking up Liverpool’s resilience after victory over Nottingham Forest, too:

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Virgil van Dijk responds to questions over Liverpool’s resilience after late win

The one trait that has stopped Liverpool’s season sliding into meltdown

12:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Liverpool’s season has often seemed on the verge of total disaster, but, Richard Jolly writes, one quality is keeping it alive:

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The one trait that has stopped Liverpool’s season sliding into meltdown

Liverpool vs West Ham live

11:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

For Liverpool and West Ham, it is a salvaging of the season on the mind as the two sides meet at Anfield in a key Premier League clash. Arne Slot and his squad know their title defence is long gone but Liverpool remain in the thick of the chase for a top-five finish, while the visitors are looking to continue a recent upturn in fortunes that has bolstered their survival bid.

Kick off is at 3pm GMT.

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