LIVERPOOL — Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo scored two goals apiece as holders Liverpool thrashed West Ham United, 5-1, at Anfield on Wednesday to cruise into the fourth round of the League Cup in another solid performance from Arne Slot’s side.

Mohamed Salah was also on target for Liverpool who fell behind and endured some nervy moments before pulling away for a comfortable victory.

Arsenal crushed third-tier Bolton Wanderers 5-1 in the evening’s other League Cup tie.

West Ham — who were reduced to 10 men when Edson Alvarez was shown a second yellow card in the 76th minute — opened the scoring at Anfield when Wataru Endo’s attempt to clear a corner ricocheted off Jarell Quansah and past keeper Caoimhin Kelleher for an own goal.

The Hammers’ celebrations were short-lived as Jota equalized four minutes later, leaping to head home Federico Chiesa’s acrobatic volley.

Jota netted his second in the 49th minute when Curtis Jones slotted a reverse pass to the Portuguese player who scored into the bottom corner.

Talisman Salah made it 3-1 in the 74th when he knocked in the rebound off Alexis Mac Allister’s shot, and then Alvarez was sent off two minutes later following a late challenge.

Gakpo added to Liverpool’s lead with goals in the 90th and 93rd minutes, his first a fantastic strike from 17 yards out after a one-two with Darwin Nunez.

The Reds captured a record 10th League Cup title last season, manager Juergen Klopp’s final trophy with the team before he stepped down at the end of the campaign.

New manager Slot has barely missed a beat. The Reds sit a point behind Manchester City in second in the Premier League after five games. They also opened their Champions League campaign with a victory over AC Milan last week.

NWANERI DOUBLE
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri scored twice — the 17-year-old’s first goals for the club — while Raheem Sterling netted his debut goal for the Gunners. Declan Rice and Kai Havertz also scored at the Emirates Stadium, while Aaron Collins netted Bolton’s lone goal.

On the heels of a hard-fought 2-2 league draw with Manchester City on Sunday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta shuffled his side, giving Nwaneri and 16-year-old keeper Jack Porter their first starts.

Declan Rice opened scoring with a goal from 18 yards out in the 16th minute before Nwaneri made his presence felt in the 37th, latching onto a cross from Sterling to finish into an empty net from close range. — Reuters