Liverpool continued their fine run under Arne Slot by smashing West Ham 5-1 in the League Cup third round.
Federico Chiesa shone on his first Liverpool start, with the summer signing playing 59 minutes before being replaced by Mohamed Salah.
Alexis Mac Allister was also introduced by Arne Slot at that stage at Anfield, with the Argentine replacing Diogo Jota.
Jota was the early hero thanks to his brace after an own goal from his Liverpool teammate Jarell Quansah.
Salah then put the home side into a commanding lead before West Ham midfielder Edson Alcaraz was sent off.
Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister stuns Michael Brown vs West Ham
Cody Gakpo then fired in twice late on to secure the thumping win, with Jota’s opener particularly eye-catching for Jamie Carragher.
His fellow pundit Michael Brown meanwhile was impressed by substitute Mac Allister, with the midfielder smashing a long-range effort off the post in the 81st minute, with Lukasz Fabianski getting a key touch on the way through.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur player Brown said: “That’s an incredible shot, Mac Allister just lines it up, right-footed, right across the keeper. Dives to the right-hand side, just gets a touch off the post, sensational strike.
“Liverpool have now got a little bit of room and you can see why they’re taking that sort of opportunity on.”
Five-star Liverpool thrash West Ham at Anfield
Slot and many Liverpool fans would have been fearing the worst when Quansah found the back of his own net after 21 minutes.
There would have been flashbacks to the recent home defeat to Nottingham Forest, with Forest having left Anfield with all three points thanks to their 1-0 win.
But a brave effort from Jota quickly put those fears at rest, with the Portugal star adding his second shortly after the break.
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Fresh legs then helped the Reds take a commanding lead through Salah, with Alvaraz then ensuring the game was all but won with his second yellow card 15 minutes from time.
There was, however, still plenty of time for Gakpo to take centre stage, with the Netherlands winger impressively scoring a quick-fire double.
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