Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs West Ham as Dominik Szoboszlai and 3 more good

Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs West Ham as Dominik Szoboszlai helped his side move into an unassailable lead, even if the performance wasn't wholly convincing

Virgil van Dijk made it 2-0 to Liverpool in the first half. (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Liverpool was far from convincing — though certainly improved on last weekend — as it clinically netted five goals against West Ham United to move into the Champions League places.

Hugo Ekitike opened the scoring with a smart finish after just five minutes, and by half-time, Liverpool was well in control, three goals up with Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister also netting.

The Reds were far from perfect in their performance, but had clinically put the game beyond West Ham. Tomas Soucek pulled one back before Cody Gakpo made it four, and then Taty Castellanos got another. An own-goal, after good work from Jeremie Frimpong, sealed it once and for all.

Winners

Szoboszlai was good here in the main and set the tone early in the game, while Ekitike got on the scoresheet for the first time since four matches, ending a mini-drought.

Liverpool did not perform amazingly, but was certainly clinical, and if you can't be at your best, that is the next best option, for sure. Set-pieces made a real difference, and Arne Slot will be delighted with that, even if more is needed moving forward.

Losers

No one was particularly poor here, unlike at the City Ground last weekend, though there were seemingly moments of panic. There is still more for Mac Allister to do before he is back to anything like his best, for instance, and Ryan Gravenberch had a couple of moments where he lost possession far too easily.

West Ham lacked a clinical edge and is likely to end up getting relegated as a result. Liverpool should have been more comfortable.

Player ratings

Alisson Becker (6). Very fortunate when one pass was very nearly intercepted by Jarrod Bowen. He switched off momentarily, probably because he had so little to do.

Joe Gomez (7). In at right-back ahead of various other potential candidates, Gomez was very solid. You know that you're not getting Trent Alexander-Arnold in attack when he's there, but the Reds' number two is more than reliable when fit.

Ibrahima Konate (6). In great form of late, Castellanos didn't get much change out of him. There were a few loose passes, like with most of the rest of the team, and moments when West Ham pressed him well, but he was generally alright.

Virgil van Dijk (7). Like Konate, aerially strong and pretty good in possession apart from a few uncharacteristic moments of panic. Made it 2-0 with a good header in the first half, winning the ball in a very crowded penalty area.

Milos Kerkez (6). Limited attacking threat down his side to begin with but he grew into things in the first half and then tailed off again. A couple of crosses were almost dangerous but a little forced. Did well enough defensively against Bowen.

Ryan Gravenberch (6). His composure created the first goal of the game when he lifted the ball into Ekitike's path. Solid rather than spectacular after that and didn't always keep things calm.

Got away with one terrible pass in the minutes leading up to half-time and it was him who lost Soucek at the start of the second half. About as mixed as you can get.

Alexis Mac Allister (6). The match-winner last weekend after a really poor performance, this was a relative step in the right direction, but by no means perfect. Some of his passes were wildly misdirected and he made the wrong decision in good areas once or twice. Took his goal very well, and like Gravenberch, was hard to assess.

Mohamed Salah (6). His last Premier League goal came against Aston Villa at the start of November, and he wasn't always that involved here. A couple of times, he was unable to get past Malick Diouf. Fine, but nothing more. Some of his deliveries from set-pieces saved him from a lower score.

Dominik Szoboszlai (7). Deployed in his favored midfield berth, the Hungarian set the tone right from the off with his pressing and direct running. Set up Van Dijk's goal and was the liveliest player in red, but didn't finish as well as he started.

Cody Gakpo (6). Far too predictable at times this season, and that theme continued here. He cut inside and smashed a low shot into a sea of defenders at one stage and later slashed a shot horribly wide from close range when he just needed a modicum of composure. He scored, but like Salah, Liverpool needs more in the future.

Hugo Ekitike (6). With only two goals in his last eight Premier League appearances (both against Newcastle United), the Frenchman needed a return to goalscoring form and it took only five minutes. After that, however, he wasn't as involved as he might have been and made a couple of very odd choices in the final third.

Substitutes

Rio Ngumoha (6). There has been lots of clamor to bring him into the team from the off but it was the right call not to. He got another decent chunk of minutes here and looked confident.

Jeremie Frimpong (6). Back in the action after a month out, he did well to beat his man a couple of times and looked lively. It will be interesting to see if he can start either of the Wolves games. You suspect he will in at least one of them. Trey Nyoni also came on but too late to earn a rating.