How many 5-1 defeats to Liverpool can West Ham stomach?

For the second successive season, the Hammers were on the wrong end of a Carabao Cup mauling by Liverpool at Anfield.

Last season it was Curtis Jones (2), Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo on the scoresheet for the hosts in the quarter-finals.

Gakpo (2) and Salah were at it again on Wednesday, while Diogo Jota (2) also scored a brace.

Once again West Ham were well beaten but they also had penalty claims waved away Vladimir Coufal’s cross hit Kostas Tsimikas in the stomach and then his arm.

On a deeply frustrating night, Danny Ings had a goal ruled out for offside while West Ham’s mood did not improve when appeals for another penalty were ignored after the ball appeared to strike Joe Gomez’s arm.

It was all too much for Julen Lopetegui, who ended the match with a yellow card.

Fortunately for Lopetegui, West Ham are not due to visit Anfield again until 12 April 2025.