Liverpool’s 5-1 win over West Ham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals was the perfect boost for Jurgen Klopp after a disappointing goalless draw against Manchester United on Sunday.
The Liverpool manager will have plenty to enjoy.
The first half was almost entirely positive, with the team coming back with outstanding play and effort from Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo, Dominic Soboslay and Harvey Elliott. Even without scoring, Darwin Nunes impressed with his play.
Klopp could have enjoyed a couple of consolation goals for West Ham.
Not for what his team did, but for who scored. Jarrod Bowen was quick to thank his teammates for their efforts. The England international was a very solitary figure in the Hammers’ attack and didn’t get much support for most of the game – on his birthday – as he was forced to eat scraps every game. Reach the goal. Bowen used his weaker right foot to neatly collect the ball from Caoimhin Kelleher’s range to at least give David Moyes’ side a boost.
To be fair, that probably didn’t cheer the West Ham boss as the former Everton manager’s dismal record at Anfield continues despite him yet to taste victory on the pitch. If Klopp’s pre-match comments are to be believed, the Liverpool manager could have enjoyed the goal more. “They (West Ham) performed well again but were very impressive in Europe. The same goes for injury issues. “If I play without Antonio, Bowen will stay there,” Klopp told Sky Sports ahead of the game (via Daily Mail ). It’s amazing what he does and how he’s developed. Klopp’s admiration for Bowen is nothing new.
The German is a long-time fan, as evidenced by his remarks in March 2022. Since then he often talks about her.”Bowen was an incredible player,” Klopp said of the goal from two years ago. “Incredible. I saw him in Hull and he was great. “I don’t know if a lot of people expected that jump, but he’s a great player.”Unsurprisingly, Bowen has previously been linked with Mohamed Salah’s successor at Anfield (via The Athletic).
Those links disappeared after Bowen signed a new contract that will keep him at West Ham until 2030.
Although Klopp remains a fan, we shouldn’t rule out the possibility of the 27-year-old moving to Liverpool. At some point though United will have to make a big move to secure his signature. It clearly did nothing to deter the German last night. Because it was a rare spark in a very wet West Ham game.
