Liverpool have moved eight points clear of second-placed Nottingham Forest at the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 5-0 victory over West Ham United in Sunday's late kickoff.
The breakthrough came in the 30th minute, with Luis Diaz sweeping the ball into the back of the net after the Colombia international had received a slice of luck inside the West Ham penalty box via a couple of deflections.
Liverpool then doubled their advantage in the 40th minute, with Cody Gakpo converting after a sensational turn from Mohamed Salah, who then scored himself with a near-post finish, as West Ham were given a mountain to climb in the second 45 minutes of action at the London Stadium.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's deflected effort made it 4-0 early in the second period, before Diogo Jota added a fifth late on, and it was an incredibly straightforward night for the Reds, who have proven themselves to be comfortably the best side in England in the first half of this season.
Liverpool have now won 14, drawn three and lost one of their 18 league matches this term, while West Ham's eighth league defeat of the campaign has left them in 13th, one point ahead of 14th-placed Manchester United.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Liverpool had some big chances early on, with West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola required on two occasions to make excellent saves from Salah and Diaz, but Lucas Paqueta also passed up an early sight of goal for the Hammers.
Mohammed Kudus rattled the post for West Ham shortly after Diaz had made the breakthrough, but Gakpo and Salah then scored to make it 3-0 to Liverpool at the interval, and there was simply no way back for the Hammers.
Liverpool are going to take some stopping this season, with Arne Slot's side pulling out result after result in impressive fashion, and the fact that they can beat teams in so many different ways is even more discouraging for their title rivals.
Salah is in exceptional form, with the forward now on 20 goals and 17 assists for the season, and it is tough to imagine the Merseyside giants dropping enough points to make it a serious title race this season, especially as Arsenal and Chelsea cannot be trusted to win every week, while Forest will surely fall away despite their incredible campaign to date.
As for West Ham, who hit the post on three occasions, the fact that they are only three points off the top of the Premier League table suggests that the first half of the season has not been quite as bad as it might have been, but this was a very disappointing night for the capital outfit.
WEST HAM VS. LIVERPOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Luis Diaz goal vs. West Ham (30th min, West Ham 0-1 Liverpool)
Luis Díaz drills it home! 💢 pic.twitter.com/twmJCYQa3J
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
Liverpool make the breakthrough in the 30th minute of the contest, as Diaz strikes into the bottom corner after the ball had fallen kindly for the attacker - slightly unfortunate for West Ham, but the pressure has been there since the first whistle.
Cody Gakpo goal vs. West Ham (40th min, West Ham 0-2 Liverpool)
"Yet more magic from Mo Salah" 🪄
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
Gakpo is there to finish it off after a brilliant piece of skill from Salah 🎯 pic.twitter.com/K3a9mJDUSx
Gakpo scores Liverpool's second, but the goal is all about the little turn from Salah, as he somehow frees himself inside the box before poking the ball towards Gakpo, who finished into the back of the net.
Mohamed Salah goal vs. West Ham (44th min, West Ham 0-3 Liverpool)
Twenty goals for Mohamed Salah for the eighth season in a row! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/w6Igj3iu7h
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
Game, set and match; Liverpool have their third just before the break, as Salah collects a pass from Jones before placing the ball into the bottom corner of the goal - surely there is no way back for West Ham.
Trent Alexander-Arnold goal vs. West Ham (54th min, West Ham 0-4 Liverpool)
Liverpool have FOUR!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
Trent Alexander-Arnold hits it from distance and it takes a deflection off Max Kilman into the goal 💫 pic.twitter.com/D5jeJeYMhL
Liverpool have their fourth of the match, as Alexander-Arnold's strike hits Max Kilman and ends up in the back of the net - that just about sums up West Ham's evening, as Liverpool secure all the points at the London Stadium.
Diogo Jota goal vs. West Ham (84th min, West Ham 0-5 Liverpool)
"They are looking unstoppable!" 🔥
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
Jota makes it FIVE! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/o2ByJ73NmR
Liverpool have their fifth of the contest, and it is another assist for Salah, who sets up Jota to curl into the far corner; West Ham have just simply been unable to deal with the Premier League leaders here.
MAN OF THE MATCH - MOHAMED SALAH
© Imago
Salah may leave Liverpool on a free transfer next summer, but he could inspire the Reds to a historic season, with the Egypt international in wonderful form, and he was the star of the show in the capital on Sunday night.
The forward's wonderful turn allowed Liverpool to score their second through Gakpo, before registering himself shortly after, and he could have had another two or three at the London Stadium, with the experienced forward showing his world-class ability throughout the contest.
Salah's second assist of the night came late on when he set up Jota to make it 5-0 in London.
WEST HAM VS. LIVERPOOL MATCH STATS
Possession: West Ham 45%-55% Liverpool
Shots: West Ham 7-22 Liverpool
Shots on target: West Ham 0-13 Liverpool
Corners: West Ham 2-6 Liverpool
Fouls: West Ham 7-10 Liverpool
BEST STATS
After 17 appearances (12 starts) in 2024/25, Luis Diaz has already matched his Premier League goals tally from last season (8).
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) December 29, 2024
One more for a new personal best.🏅#WHULIV pic.twitter.com/qIwKoLMKof
8 - Today is the eighth Premier League game this season in which Mo Salah has registered both a goal and an assist - a new seasonal record by any player in the competition's history. Sensational. pic.twitter.com/GOQ9iuyLkI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 29, 2024
Mohamed Salah is the first player in Liverpool's history to score 20+ goals across all competitions in EIGHT consecutive seasons.
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 29, 2024
He's also now one just one of the three players alongside Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney to be in the top 10 for the most goals scored AND the most... https://t.co/DWW3SH3HUM
WHAT NEXT?
Liverpool will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they welcome Manchester United to Anfield in the Premier League on January 5, before heading to Tottenham Hotspur three days later for the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.
West Ham, meanwhile, will be bidding to bounce back when they travel to Manchester City on January 4, before switching their attention to the FA Cup on January 10, facing a trip to fellow Premier League outfit Aston Villa.
Matt Law
