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Liverpool delivered a clinical 5-0 thrashing of West Ham United at London Stadium late on Sunday evening to further solidify their position at the top of the Premier League table.
The Reds dominated the first half, scoring three goals through Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, and Mohamed Salah.
The rout party began in the 12th minute when Lius Diaz capitalized on a deflection to give Liverpool a deserved lead. The Colombian winger’s shot took a fortunate bounce off West Ham’s defender, leaving goalkeeper Alphonse Areola with no chance.
Salah then took center stage, producing some clever skill to tee up Gakpo for Liverpool’s second goal in the 23rd minute. The Egyptian forward’s vision and passing ability allowed Gakpo to score his fifth goal of the season with a well-placed finish.
Salah wasn’t done yet, grabbing his landmark 20th goal of the season just before the break in the 45th minute. His impressive performance has taken his goal involvement tally beyond last season’s total, with 52 goals and assists combined in Europe’s top leagues this term.
In the second half, Liverpool continued to dominate, with Trent Alexander-Arnold seeing a strike from distance divert in off Max Kilman to make it 4-0 in the 57th minute.
The final goal of the game came when Salah dribbled from his own half to play in Diogo Jota, who scored Liverpool’s fifth in the 68th minute. A move that showcased Salah’s incredible speed, skill, and vision.
West Ham, on the other hand, suffered a grueling defeat to end a tough year. Despite Mohamed Kudus hitting the woodwork twice, the Hammers were unable to contain Liverpool’s attacking prowess. The loss has left West Ham 13th in the table, with a four-game unbeaten run coming to an end.
Liverpool’s victory has set them up nicely for their upcoming match against Manchester United on January 5, while West Ham will look to regroup and improve their form in the new year.
The win also extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table to eight points, with a game in hand over their nearest challengers. The Reds’ title-winning credentials were on full display, with their attacking quartet of Salah, Diaz, Gakpo, and Jota proving too much for West Ham’s defense to handle.
Salah’s performance was particularly impressive, as he surpassed his goal involvement totals for last season. He has been instrumental in Liverpool’s title charge, despite uncertainty surrounding his contractual situation.
West Ham, meanwhile, will look to bounce back from this heavy defeat. The Hammers had been on a four-game unbeaten run before this loss, but were ultimately unable to cope with Liverpool’s attacking firepower.
