Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points with a commanding 5-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium on Sunday night.
The Reds delivered a masterclass performance, with goals from Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota securing their emphatic win.
Arne Slot’s side dominated from start to finish, continuing their impressive form following their 6-3 win at Tottenham last week.
The result leaves Liverpool in a commanding position at the summit, with nearest challengers Arsenal nine points behind, though the Gunners have a game in hand against Brentford on New Year’s Day.
Mohamed Salah is leading Liverpool’s title surge
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The victory marked another milestone for Mohamed Salah, who made Premier League history with his goal and two assists in the match.
Liverpool’s dominance was established in a devastating first-half display that saw them race to a three-goal lead.
Luis Diaz opened the scoring on the half-hour mark when a fortunate rebound from his intended pass to Curtis Jones fell kindly for him to dispatch low into the corner.
Cody Gakpo doubled the advantage after 40 minutes, benefiting from Salah’s brilliant footwork that saw the Egyptian jink past Konstantinos Mavropanos before poking the ball through Max Kilman’s legs.
Salah then turned from provider to scorer on the stroke of half-time, taking one touch from Curtis Jones’ pass before curling an effort past Alphonse Areola at the near post.
West Ham’s only response came through Mohammed Kudus, who struck the woodwork with a long-range effort during the first period.
Salah’s performance marked a historic achievement as he became the first player in Premier League history to both score and assist in eight matches in a single season.
The Egyptian forward surpassed the previous record of seven matches, which he had shared with Harry Kane, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, Bruno Fernandes and Robin van Persie.
The milestone adds to Salah’s remarkable run of contributing to goals in 11 consecutive Premier League fixtures, a feat achieved only seven times since 1992.
His impact this season has been extraordinary, reaching 30 goal involvements in just 18 games – faster than any other player in Premier League history.
The 32-year-old now leads both the Premier League scoring charts with 17 goals and the assists table with 13, highlighting his exceptional form this campaign.
West Ham were dreadful as Liverpool pumped five goals past them
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Liverpool’s dominance continued after the break as Trent Alexander-Arnold made it 4-0 in the 54th minute with a long-range effort that took a deflection off Max Kilman’s head past Areola.
The rout was completed six minutes from time when Salah showcased his brilliance once again, bamboozling several West Ham defenders with a magnificent run from inside his own half.
The Egyptian’s mazy dribble culminated in a perfect pass to substitute Diogo Jota, who applied a clinical finish to make it 5-0.
West Ham’s misery was nearly compounded when both Luis Guilherme and Kudus struck the woodwork in the latter stages.
The comprehensive victory highlighted Liverpool’s attacking prowess, with the team having now scored 11 goals in their last two Premier League outings in London.
Liverpool have been in ferocious form and have lost just once this season
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Salah’s remarkable season has seen him involved in 37 goals across all competitions, just two shy of his total tally from last season.
In Europe’s top five leagues, no player has contributed more goals in 2024 than Salah’s 52 goal involvements, comprising 29 goals and 23 assists.
Liverpool’s victory puts them in a strong position to claim their second Premier League title, with Slot’s side remaining in contention for all four trophies this season.
The Reds, who currently hold the Carabao Cup, are set to face Tottenham in the competition’s semi-finals.
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They also top their Champions League group and have an FA Cup third-round tie against Accrington Stanley upcoming.
Liverpool’s next challenge comes at home against rivals Manchester United next week.