The good Mohamed Salah scored his twentieth purpose of the season as Liverpool prolonged their lead on the prime of the Premier League desk to eight factors and a sport in hand on their nearest challengers with a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham.

Arne Slot’s facet had this away day gained by half-time, with Luis Diaz capitalising on a deflection to provide Liverpool a deserved lead earlier than Salah took over, producing some intelligent ability to tee up Cody Gakpo after which seize his landmark strike simply earlier than the break. “He is a phenomenon,” stated Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Redknapp.

Salah’s solely frustration was to not go away London with at the very least a hat-trick after losing a string of second-half openings – however his incredible type was once more on present as he dribbled from his personal half to play in Diogo Jota for Liverpool’s fifth. Trent Alexander-Arnold had earlier seen a strike from distance divert in off Max Kilman on an evening the place almost all the pieces went Liverpool’s manner.

This was a commanding victory which underlined Liverpool’s title-winning credentials and with next-best Nottingham Forest manner again in second, Arsenal 9 factors adrift and Chelsea 10 behind, the Reds go into the New Yr with the Premier League crown firmly of their sights.

Salah has been central to this title cost, regardless of uncertainty round his contractual state of affairs. He has already surpassed his purpose involvement totals for final season and has extra objectives and assists mixed (52) than any participant in Europe’s prime leagues this time period.

The standout participant of this season to this point was once more at his electrical greatest right here and too scorching to deal with, notably within the first half, even with West Ham particularly tasking Aaron Wan-Bissaka with a man-marking position after which switching to a five-man defence. There was no solution to include him. Three gamers had a crack at him within the build-up to the fifth and none acquired shut.

The one disappointment of the night time for Slot was Joe Gomez’s first-half harm, with an obvious hamstring pressure decreasing Liverpool’s centre-back choices. Jarrell Quansah, who got here on on the London Stadium, now seems set to accomplice Virgil van Dijk towards Man Utd at Anfield on January 5.

As for West Ham, this was a gruelling finish to a tricky 12 months. Mohamed Kudus hit the woodwork twice they usually might really feel the sport might have gone one other manner if his drive towards the within of a publish at 1-0 had gone in. However they did not land a shot heading in the right direction.

After shedding 5-1 within the Carabao Cup at Anfield in September, this was one other reminder of how far-off they’re from the Premier League’s greatest facet proper now. They sit thirteenth, with a four-game unbeaten run over and plenty of residence supporters annoyed on the progress or lack of underneath Julen Lopetegui, with some boos at full time.

Slot pays tribute to ‘extraordinary’ Salah

Liverpool boss Arne Slot:

“This was the best way I would wish to see us play an away sport. The stadium is all the time offered out when Liverpool comes they usually do not want a lot to cheer so you must kill that momentum as a lot as you possibly can. As a result of we had been so dominant we might handle West Ham and the gang.

“The extent you attain throughout the sport has to do with the workforce you face as nicely. West Ham have performed nicely earlier than at this time. Usually they do not compete for successful the league, you must take this under consideration with how completely satisfied you might be with a efficiency. It isn’t a straightforward place to go, so to carry out the best way we’ve got was pleasing to see.”

On Salah: “Mo and the phrase extraordinary is one thing I’ve heard lots within the final six months. I do not suppose he retains shocking us as a result of we all know what a participant he’s. He works arduous for the workforce when the opposite workforce has the ball. We are able to solely hope he retains bringing these performances in. But when he scores, different gamers deliver him into these positions. And in these positions he is extraordinary.”

Evaluation: Premier League participant of the season Salah shines once more

Sky Sports activities’ Peter Smith at London Stadium:

The Premier League is approaching its midway mark however the participant of the season prize seems like its sewn up already. Cole Palmer has dazzled. Bukayo Saka has shone. However Mohamed Salah is in a league of his personal.

Prime of the objectives chart. Prime of the assists chart. Extra purpose involvements than any participant in Europe’s prime 5 leagues – an unbelievable 52 throughout all competitions. He is scored and assisted in eight totally different Premier League video games – and it is solely December. The jaw-dropping stats go on.

And all this from a 32-year-old who’s out of contract in the summertime. Off-field issues have proved to be no distraction. Maybe they’ve been a motivator for the Egyptian; some extent to show? Properly he’s actually doing that. He has confirmed himself to be the very best participant within the Premier League and Liverpool should certainly give this good participant a brand new deal.

He’s driving them in the direction of one other Premier League title.

Lopetegui: A troublesome day for us and our followers

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui:

“We predict we confirmed not a great face in entrance of our followers. We did not deserve extra. Right now has been a tough loss at residence. We have now to just accept and transfer ahead and know we’ve got numerous issues to enhance in these sort of matches.

“Within the first 10 minutes we had one clear state of affairs [when Lucas Paqueta slipped while in on goal] and after we’ve got the chance to attract [level at 1-1] with Kudus [when he hit a post] however regardless of this we’ve got to do higher for certain. We have now to do higher in these sort of matches.

“We have now to compete higher in numerous issues. We had 15-20 minutes once we had been out of the match they usually destroyed us in these moments. We are able to do higher. We have now been very far off them at this time. We had been doing nicely within the final month however at this time has been powerful for us.”

All of the objectives…

Story of the match in stats…

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