On Sunday, Liverpool showed a masterclass of efficiency and absolute dominance, crushing West Ham 5-0 at the London Stadium in the 19th round of the Premier League. The victory consolidated the Reds' position at the top of the table, extending their lead over the second-place team and reaffirming Mohamed Salah's spectacular form.
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Relentless rhythm
The game had started evenly, but all it took was Luis Díaz's opener at the 30-minute mark to get the avalanche going. Salah, in sparkling form, had set up Gakpo for the second and moments later scored a classy third himself.
"We managed to score early, dominated the game very well, and also scored some great goals," Salah summarized after the final whistle, highlighting how composed his team was throughout the game.
West Ham with no answers
But every time West Ham tried to respond, they found an immovable object in the shape of Van Dijk. The Hammers had two close chances to score, but their lack of precision in key moments cost them dearly. Kudus, their standout player, struck the post, but the London side seemed powerless against Liverpool's relentless intensity.
Second-half consolidation
Liverpool were also on top after the break as Alexander-Arnold produced a long-range effort, which deflected past the stranded Areola to find the fourth goal. In the closing moments, Salah once again made the difference as he set up Diogo Jota in the box, who did not disappoint as the Portuguese forward completed the routing.
For head coach Arne Slot, control was the keyword: "We kept control throughout. I think we gave away very few chances. It was a solid performance."
Salah unstoppable
With 20 goals and 17 assists in just 26 matches this season, Mohamed Salah remains Liverpool's offensive heartbeat. Beyond breaking records, the forward is delivering a level of consistency few players worldwide can match.
"If you look at his numbers, you can't argue," Slot raved. "He's in a great place and let's hope he can stay there for a long time."
Title race hots up
The win brings Liverpool to 45 points, eight clear of Nottingham Forest, who is second. Arsenal, who still has a game to play, sits third with 36 points. This result also boosts the Reds' morale going into their next game against Manchester United at Anfield.
Meanwhile, West Ham remains in 13th place with 23 points and now faces the daunting task of taking on Manchester City in their next game.