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West Ham United vs Liverpool. Premier League.

5:15pm, Sunday 29th December 2024.

London StadiumAttendance62,476.

Liverpool 5

L Díaz (30th minute)
C Gakpo (40th minute)
M Salah (44th minute)
T Alexander-Arnold (54th minute)
D Jota (84th minute)

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West Ham 0-5 Liverpool: Mohamed Salah stars as Reds maintain Premier League title charge

Report and free match highlights as Mohamed Salah scores one and sets up goals for Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota in big Liverpool win at West Ham; Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold also on target as Reds go eight points clear at top of Premier League while West Ham sit 13th.

Peter Smith

Senior Football Journalist @psmithXI

Sunday 29 December 2024 20:22, UK

The brilliant Mohamed Salah scored his 20th goal of the season as Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to eight points and a game in hand on their nearest challengers with a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham.

Arne Slot's side had this away day won by half-time, with Luis Diaz capitalising on a deflection to give Liverpool a deserved lead before Salah took over, producing some clever skill to tee up Cody Gakpo and then grab his landmark strike just before the break. "He's a phenomenon," said Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp.

Salah's only frustration was not to leave London with at least a hat-trick after wasting a string of second-half openings - but his fantastic form was again on show as he dribbled from his own 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 a night where nearly everything went Liverpool's way.

This was a commanding victory which underlined Liverpool's title-winning credentials and with next-best Nottingham Forest way back in second, Arsenal nine points adrift and Chelsea 10 behind, the Reds go into the New Year with the Premier League crown firmly in their sights.

Salah has been central to this title charge, despite uncertainty around his contractual situation. He has already surpassed his goal involvement totals for last season and has more goals and assists combined (52) than any player in Europe's top leagues this term.

Salah in stats

Mohamed Salah has both scored and assisted in eight different Premier League games for Liverpool this season, already the most any player has done so in a single campaign in the competition.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been involved in 30 goals in just 18 Premier League games this season (17 goals, 13 assists), the fewest appearances any player has needed to reach 30 goal involvements in a single campaign in the competition.
Mohamed Salah has scored 20+ goals in all competitions in all eight of his seasons with Liverpool. Among Premier League players (since 1992-93), only Alan Shearer (10) and Harry Kane (9) have had more 20+ goal campaigns than the Egyptian.
With another goal and assist today, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has now been involved in 52 goals in all competitions in 2024 (29 goals, 23 assists), more than any other player in Europe’s big five leagues.

The standout player of this season so far was again at his electric best here and too hot to handle, particularly in the first half, even with West Ham specifically tasking Aaron Wan-Bissaka with a man-marking role and then switching to a five-man defence. There was no way to contain him. Three players had a crack at him in the build-up to the fifth and none got close.

Player ratings: Salah stars at London Stadium

West Ham: Areola (7), Coufal (4), Wan-Bissaka (5), Mavropanos (5), Kilman (5), Emerson (5), Alvarez (4), Soler (5), Paqueta (6), Bowen (6), Kudus (7).

Subs: Todibo (4), Fullkrug (5), Summerville (6), Irving (6), Guilherme (6).

Liverpool: Alisson (6), Alexander-Arnold (8), Gomez (6), Van Dijk (8), Robertson (6), Mac Allister (8), Jones (7), Gravenberch (7), Gakpo (8), Salah (9), Diaz (8).

Subs: Quansah (7), Endo (6), Jota (7), Elliott (6), Tsimikas (6).

Player of the Match: Mohamed Salah

The only disappointment of the night for Slot was Joe Gomez's first-half injury, with an apparent hamstring strain reducing Liverpool's centre-back options. Jarrell Quansah, who came on at the London Stadium, now looks set to partner Virgil van Dijk against Man Utd at Anfield on January 5.

As for West Ham, this was a gruelling end to a tough year. Mohamed Kudus hit the woodwork twice and they may feel the game could have gone another way if his drive against the inside of a post at 1-0 had gone in. But they didn't land a shot on target.

After losing 5-1 in the Carabao Cup at Anfield in September, this was another reminder of how far away they are from the Premier League's best side right now. They sit 13th, with a four-game unbeaten run over and a number of home supporters frustrated at the progress or lack of under Julen Lopetegui, with some boos at full time.

Slot pays tribute to 'extraordinary' Salah

Liverpool boss Arne Slot:

"This was the way I'd like to see us play an away game. The stadium is always sold out when Liverpool comes and they don't need much to cheer so you have to kill that momentum as much as you can. Because we were so dominant we could manage West Ham and the crowd.

"The level you reach during the game has to do with the team you face as well. West Ham have done well before today. Normally they don't compete for winning the league, you have to take this into account with how happy you are with a performance. It's not an easy place to go, so to perform the way we have was pleasing to see."

On Salah: "Mo and the word extraordinary is something I've heard a lot in the last six months. I don't think he keeps surprising us because we know what a player he is. He works hard for the team when the other team has the ball. We can only hope he keeps bringing these performances in. But if he scores, other players bring him into these positions. And in those positions he's extraordinary."

Analysis: Premier League player of the season Salah shines again

Sky Sports' Peter Smith at London Stadium:

The Premier League is approaching its halfway mark but the player of the season prize looks like its sewn up already. Cole Palmer has dazzled. Bukayo Saka has shone. But Mohamed Salah is in a league of his own.

Top of the goals chart. Top of the assists chart. More goal involvements than any player in Europe's top five leagues - an incredible 52 across all competitions. He's scored and assisted in eight different Premier League games - and it's only December. The jaw-dropping stats go on.

West Ham 0-5 Liverpool - Match report and highlights

And all this from a 32-year-old who is out of contract in the summer. Off-field matters have proved to be no distraction. Perhaps they have been a motivator for the Egyptian; a point to prove? Well he is certainly doing that. He has proven himself to be the best player in the Premier League and Liverpool must surely give this brilliant player a new deal.

He is driving them towards another Premier League title.

Lopetegui: A tough day for us and our fans

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui:

"We think we showed not a good face in front of our fans. We didn't deserve more. Today has been a hard loss at home. We have to accept and move forward and know we have a lot of things to improve in these kind of matches.

"In the first 10 minutes we had one clear situation [when Lucas Paqueta slipped while in on goal] and after we have the possibility to draw [level at 1-1] with Kudus [when he hit a post] but despite this we have to do better for sure. We have to do better in these kind of matches.

"We have to compete better in a lot of things. We had 15-20 minutes when we were out of the match and they destroyed us in these moments. We can do better. We have been very far off them today. We were doing well in the last month but today has been tough for us."