Liverpool took a giant leap toward a record-tying 20th English top-flight title with a dominant 5-0 victory over West Ham, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points.
Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Diogo Jota were all on the scoresheet in East London as the Reds ended the year in commanding form, becoming clear favorites to secure just their second league title in 35 years.
Surprisingly, Nottingham Forest sit in second place, trailing Liverpool, though Arsenal and Chelsea will have opportunities to close the gap when they play later this week.
Despite his team’s impressive form, Arne Slot, who has seamlessly continued Jurgen Klopp’s legacy, remains cautious, reminding everyone that nothing is decided yet, with Liverpool still one match short of the Premier League’s halfway mark. The Dutchman’s leadership has been flawless, with Liverpool now securing 23 wins in 27 matches across all competitions.
Slot was able to recall Diaz, who had been rested for the 3-1 win over Leicester on Boxing Day, and the Colombian wasted no time making an impact. Diaz opened the scoring on the half-hour mark after a fortunate rebound. His attempted pass to Curtis Jones was deflected back to him off a West Ham defender, and Diaz calmly slotted it past the keeper into the corner.
Mohammed Kudus came agonizingly close to an equalizer for West Ham, but his shot struck the post. However, the game was effectively decided with two goals in four minutes just before half-time.
Salah’s slick turn set up Gakpo, who rolled in his ninth goal of the season. The Egyptian then doubled Liverpool’s lead, curling in at Alphonse Areola’s near post, with a slight deflection off the goalkeeper, to reach 20 goals for the eighth consecutive season since joining the club in 2017.
Despite growing speculation about the futures of Alexander-Arnold, Salah, and Virgil van Dijk, which could see them leave on free transfers next season, Liverpool’s momentum has not faltered. All three remain focused on securing another Premier League title before considering their options.
Rumors of Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid resurfaced in the Spanish media recently, but the England international showcased his value with a thunderous strike that deflected in off Max Kilman.
Jota’s substitution highlighted the extra depth Liverpool possess compared to their title rivals. The Portuguese forward sealed the win with the fifth goal, finishing off a brilliant assist from Salah. The Egyptian weaved past three West Ham defenders before providing Jota with a simple tap-in, marking his 13th Premier League assist of the season to complement his impressive 17 goals in 18 games.
