Mohamed Salah marked another sensational performance by scoring his 20th goal of the season as Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points, with a game in hand over their closest rivals, after a commanding 5-0 victory against West Ham.
By halftime, Liverpool had already wrapped up the game, with Luis Diaz taking advantage of a deflection to open the scoring.
Salah then orchestrated a fine display, first assisting Cody Gakpo with a clever piece of skill before netting his landmark goal just before the break.
Despite his first-half brilliance, Salah’s only frustration was not completing a hat-trick after missing several chances in the second half.
However, his exceptional form continued as he surged from his own half to set up Diogo Jota for Liverpool’s fifth.
Earlier, Trent Alexander-Arnold had seen his long-range shot deflect in off Max Kilman, capping off a night where everything seemed to go Liverpool’s way.
The 5-0 win was a statement of intent from Liverpool, reinforcing their credentials as title contenders.
With Nottingham Forest a distant second, Arsenal trailing by nine points, and Chelsea 10 points adrift, the Reds are firmly eyeing the Premier League crown as they head into the New Year.
Salah has been pivotal in this push for the title, despite ongoing uncertainty about his contract.
He has already surpassed his combined goals and assists from last season and now holds a total of 52, more than any player in Europe’s top leagues this season.
Even with West Ham deploying a man-marking strategy with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and later switching to a five-man defence, Salah was unstoppable, particularly in the first half.
Three players had a crack at him in the build-up to the fifth and none got close, a testament to his brilliant form.
The only downside for Liverpool was a first-half injury to Joe Gomez, who appeared to suffer a hamstring strain.
His absence leaves Liverpool with fewer options in central defence, meaning Jarrell Quansah, who replaced Gomez at the London Stadium, is likely to partner Virgil van Dijk for their January 5 match against Manchester United at Anfield.
For West Ham, it was a tough end to a challenging year. Mohamed Kudus came agonizingly close, hitting the woodwork twice, and they may feel the outcome could have been different if his shot at 1-0 had found the back of the net.
However, after their 5-1 loss in the Carabao Cup at Anfield in September, this match further highlighted the gap between them and the Premier League’s top side.
Sitting in 13th place, West Ham’s four-game unbeaten streak was snapped, leaving fans frustrated with the progress under Julen Lopetegui, as some boos rang out at full time.
