LIVERPOOL MOVED a step closer to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title as a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota were on target for the rampant Reds in east London as they ended the year as huge favourites to deliver just a second league title in 35 years.
Nottingham Forest are the surprise closest challengers in second, but Arsenal and Chelsea can close the gap when they are in action later in the week.
Arne Slot has repeatedly stressed nothing can be won yet with Liverpool still one game shy of the halfway mark in the Premier League.
But the Dutchman’s succession of Jurgen Klopp continues to look flawless after a 23rd win in 27 matches in all competitions.
Slot was able to recall Diaz, who had been rested for the 3-1 win over Leicester on St Stephen’s Day, and it was the Colombian who opened the floodgates on 30 minutes at the London Stadium.
Diaz’s intended pass into Curtis Jones rebounded back into his path off a West Ham defender and he dispatched his shot low into the corner.
Mohammed Kudus was inches away from an equaliser when his effort came back off the post.
But another heavy home defeat puts Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui back under pressure after a four-game unbeaten run.
Two goals in four minutes just before half-time killed the game as a contest.
Salah’s delightful turn helped tee up Gakpo to roll in his ninth goal in 14 games.
The Egyptian then curled in at Alphonse Areola’s near post, with some help from the West Ham goalkeeper, to hit the 20-goal mark for the eighth consecutive season since joining Liverpool in 2017.
Speculation over Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s futures has not derailed Liverpool’s flying start under Slot.
All three could discuss a move to a foreign club on a free transfer next season within days, but remain focused for the moment on winning a second Premier League title together.
Rumours over Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid have resurfaced again in the Spanish media over the past week and the England international showed why he is a man in demand with a thunderous strike that deflected in off Max Kilman.
Jota’s appearance as a substitute was further evidence of the extra firepower Liverpool enjoy over their title rivals.
The Portuguese set the seal on a dominant win with the finish for the fifth goal but had another sumptuous Salah assist to thank for it.
Salah jinked his way beyond three West Ham defenders before laying the ball to Jota for his 13th Premier League assist of the season to go with 17 goals in 18 games.
Looking very good playing very well happy new year
@Shanie: happy new year indeed. Totally dominated that game.
@ecrowley ecrowley: indeed thats why im so confident utd next sunday show be fun
@Shanie: should
Hats off the Klopp for leaving a team like that for Slot. We almost look unbeatable (Look at goal difference). It’s not all Klopps doing Slot’s tactics have fine tuned a well oiled machine. Onwards and upwards looking forward to next Sunday. Would of subbed Salah tonight at 0-4 to rest him. Jota must be the most underrated striker in Premier League / European football. Props to West Ham though probably shouldn’t have been as bad as it was very unlucky to have not scored a couple.
Mo Salah is the best player in the world right now, and has been consistently up there. No argument. I’m a United fan for a long time and it does not pain me to see this. Pure class
Wow,hard to know what to say anymore.The Slot machine just keeps powering on!
@John arse: YNWA! Sensational way beyond expectations …… Couple of contract situations …… No player is irreplaceable!
@David Shepherd: Mo Salah? Maybe a switched on Mbappe could replace him but who else?
@David Shepherd: Mo is most certainly one exception to your wee rule.
@Dessie: Did United survive Ronaldo? Beckham?
@David Shepherd: Nani wasn’t a replacement for Ronaldo and Anderson bluffed a wage for years. Remember Fergie brought Bebè in too, they brought scholes out of retirement and giggs was like a durecel bunny, kept going but he was 40. Rooney was class , Van Persie was a great gamble but after Ronaldo left it was the beginning of an end. Fergie achievements are unparalleled but he left a decaying squad and the players egos Moyes inherited badly left him down.
@Fionn Bohane: I’d agree with some of that but how much the decline really had to do with Ronaldo leaving, I’m not so sure. Liverpool themselves have lost players in the past, Owen, Torres, Suarez, Gerrard, Alonso, Coutinho and gone on to improve. 9 managers since Ferguson now, heaps of players in and out and the decline continues. The problems at United run very deep in the culture of the club.
@Michael Mullins: United are the most expensive Premier League squad ever assembled …… Teams bounce back United have failed miserably on every single aspect of that
@Fionn Bohane: What Klopp left Slot was magical ……. (Without 115 charges City) Klopp would have cleaned up end up ……. he walked away and Liverpool look even better :)
Look very good, hard to see what team could step up to deny them the Pl this year.
Simply The Best!
Magic Mo
Liverpool and Leeds have it in the bag. Liverpool could win the lot this season. There is no outstanding side on the continent either.
@Ray Ridge: A little off your pre-season predictions regarding the premier league. I would have agreed with your predictions too…. Very few would have. City results have been freakish …. Liverpool have been unbeatable ….. I wouldn’t have predicted it myself
@David Shepherd: Well apart from City downing tools for a few months which none of us could legislate for, I did say Liverpool and Chelsea would be there nearest challengers and I’m expecting it to be Liverpool and Chelsea 1 and 2. So you could say my predictions were spot on after all. Said Ipswich and Southampton would go down. Which they will. Said Leeds would be promoted automatically which they will.
@Ray Ridge: Come on Ray. You said that City would have the pl sown up by November. And Ipswich and Southampton to go down? Really sticking the neck out there weren’t you?
Leeds will always be in the shake up in the championship.
Next you’ll be confidently predicting that Celtic will win in Scotland.
@Ray Ridge: you said man united would get top 4
@Ray Ridge: no it wasent ya dive lol
The anti Liverpool usual suspects are conspicuous in their absence tonight.
@Mick Joe: I’m sure Paul is ok. The others, they get it, not much you can say sometimes.
@Mick Joe: Mick I do poke fun but I do give Liverpool their dues, can’t see them being stopped and am not looking forward to next week. If I was a pool fan my only concern would be contract situation derailing a run in but it’s a well run club and I’d be confident they know what they are doing.
It’s done
Would love to see Mo with a ballon dor award. It might just happen.
Lopetugi under pressure, for what? Matching Moyes win average across all seasons? Give him a full season to figure out which players to keep/jettison, and recruit (assuming there’s some money available in Summer 2025) players who fit his wanted strategy…