Liverpool’s unbeaten run stretches to 23 games with win over West Ham: Five things we learned | OneFootball

Liverpool marched eight points clear at the Premier League summit as they thumped West Ham United 5-0 to close out the calendar year.

Luis Diaz opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, getting onto his own ricocheted pass, and Cody Gakpo added a second in the 40th minute after being set up by Mo Salah.

Salah got on the scoresheet himself just four minutes later, firing in from distance with a shot that Alfonso Areola will be disappointed not to have kept out at his near post.

Trent Alexander-Arnold got in on the act eight minutes into the second half, his long-range effort deflecting off Max Kilman and leaving Areola helpless.

Salah turned provider again late on as he weaved his way through the West Ham defence and played in substitute Diogo Jota to add more gloss to the emphatic scoreline. Here’s five big talking points from the game…

Scintillating Salah

With his 44th-minute strike, Salah reached 20 goals in a season for the Reds for the eighth campaign in a row. In a year where his contract expiry continues to be the talk of  Anfield, his goalscoring exploits are equally hitting the headlines.

In truth, he should have scored a lot sooner, with two excellent chances inside the opening eight minutes; the first was a great save by Areola diving at his near post, but the Egyptian would have been better placed striking it back across goal.

Add assists for Gakpo and Jota’s goal, Salah is within touching distance of club legend Steven Gerrard for Premier League assists.

Should Salah leave the club at the end of the season, he would have done everything in his power to help the club to a second Premier League title.

No distractions for Trent

Like Salah and Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold can agree to a pre-contract with a foreign club starting on January 1 and recent reports in Spain claimed Liverpool’s star right-back has agreed terms with Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Despite the outside noise, the 26-year-old demonstrated his usual eye for a pass as well as his improved defensive capabilities under Arne Slot.

If there were any concerns that the reports would distract the Liverpudlian, it was not on show at London Stadium, with Alexander-Arnold adding Liverpool’s fourth eight minutes into the second half.

Kudus a shining light for poor West Ham

In an otherwise dreadful night under the lights for the Hammers, Mohammed Kudus could leave the pitch with his head held high.

The 24-year-old was a shining light for the hosts, especially in the first half, outmuscling Andy Robertson with ease at times and constantly being an outlet for his side from the right.

His persistence almost paid off at a crucial time when a goal down, cutting inside and striking from distance, beating Allison Becker, but failing to beat the post as it rebounded out to safety.

Reds keep convincing

Another win extended Liverpool’s unbeaten streak in all competitions to 23 games and gave them an eight-point cushion at the top of the table with a game in hand.

Arne Slot has done well to bat away questions about Liverpool’s title credentials and potentially losing three of his key players in the summer, with the potential of all three signing pre-contract agreements from January 1.

Slot has refused to get carried away but soon the expectations of being favourites to go on and win the title could weigh heavy, and it will be crucial to manage that pressure.

Another setback for Lopetegui

This was never going to be the make-or-break game that determined Julen Loptegui’s future as West Ham manager, but the scoreline and manner of defeat to the league leaders is another blow and it is not the first time they have been well beaten this season.

Bar Kudos’ long-range effort, the home side barely laid a glove on the Reds, and they were swept aside quite comfortably by half time.

Defeat ends a four-game unbeaten run for Loptegui’s side who visit the Etihad to face Manchester City, who got back to winning ways at Leicester City.

After an FA Cup tie at Aston Villa, two home matches against Fulham and Crystal Palace may require maximum points to keep the Spaniard’s position tenable.