Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points after a dominant 5-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium. Mohamed Salah was instrumental once again, showcasing his exceptional form as the Reds cruised to an emphatic win.
The scoring opened in the 30th minute when Luis Diaz capitalized on a fortunate rebound after his initial pass was deflected back to him, netting his eighth Premier League goal of the season. Salah then displayed dazzling footwork to set up Cody Gakpo in the 40th minute, doubling Liverpool’s lead.
Just before halftime, Salah added his name to the scoresheet with his league-leading 17th goal of the season, bringing his total to 20 in all competitions. The Egyptian forward continued to torment the West Ham defense, contributing significantly to Liverpool’s offensive prowess.
Trent Alexander-Arnold made it 4-0 in the 54th minute with a deflected long-range strike. Late in the game, Diogo Jota capped off the scoring in the 84th minute, finishing off a surging run and a precise assist from Salah—his 13th of the season.
Under the guidance of manager Arne Slot, Liverpool looked unstoppable in their pursuit of a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title, recording their 23rd win in 27 matches across all competitions this season.
Elsewhere, Manchester City ended their five-game Premier League winless streak with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. Savinho opened the scoring in the 21st minute, pouncing on a rebound from Phil Foden’s long shot to net his first goal for the club.
Erling Haaland, who had just two goals in his previous eight league appearances, doubled City’s lead in the 74th minute with a towering header from Savinho’s cross. The Norwegian striker now has 14 league goals this season, while Savinho’s assist added to his impressive performance.
The much-needed win marked manager Pep Guardiola’s 500th game in charge of Manchester City and saw the club climb two spots to fifth place in the standings with 31 points. The defending champions will look to build on this momentum as they aim to close the gap at the top of the table.
Reference(s):
Liverpool thrash West Ham 5-0, Man City back on winning track
cgtn.com
