New Delhi: As Liverpool build on their first-half lead to defeat West Ham 5-0 away from home, the final whistle signals the end of an impressive performance by the Reds. The visitors were on their toes from the very beginning, after Mohamed Salah forced an early, instinctive stop from Alphonse Areola. They then rightfully took the lead at the interval when Luiz Diaz crashed in off the upright.
Less than two minutes later, Salah superbly ducked under his marker to set up Cody Gakpo who scored his fifth goal of the campaign just moments after Mohammed Kudus had already hit the woodwork at the other end. The Reds were in complete control when Salah joined in the 44th minute, curling in his 17th league goal of the season from just inside the area.
Ending 2024 with a win in the capital 😍 #WHULIV pic.twitter.com/rIBrfWon7v
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 29, 2024
West Ham were unable to respond, and Alexander-Arnold’s rocket in the 54th minute, which had taken a deflection off Konstantinos Mavropanos, fooled Areola. Julen Lopetegui’s displeasure was exacerbated by the injury to star Jarrod Bowen. Liverpool’s depth proved useful when substitute Jota scored goal number five after another Salah assist to add to the miseries of the West Ham fans.
Although West Ham came close to a consolation goal when Luis Guilherme struck the post in stoppage time, there was no doubt about the fact that the Hammers got hammered pretty hard by the fatastic Reds at their own turf.
Liverpool’s title challengers now have to hope that the Reds make a mistake after the year ends, while West Ham is currently in 13th place. Liverpool has already won 14 of its 18 games, putting them eight points ahead of Nottingham Forest, who are now in second position.
Player of the Match: Mohamed Salah
8 – Today is the eighth Premier League game this season in which Mo Salah has registered both a goal and an assist – a new seasonal record by any player in the competition’s history. Sensational. pic.twitter.com/GOQ9iuyLkI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 29, 2024
The Reds put on another goal-filled show, guaranteeing Arne Slot a successful close to 2024. The Egyptian became the first player to record a goal and an assist in eight different games in a single season. He was literally unplayeable tonight as West Ham defenders didn’t have clue how to stop him. Scoring his 17th goal of the season already, he is setting the league on fire and it looks frightening for other Premier League sides. With 82 league assists to his name, he surpassed David Bekham to make it into the list of top 10 all-time assist providers.
Salah currently leads all Liverpool players in a single calendar year during the Premier League era with 23 assists across all competitions. Besides, he already has 30 goal contributions in the league this season, which is quite unreal if you consider the fact that it is only Matchday 19, with the league leaders having a game in hand. The things this man is achieving this season is just unbelievable.
Liverpool ended 2024 in style as West Ham United suffered the wrath of Mohamed Salah in a 5-0 battering in the London Stadium to increase the gap to eight points at the top. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
