Liverpool will end the year eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table after thrashing West Ham United 5-0 on Sunday night.
Premier League
Result: West Ham United 0-5 Liverpool
Date: 29 December 2024
Venue: London Stadium
The Reds made just one change from the win over Leicester City, as Luis Diaz has been restored to the starting line-up in place of Darwin Nunez, who dropped to the bench.
The game got off to a lively start as Lucas Paqueta scuffed his close-range strike after six minutes before Mohamed Salah was denied by a fine save from Alphonse Areola at the other end.
The visitors continued to threaten as the first half went on Diaz was given time and space to unleash a strike, but the Hammers had Areola to thank for pulling off the good save.
Arne Slot's charges got the breakthrough in the 29th minute as Diaz latched onto a loose ball in the box before burying the ball into the bottom corner for his seventh league goal of the season.
The Reds doubled their lead in the 39th minute just minutes after West Ham's Mohammed Kudus hit the upright as Salah turned provider with some neat skill to set up Cody Gakpo, who fired into an empty net.
The rout continued on the stroke of halftime as Salah got his name on the score-sheet by collecting a pass on the edge of the box and finding the bottom corner, although Areola should have done better.
Liverpool carried that momentum into the second half and grabbed a fourth goal nine minutes after the break when Trent Alexander-Arnold unleashed a strike from distance that took a big deflection and sailed into the bottom corner.
The Hammers nearly bagged a consolation goal with 15 minutes to play when Emerson did well to pick out Kudus in the box, but the Ghanaian's header was kept out by the crossbar with Alisson Becker well beaten.
The Reds, however, were able to grab a fifth goal with seven minutes left on the clock as Salah grabbed his second assist by playing in substitute Diogo Jota, who curled one into the top corner to wrap up a good win.
