Salah's goal celebration(©Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Salah's goal celebration(©Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Demolition squad takes no prisoners! Hammers are the latest victim

Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 29.12.24. | 22:16

Already at the break, Liverpool were 3-0 up, scoring three times between the 30th and 45th minute. After the break, Trent and Jota completed West Ham's "destruction," making it 5-0

The Slot machine seems unstoppable! West Ham held out for half an hour before conceding three goals until the break! Diaz, Gakpo, and Salah secured Liverpool a peaceful second half and another victory, which brought them closer to the title, no matter how early it is to talk about it.

The second half was much more relaxed for both teams, though the Reds managed to score two more goals over Alexander-Arnold and Jota, for more than convincing 5-0 triumph on the road.

Julen Lopetegui's team opted for strictly defensive tactics, which worked during the first half an hour. Truth be told, Liverpool could have taken the lead already after six minutes, but Alphonse Areola magnificently stopped Salah's close-range effort.

Still, as people often say, "when it rains, it pours," and once the rain started after a half-hour mark, West Ham found themselves in the middle of a hurricane. Luis Diaz starterd it, netting luckily since the ball returned to him after and unsuccessful pass atempt.

Ten minutes later, Cody Gakpo used Salah's magical assist to make it 2-0, while the Egyptian netted himself four minutes later for his eighth match in which he notes both a goal and an assist! In the meantime, Mohammed Kudus missed the only chance for the home team before the Reds' second goal, hitting the post from a distance.

Lopetegui, of course, could not be happy about his team's display and made a double sub during the break, giving Jean-Clair Todibo and Niklas Fullkrug a chance. However, the Frenchman gave too much space to Salah minutes after entering the pitch. Luckily for him, his fellow countryman, Areola, saved him.

The Hammers' demolition continued nine minutes after the break when Trent Alexander-Arnold scored from around 20 meters, slightly thanks to Max Killman, off whose head the ball rebounded and tricked Areola - 4-0. Finally, the sub Diogo Jota found his way to the net as well, scoring the fifth goal for Arne Slot's demolition squad in the 84th minute.

In the end, West Ham's four-game unbeaten run was ended in a painful way, while Liverpool definitely justified the lately often-asked question, "Can anyone stop them?" So far, Arne Slot's team has struck fear into rivals' bones and hardly anyone believes they won't lift the Premier League trophy in May.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 19

Sunday

Leicester - Man.City 0-2 (0-1)

/Savinho 21, Haaland 74/

Crystal Palace - Southampton 2-1 (1-1)

/Chalobah 31, Eze 52 - Dibling 15/

Everton - Nott.Forest 0-2 (0-1)

/Wood 15, Gibbs-White 61/

Fulham - Bournemouth 2-2 (1-0)

/Jimenez 40, Wilson 72 - Evanilson 51, Outtara 89/

Tottenham - Wolverhampton 2-2 (2-1)

/Bentancur 12, Johnson 45+3 - Hwang 7, Larsen 87/

West Ham - Liverpool 0-5 (0-3)

/Diaz 30, Gakpo 40, Salah 44, Alexander-Arnold 54, Jota 84/

Monday

22.45: (2.00) Aston Villa (3.50) Brighton (3.70)

22.45: (7.25) Ipswich (4.60) Chelsea (1.43)

23.00: (2.70) Man.Utd. (3.35) Newcastle (2.60)

***odds are subject to change***




tags

English Premier LeagueLiverpoolWest Ham UnitedLuis DiazCody GakpoMohamed SalahTrent Alexander-ArnoldDiogo Jota

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