West Ham 0-5 Liverpool: Talking points as Reds smash Hammers to reinforce Premier League domination - Soccer News

[ad_1] At this level within the season, Liverpool really look unstoppable. On Sunday night on the London Stadium, they put West Ham to the sword by placing 5 unanswered targets previous the hosts. 5 targets, 5 totally different scorers: Luis Diaz (30′), Cody Gakpo (40′), Mohamed Salah (44′), Trent Alexander-Arnold (54′), and Diogo Jota (84′).

The groups West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui was with out the companies of striker Michail Antonio, who's recovering after a automotive crash, goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski on account of a head harm, and the suspended midfield pair of Guido Rodriguez and Tomas Soucek.

Alphonse Areola was in aim, behind the again line consisting of right-back Vladimir Coufal, centre-backs Dinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman, and left-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Edson Alvarez paired up with Carlos Soler in the course of the park, with Lucas Paqueta becoming a member of wingers Mohammed Kudus and Emerson Palmieri in supporting Jarrod Bowen in assault.

As for Liverpool, they have been nonetheless with out defenders Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley, although each needs to be out there for his or her subsequent recreation, as ought to midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who missed this one by way of suspension.

With that in thoughts, coach Arne Slot chosen his arguably strongest XI out there. With Alisson Becker between the posts, Virgil van Dijk had Joe Gomez with him within the centre-back division, flanked by Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson. With no Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones was once more the person to start out in midfield with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. Salah on the precise, Gakpo on the left, and Diaz because the ‘false 9’, fashioned a menacing attacking trio.

Recreation recap West Ham managed to climate the storm for half an hour, principally by way of Areola making a number of glorious saves to disclaim Salah, Jones and Diaz. They even got here near taking the lead early on as Bowen broke down the left and pulled it again for Paqueta on the far put up, however the Brazil worldwide misplaced his step for a second and ruined the prospect.

However within the thirtieth minute, there was no stopping Diaz as he charged by way of the center, acquired a barely fortunate bounce off Coufal, and smashed previous Areola from simply contained in the field.

Even then, the Hammers might’ve gotten again degree quite shortly, however Kudus was unfortunate as his shot from vary hit the put up. Solely three minutes later, they have been fully undone by a improbable piece of intricate play from Liverpool. Mac Allister’s move excessive appeared destined to catch Salah offside, however the Egyptian brilliantly modified course and left the ball for Jones who had made a run to the precise. There was no offside when Jones handed it to Salah, to the dismay of Mavropanos and Kilman who each received nutmegged within the means of Salah aiding Gakpo at shut vary.

And if the help itself wasn’t sensible sufficient (it actually was), Salah himself smashed previous Areola because the Hammers’ again line received bypassed by Jones’ move far too simply. It wasn’t even halftime, nevertheless it was fairly apparent at that time that there was no method again for Lopetegui’s males. Areola truly did effectively to forestall Salah from scoring once more inside two minutes.

It was extra of the identical after the break, with Liverpool in full management of the competition and West Ham solely often coming inside attain of the guests’ field. Kudus did hit the woodwork once more (header onto the crossbar this time), however a deflected shot by Alexander-Arnold and a effective end from Diogo Jota in a while set the ultimate rating.

The one barely worrying side for Liverpool on this recreation is Gomez being forcibly withdrawn by way of a hamstring harm after 37 minutes. With that in thoughts, Konate’s imminent return to motion forward of the subsequent match couldn't have come at a greater time.

Mohamed Salah Liverpool have been principally ridiculed by pundits and rival followers alike when the switch of Salah from AS Roma was confirmed again in 2017. He was described as a “Chelsea reject” and “simply one other Juan Cuadrado”, amongst different issues, however he shortly put all such nonsense to relaxation with 32 Premier League targets in his first season on the membership.

Salah has been shining in a Liverpool shirt since, however his recreation has gone to a complete different degree this season. With the league marketing campaign nonetheless to succeed in its midway line, he has 17 targets and 13 assists to his identify. With eight matches wherein he has each scored and assisted, he owns the file of the English flight on that entrance – once more, earlier than the primary half of the season is performed.

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In the meanwhile, it’s arduous to consider an attacking participant wherever on the planet performing wherever near the extent of the Liverpool star, and the Anfield devoted are certainly praying for an settlement between the membership and Salah’s agent over a brand new contract to be reached as quickly as attainable.

Salah is the one fixed in Slot’s formidable attacking division, beginning each recreation within the Premier League and the Champions League, repeatedly proving his price with unbelievable output. Gakpo, Diaz, Jota and Nunez, all glorious gamers, are left in his wake, competing for the remaining two attacking spots within the lineup.

Trent drops a touch? Alexander-Arnold is one other Liverpool star whose contract is up on the finish of the season, and the hypothesis round his future grows day by day. Spanish outlet Marca, identified for doing Actual Madrid’s bidding greater than reporting soccer issues precisely, has reported that the 26-year-old England worldwide has already knowledgeable his boyhood membership of his resolution to depart as a free agent and be part of Los Blancos. The declare was, nevertheless, shortly denied by media in England and elsewhere.

And celebrating his aim within the 54th minute, Alexander-Arnold made a hand gesture that appeared to point there had been an excessive amount of discuss.

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His celebration is actually open to numerous instructions of interpretation. It may need been a touch a technique, or the opposite, or no trace in any respect – it’s anybody’s guess. However for argument’s sake, it appears he doesn’t need his future publicly mentioned at this level, which might in all probability imply he's but to decide.

Title race It doesn’t actually seem to be a race proper now, does it?

With 18 matches performed, Liverpool cleared the path with 45 factors, and it’s Nottingham Forest, the shock of the season, in second place with an eight-point deficit and one recreation performed greater than the Merseysiders. Arsenal path by 9, with 18 matches performed too. Chelsea are behind by 10, and Manchester Metropolis, who've performed 19 video games already, are looking at a whopping 14-point hole between them and the place the place they wish to be. Are the defending champions out of the race?

Most likely.

As for West Ham, they gained’t be fairly as a lot troubled by the loss itself as by the style of shedding. In the meanwhile, they sit in thirteenth place with 23 factors, and although their Premier League standing shouldn’t actually be in danger, the membership could have had larger ambitions forward of the season, and Lopetegui’s job is way from secure.

Each Liverpool and West Ham will face groups from Manchester subsequent, and whereas Liverpool welcome United at Anfield on January fifth, West Ham journey to face Metropolis on the Etihad the day earlier than.