The year of the end of the side of the slot in a scintillating form

Liverpool ended up comfortable winners as the league leaders put five past West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota grabbed the goals as Arne Slot’s side saw out the year in impressive fashion.

The win means the Reds move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table, while the Hammers remain in 13th place, nine points above the relegation zone.

End 2024 with a victory in the capital 😍 #WHULIV pic.twitter.com/rIBrfWon7v

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) 29 December 2024

Going into the game, West Ham were on a four match unbeaten run, including a 1-0 win over Southampton on Boxing Day.

Due to injuries and suspensions, boss Julen Lopetegui made four changes for Liverpool’s visit. And it was one of those, Alphonse Areola, in for the injured Lukasz Fabianski, who was called into action early on when he made a smart save to deny Salah.

But with half an hour to play, Diaz, the only change for Liverpool’s starting eleven, gave the Reds the lead when he put the ball into the net from just inside the box.

Liverpool were almost pegged back almost immediately after when the lively Mohammed Kudus hit the post with a shot from distance.

But seconds later Slot’s side doubled their lead when some magic from Salah set up Gakpo for a simple tap in.

“Tomorrow more magic from Mo Salah” 🪄

Gakpo is there to finish it off after a brilliant piece of skill from Salah 🎯 pic.twitter.com/K3a9mJDUSx

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) 29 December 2024

Salah then got into the act himself, grabbing his 20th goal of the season when his shot curled under Areola at his near post.

It ended a great half of football from Slot’s side, who went into the break with a comfortable three goal cushion.

The second half continued in the same way. Areola again saved well from Salah in the first few minutes, but the fourth goal arrived shortly after when Alexander-Arnold’s deflected strike deflected off the West Ham goalkeeper.

Liverpool have FOUR!

Trent Alexander-Arnold strikes from a distance and clears Max Kilman’s deflection in the goal 💫 pic.twitter.com/D5jeJeYMhL

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) 29 December 2024

From there, the Reds played half a tempo. With one eye on the visit of their arch-rivals Manchester United in a week’s time, Slot played the changes, giving the likes of Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch extra rest.

The Hammers offered very little threat, and more than anything seemed resigned to limiting the damage.

Kudus messed up the goal frame again but the offside flag was raised.

Substitute Diogo Jota then completed a good performance for Liverpool when they came in fifth with six minutes left of the 90th.

This was the cherry on top of what was a hugely comfortable night’s work for Liverpool, who ended 2024 top of the pile and in pole position for the Premier League title.