Liverpool's Stellar Performance

In a breathtaking display of football, Liverpool annihilated West Ham United 5-0 at the London Stadium on December 30, 2024, significantly extending their Premier League lead to eight points.

Salah's Impact

The star of the match was undoubtedly Mohamed Salah, who showcased his extraordinary talent yet again, contributing a goal and two assists to propel his team to an emphatic victory.

Salah's performance this season has been nothing short of spectacular, reaching a remarkable 20 goals across all competitions. His consistency is highlighted by the fact that he has either scored or assisted in eight Premier League games, a feat that sets him apart as Liverpool pushes towards clinching their 20th league title under the management of Arne Slot, currently in his inaugural season at the helm.

Liverpool's League Position

With 45 points collected from 18 matches, Liverpool's closest rival is the surprising Nottingham Forest with 37 points, although they have played one additional game. Chelsea, sitting in fourth place, has the opportunity to narrow the gap if they manage to overcome struggling Ipswich Town in their upcoming match.

Salah's Commitment

After the match, Salah spoke to Sky Sports, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to the team: "The only thing on my mind is I want Liverpool to win the league and I want to be part of that. I will do my best for the team to win the trophy. There are a few other teams catching up with us, and we need to stay focused and humble and go again. I am almost hungry for more."

Contract Negotiations

Despite ongoing contract negotiations that appear to stall, Salah refrained from delving into details, stating, "No, we are far away from that, and I don't want to put anything in the media." This uncertainty surrounding his future does create some concern among Liverpool fans, but they are undoubtedly relieved and excited by his stellar form.

Manager's Praise

Manager Arne Slot, who has only experienced one defeat this calendar year—including his time with Feyenoord—praised Salah's contributions: "If you look at his numbers, you can't argue with that. Mo is definitely up there at the moment."

Match Highlights

Liverpool's attacking prowess has been evident in recent matches, scoring nine goals in their last two league encounters. The contest against West Ham saw the visitors dominate, although they took time to break the deadlock. It was Luis Díaz who initiated the scoring, striking past Alphonse Areola after a fortunate rebound just before the half-hour mark.

West Ham had a fleeting moment of hope when Mohammed Kudus hit the post at 1-0, but the home side was largely outclassed after that. Salah's exceptional footwork set up Cody Gakpo for Liverpool's second goal in the 40th minute, and moments later, Salah effectively sealed the game by scoring himself just before halftime.

Although Liverpool eased up in the second half, they continued to threaten West Ham’s defense, with Trent Alexander-Arnold's deflected shot bringing the score to 4-0 early in the half. Despite a series of substitutions from Slot, Salah remained on the pitch and continued to wreak havoc, setting up Diogo Jota for the final goal of the match in the 84th minute.

Conclusion

As the match concluded, some of the remaining West Ham fans expressed their frustration with boos, while Liverpool celebrated yet another stellar performance in what is shaping up to be a historic season. The Reds appear committed to continuing this trajectory, leaving rivals to wonder if anyone can stop them in their quest for the title.