The Slot site ends the year in sparkling form

Liverpool emerged as clear winners as the league leaders scored five goals against West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota scored the goals to ensure Arne Slot’s side ended 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 win in the capital #WHULIV pic.twitter.com/rIBrfWon7v

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 29, 2024

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

Due to injuries and suspensions, coach Julen Lopetegui made four changes for the visit of Liverpool. And it was one of them, Alphonse Areola, coming on for the injured Lukasz Fabianski, who came into action early on when he cleverly parried to deny Salah.

But after half an hour, Diaz, the only change in Liverpool’s starting line-up, gave the Reds the lead when he hammered the ball into the net from just inside the penalty area.

Almost immediately afterwards, Liverpool were almost pushed back when the lively Mohammed Kudus hit the post with a long-range shot.

But seconds later, Slot’s side doubled their lead when Salah’s magic led Gakpo to an easy tap-in.

“Even more magic from Mo Salah”

Gakpo is there to finish it off after a brilliant performance from Salah pic.twitter.com/K3a9mJDUSx

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

Salah then got into the action himself, scoring his 20th goal of the season when his shot went past Areola and wide of the near post.

Slot’s team thus completed a confident half of the game, going into the break with a comfortable lead of three goals.

It was a similar story in the second half. Areola again saved well from Salah in the opening minutes, but the fourth goal came soon after when Alexander-Arnold’s deflected shot wrong-footed the West Ham keeper.

Liverpool have FOUR!

Trent Alexander-Arnold scores from distance and the ball deflects off Max Kilman and lands in the goal pic.twitter.com/D5jeJeYMhL

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

From then on the Reds played at half pace. With a view to the visit of big rivals Manchester United in a week, Slot announced the changes and gave players such as Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch additional rest.

The Hammers hardly posed a threat and seemed mostly resigned to damage limitation.

Kudus shook the frame of the goal again, but the offside flag was raised.

Substitute Diogo Jota then rounded off a fine performance from Liverpool when he scored a fifth goal six of the 90 minutes remaining.

It was the icing on the cake on an extremely comfortable evening for Liverpool, who end 2024 top of the table and in pole position for the Premier League title.