LONDON: Liverpool thrashed West Ham United 5-0 at the London Stadium to stretch their Premier League lead to eight points on Sunday with Mohamed Salah once again in irrepressible form.

Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota were on target for the rampant Reds in east London as they ended the year as huge favourites to deliver just a second league title in 35 years.

Salah has been enjoying a vintage season despite uncertainty over a new contract and scored once and provided two assists as Liverpool dismantled their outclassed hosts.

Reports in recent weeks have suggested an agreement is getting closer between the 32-year-old and the Reds, but Salah shot down those suggestions.

“We are far away from that,” Salah told Sky Sports.

“I don’t want to put something in the media and people start saying stuff, but nothing really has moved on. Now I am focused on the team and hopefully we win the Premier League.”

Salah now has 20 goals in all competitions this season, has scored and assisted in eight Premier League games and appears to be firing Liverpool towards a 20th league title in Dutchman Arne Slot’s first season in charge.

Liverpool have 45 points from 18 games with surprise package Nottingham Forest their closest pursuers with 37 points having played a game more.

While Slot was delighted to see five different players on the scoresheet on Sunday, a first clean sheet in five games was equally satisfying after his side conceded nine goals in their previous four.

“Clean sheets are one of the reasons why you win a lot. If every time you have to score two, three or four goals it is difficult,” he said.

“At the moment we do but it is not sustainable for a longer period of time.

“Sometimes you need a win by keeping a clean sheet and scoring one or two.”

The only negative for Liverpool on almost a perfect day was that their defender Joe Gomez picked up a hamstring injury during the match and faces a spell on the sidelines.

“You saw today an injury of Joe Gomez. If a player says he wants to stop, he has to be changed,” Slot told Sky Sports.

“In a sprint, then we all know it’s a hamstring and we all know it’s going take a while before he is back. I don’t know how long but he will be out for quite a bit.”

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2024