Liverpool 4 West Ham 1: Hosts up to second after Mo Salah scores yet again
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They might as well start printing on Liverpool’s match tickets you are guaranteed to see Mo Salah score.
The Egyptian has 31 for the season now, the most in a campaign since Luis Suarez was on Merseyside. It is time to start checking the records for 40 goal seasons.
He should have had a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over West Ham that took Liverpool second in the Premier League, hitting the post and missing a sitter before scoring his side’s second on 51 minutes. He could have added more as Jurgen Klopp's side eased through the gears. Imagine how many he will get when his finishing improves.
The same could be said of many Liverpool players, who missed plenty but still shredded West Ham in the second half. Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane added to Emre Can’s first half header. Antonio Valencia briefly threatened a revival at 3-1, but Liverpool looked capable of creating chances with each attack.
More significantly, the win moves Liverpool to their highest position since August.
Emre Can celebrates scores Liverpool's first against West Ham CREDIT: SIMON STACPOOLE/OFFSIDE/GETTY IMAGES
It was once said at Anfield ‘first is first, second is nothing’ but times have changed. The chance to be the best of the rest is a barometer of progress for Klopp.
Liverpool went ahead on 21 minutes via a routine set-piece goal they rarely score. Salah was the provider with a corner, Can’s header unchallenged. This followed an encouraging period for the visitors, even though Mane and Van Dijk had squandered early chances.
Marko Arnautovic was troubling Joel Matip, and almost scored a stunner after 15 minutes. He chipped Loris Karius from the edge of the penalty area, but the German managed to fingertip the effort onto the bar. It was another sign of the keeper's growing confidence.
Sadio Mane completes the scoring with a clever chip CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
Without a recognised striker, David Moyes was depending on his runners. There was tidiness without penetration at that stage, but the caution in the line-up was evident with Patrice Evra’s inclusion – his first appearance for West Ham. That stirred the blood of The Kop, who reminded him of his Manchester United past - and role in Luis Suarez’s suspension in 2011 – at each opportunity.
Liverpool cut loose after the break, the excellent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain teeing up Salah before Adrian’s error enabled Firmino to tap-in a third. After an end-to-end passing move with began with Karius, Andy Robertson’s cross fed Mane on 77 minutes.
The match was played in a chill wind. Now they are playing catch-up, the United and Chelsea players may feel it coming from Merseyside heading to Old Trafford on Sunday lunchtime.