EPL: Liverpool Destroy West Ham To Stretch Lead; Man City End Five Game Winless Run
Liverpool crushed West Ham 5-0 on Sunday, further solidifying their position at the top of the Premier League table with an impressive eight-point lead. This commanding victory came as Manchester City managed to find their form again, securing a win against a struggling Leicester side.
Under the astute management of Arne Slot, Liverpool has been nothing short of unstoppable this season, achieving 23 wins in just 27 matches across all competitions. Their relentless pursuit of a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title was on full display at the London Stadium.
The scoring opened in the 30th minute when Luis Diaz found the back of the net, setting the tone for the match. Just minutes later, Mohamed Salah showcased his extraordinary skills, assisting Cody Gakpo for Liverpool’s second goal. Salah then added his own name to the scoresheet shortly before halftime, marking his 20th goal of the season and sending his team into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
The second half saw Trent Alexander-Arnold extend Liverpool’s advantage with a deflected long-range shot in the 54th minute. Diogo Jota capped off the rout with a well-placed shot, again assisted by Salah, who continued to shine despite ongoing speculation regarding his future with the club.
Meanwhile, Manchester City, the defending champions, faced relegation-threatened Leicester with renewed determination. After enduring a rough patch with only one win since late October, City found their rhythm, with Savinho scoring in the first half and Erling Haaland adding a header after the break, sealing a 2-0 victory. However, they remain a daunting 14 points adrift of Liverpool, making their quest for a fifth consecutive title increasingly difficult.
Nottingham Forest also made headlines, climbing to second place in the standings with a fifth consecutive victory, defeating Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park. Chris Wood opened the scoring early in the match, and his assist for Morgan Gibbs-White’s goal solidified Forest’s impressive rise up the table.
Tottenham Hotspur, struggling with injuries, looked to be on course for a much-needed win against Wolves after goals from Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson. However, a late equalizer from Jorgen Strand Larsen in the 87th minute forced Spurs to settle for a 2-2 draw, leaving them frustrated as they end a turbulent December.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace managed to secure just their second home league victory this season with a 2-1 win over bottom-placed Southampton, while Bournemouth drew 2-2 against Fulham thanks to a late equalizer from Dango Ouattara.