Liverpool surged 19 points clear at the top of the Premier League after easing to a 2-0 win at West Ham courtesy of goals from Mohamed Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were serenaded with chants of “we’re gonna win the league” in the final minutes, an assessment it is virtually impossible to argue against as the Reds asserted their superiority in typically ruthless fashion to extend their lead over Manchester City.
West Ham stuck at their task well enough but were outclassed and David Moyes will need to rally his troops quickly as they sit above the relegation zone on goal difference ahead of Saturday’s crucial battle with fellow-strugglers Brighton.
Roberto Firmino and Salah combined to release Andrew Robertson for Liverpool’s first clear chance but the left-back could only lift a weak shot over Lukasz Fabianski which Diop mopped up as it drifted wide.
He was just assured just after the half-hour mark. Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped a cross into Firmino, whose first touch was sublime. The Brazilian found Origi with a square ball in the box and as he wriggled to turn goalwards eight yards out, Diop chopped him down.
Salah made no mistake from 12 yards, firing low to Fabianksi’s left as he dived the other way.
West Ham missed an excellent chance to draw level less than five minutes into the second period as Robert Snodgrass fed Declan Rice, who crossed for Lanzini. The 26-year-old was unmarked in the middle of the penalty area but only managed a tame effort which barely reached Alisson.
The Hammers then had a corner shortly afterwards as they attempted to generate momentum but instead they conceded a second goal. Virgil Van Dijk headed the ball away and as Mark Noble let the ball bounce, Masuaku wasn’t strong enough on Salah and suddenly the break was on as Henderson released the Egyptian.
With the outside of his left foot, Salah bent a superb pass in behind the Hammers defence and Oxlade-Chamberlain showed strength to bounce off Lanzini before steering a shot past Fabianski.
Snodgrass almost replied instantly with a snapshot after Georginio Wijnaldum gifted possession to Lanzini but the Scotland international’s effort was turned behind by Alisson, low to his right.
Lanzini’s night ended in unedifying fashion as cheers from a sizeable number of home fans greeted his 69th-minute substitution and they almost had something more positive to shout about when Rice’s shot was beaten away by Alisson. Alexander-Arnold tried to react to the rebound but only succeeding in diverting the ball back past his goalkeeper and off his right-hand upright.
Salah hit the post at the other end as Liverpool sought to add further gloss to the scoreline but instead they had to settle for a two-goal margin that only makes their first title win in 30 years all the more inevitable.
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