There was a chill wind emanating from Merseyside and heading ominously towards Manchester as Mohamed Salah continued his goal binge and Liverpool moved into second.
Jose Mourinho’s United players may be feeling and fighting it at Old Trafford when facing Chelsea on Sunday as they now find themselves behind Jurgen Klopp’s side in the table.
Liverpool’s win over West Ham took them to their highest league position since August, but it was the ease and panache with which they did it that left the starkest impression. David Moyes’ side was shredded during one of those second-half sprees when Anfield fixtures resemble NBA matches.
For the briefest period it looked like Moyes’ attack may benefit as much as his defence suffered from Liverpool’s freestyle football, notably when West Ham substitute Michail Antonio pounced on sloppiness in the home rearguard to reduce a three-goal deficit before the hour. But since the addition of Virgil van Dijk there are signs Klopp’s side’s vigour no longer comes with recurring levels of charity. They eased through the gears, scoring four when a little more ruthlessness might effortlessly have given them double.
Naturally, Salah scored again. They might start printing guarantees of the Egyptian finding the net on the Anfield match tickets. He has 31 for the season already, the most by any Liverpool player in a campaign since Luis Suarez was at Anfield. The Uruguayan did it over the course of a season, not by February. It is time to start checking the records for 40-goal campaigns.
Liverpool took their goal tally for the season to 103 as they claimed second place in the Premier League with a comfortable 4-1 win over West Ham.
Mohamed Salah, with his 31st of the season, again got on the scoresheet, while Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane also struck.
West Ham hit the bar through Marko Arnautovic in the early stages, but were outplayed and managed just a consolation through substitute Michail Antonio.
Liverpool, who also won 4-1 at the London Stadium in November, were dominant and could have had more for their efforts, with both Salah and Mane striking the woodwork.
(Image: AFP)
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
The Hammers, whose supporters wore T-shirts commemorating the 25th anniversary of Bobby Moore's death, offered little and the result prolonged their manager David Moyes' miserable record at Anfield.
The former Everton and Manchester United boss has now not won at the ground in 15 attempts.
It also proved an ineffective Hammers debut for Patrice Evra, with the former United defender booed throughout.
(Image: Clive Brunskill)
(Image: AFP)
Liverpool XI: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Can, Milner, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs: Lovren, Gomez, Henderson, Moreno, Lallana, Mignolet, Solanke.
West Ham XI: Adrian, Zabaleta, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Evra, Joao Mario, Kouyate, Noble, Lanzini, Arnautovic.
Subs: Reid, Hugill, Hernandez, Byram, Hart, Antonio, Rice.
You can follow all the action as it happened below...
After a weekend without football for Liverpool, the Premier League is back.
Jurgen Klopp's Reds are pushing for second place and are looking to build on a magnificent 5-0 thrashing of Porto in the Champions League.
Standing in their way in West Ham and old foe David Moyes as the Hammers look to build on a victory against Watford last time out.
Team news
Captain Jordan Henderson drops to the bench, while Gini Wijnaldum isn't part of the 18-man matchday squad due to illness.
Emre Can, who was banned for the trip to Portugal, is recalled alongside Oxlade-Chamberlain with James Milner retaining his place after an impressive display in Europe.
The other change is at the back with Klopp opting to hand Joel Matip an opportunity to shine in place of Dejan Lovren. Matip will partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.
LIVERPOOL: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson, Milner, Can, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Mane, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Lovren, Gomez, Henderson, Moreno, Lallana, Solanke.
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Loris Karius 7
Good tip on Arnautovic's first-half chip to put it on to the bar and denied the same player with a palm over of another shot from distance. Had a decent angle on Antonio for West Ham's goal and may feel he might have stopped it on another day. Some good quick distribution.
Trent-Alexander Arnold 7
Generally very good going forward but like the rest had some problems with Arnautovic. Stuck couple of fine balls across but no-one in there to profit. You can see him gaining confidence all the time though. Another good display.
Andy Robertson 7
Finally got his deserved assist with a low cross for Mane for the fourth. Had been quieter second period after very busy first half. One lovely run out of defence as Liverpool broke from a Hammers free-kick, beating several players. Perfect cross should have been headed home by Salah. Almost scored with a mishit too.
(Image: James Maloney)
Joel Matip 6
Had problems early on with Arnautovic, who was clearly the chief West Ham threat. But improved considerably in the second half.
Virgil van Dijk 7
Got a little casual in the second half which brought a few palpitations in the crowd. Got Matip out of trouble early with Arnautovic. Won a header from a corner but couldn't beat Adrian. Lot more comfortable than his partner and his presence valuable defending set-pieces.
Emre Can 7
A goal and an assist though lost out to Kouyate in lead up to West Ham goal. Sixth goal of season, heading home Salah's corner just before half hour mark. Nice pass in the second half to release Firmino for Liverpool's third. A couple of loose passes early on but recovered his own mistakes and almost had another assist with nice clip over the top to find Salah in first half.
(Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
James Milner 7
Did loads of work, but you knew that, winning tackles in both halves of the pitch. Lovely early pass to allow Firmino to set up Salah. Looked to get forward and involved in a thunderous challenge with Noble on the edge of the West Ham box.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 7
Did very well in run up to Salah's goal, fighting off two challenges and playing in the Egyptian even as he fell down. Shot just wide from Alexander-Arnold's pass as he improved a lot second half from a quiet first period. Couple of decent shots from distance had Adrian sprawling.
Sadio Mane 8
Up to 13 goals for the season, equalling his tally of last year. Good finish too, dinking it over Adrian from Robertson's cross. Hit the post when he should have scored from Oxlade-Chamberlain's slip pass just before. That Porto hat-trick looks to have done him plenty of good and he could have had more here.
Roberto Firmino 8
That's 22 for the season, matching his best at Hoffenheim. Of course he didn't look once he got past Adrian either. Found Salah with the pass where he hit the post in the first half and Mane with a cross which he headed over. Dropped deep quite a lot as he does and won some good balls back.
Mohamed Salah 8
Another goal in this season of seasons. 31 in the bag. Denied by Adrian a couple of times too and will feel he could have had more. Hit the post inside three minutes and always looking to run behind on those diagonals which have been so rewarding. His corner provided the assist for Can's opener and he should have scored himself with a header from Robertson's cross.
Adam Lallana (for Firmino 82)
Should earn an extra mark for sorting that hair! Fired a shot just over after good work from Salah.
(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Alberto Moreno (for Mane 87)
A win bonus. Gracias Jurgen.
Dominic Solanke (for Salah 87)
A win bonus. Cheers Jurgen.
