Liverpool thrash West Ham to go eight points clear at top of Premier League
FT: Leicester 0-2 Man City - Haaland & Savinho give visitors win
FT: Crystal Palace 2-1 Southampton - Eze scores as Eagles come from behind to win
FT: Everton 0-2 Nottm Forest - Gibbs-White & Wood send Reds second in table
FT: Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth - Ouattara snatches late draw for Cherries
FT: Tottenham 2-2 Wolves - Strand Larsen smashes in late Wanderers equaliser
Thank you for joining us today for another packed day of Premier League action over this festive period. We hope that you enjoyed our company, and haven't got indigestion from all the Christmas leftovers.
We will return tomorrow for the final three English top flight games of 2024. See you then.
Here's the state of play in the top flight following today's six games.
Liverpool are clear at the top, while Nottingham Forest are up to second! What a season Nuno's side are having. Reigning champions Manchester City meanwhile are back into the top five following a much needed victory.
Down the bottom, the three sides promoted last season - Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton - will definitely end the year in the relegation zone.
Image source, BBC SportFT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
West Ham have conceded more Premier League goals in 2024 than any other side.
Their 79 goals conceded their most in a single calendar year since 1967, when they shipped 85 - yet somehow they finished 12th in 1967-68.
FT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
Jamie Redknapp
Former Liverpool midfielder on Sky Sports
The manager [Julen Lopetegui] is honest in his assessment - he realises they are off it.
Image source, PA MediaFT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We did not compete as we were thinking to today or as the opponent Liverpool demands. Today has been a tough day for us."
On if he regrets changing his starting XI: "No. We were thinking about the fact we had played three days ago and also that we had some problems today to make the lineup.
"In the first ten minutes we had the first chance in a very clear situation and after we didn't score it then it is true they overcame us and had two very clear chances. They scored the first goal but then we have the chance to draw [level] with Kudus which hit the post and then they overcome us again."
On Bowen's injury: "I do not know exactly. We will have to assess him and we will know in the coming days."
Is it unfair to judge the side against the league leaders? "Today we have played against one of the best teams in the world in this current moment, but it is true that we have to do much better."
FT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool are the first non-London team to score five or more goals in consecutive top-flight games in the capital since Burnley in 1960.
Who says that northerners can't stomach London?
FT: Crystal Palace 2-1 Southampton
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner to BBC Match of the Day: "The reaction was really great. We played forward and created chances but then we missed them, and it's tough to get back into the game. Today we were very dangerous with set plays. This helped us today. It felt like we could have decided the game earlier.
"Very often expected wins, and everyone is expected to win at home against Southampton, very often expected wins are the most difficult. So I'm really pleased with the performance and the win today.
Should Palace's equaliser have been disallowed?: "I think it's a foul all over Europe but not in England and not in the Premier League. We had a manager meeting before the start of the season and we were told this is the Premier League and it is known and is famous as world number one with this way of playing.
"Not every contact is a foul in open play and in set plays as well. We also adjusted to these rules and you can see that. I think if this goal had been disallowed today, then many, many set-play goals would be disallowed in the future. This is what Arsenal are doing from every corner, pushing, blocking.
"You see the Wolves game against Manchester United, one in front and one behind the keeper and he complained. It was the same for Man Utd against Tottenham in the Carabao [Cup]. This is the Premier League and we are told about it. I think it's a regular goal for Premier League football."
FT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
Jamie Redknapp
Former Liverpool midfielder on Sky Sports
Manchester City's demise has helped Liverpool's cause.
Liverpool have been phenomenal.
When the new manager came in fans will have taken top four - Arne Slot has made it look seamless, it has been effortless from him.
FT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
Liverpool boss Arne Slot speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Yeah [lots of goals] but loads of chances as well. It was 3-0 at half time but soon after that we could have scored three.
"On the other side it was good that not every chance that they had went in, they had two or three, one hit the post and one hit the bar. Against Leicester they had one chance and scored. We were a bit unlucky that we did not score in the first few minutes but as well we were lucky that at 1-0 Kudus hit the post.
"[Clean sheets] are one of the reasons why you win a lot. If everytime you have to score two, three or four goals it is difficult, 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.
"At the end we did not need our clean sheet but it is always good for the confidence of the back line and goalkeepers.
"If a player makes a sprint then asks to go out we know it is a hamstring and it will not take one or two days to fix. The positive thing was that Joe [Gomez]'s replacement Jarrell Quansah played an amazing game. That shows how important the squad is.
On losing just one game in 2024: "Compliments to Nottingham Forest. They were the one."
FT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
Image source, Getty ImagesMohamed Salah has both scored and assisted in eight different Premier League games for Liverpool this season, already the most any player has done so in a single campaign in the competition.
His goal and assist today means Salah has been involved in 52 goals in all competitions in the calendar year of 2024 - 29 goals, 23 assists. This is more than any other player in Europe’s big five leagues.
He has been involved in 30 goals in just 18 league games in 2024-25 - 17 goals, 13 assists - which is the fewest appearances any player has needed to reach 30 goal involvements in a single Premier League campaign.
His goal today means Salah has scored 20 or more goals in all competitions in all eight of his seasons with Liverpool. Among Premier League players since 1992-93, only Alan Shearer and Harry Kane have had more 20+ goal campaigns than the Egyptian.
FT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool forward Cody Gakpo speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Today it was a good performance from our side again and we managed to score a few goals. Good match.
"It is a lot of goals [17 in last four away games for Liverpool]. We work a lot on trying to create chances and score goals. Today we could maybe have scored some more but we are working hard to do that.
"We said before the game we wanted to do everything to keep the clean sheet. We did that really well at the start of the season but in recent weeks we have conceded some goals. Hopefully from this point on we can go back to the clean sheets.
On Mohammed Salah's assist for his goal: "Maybe it was a bit of skill, maybe it was a bit of luck, I don't know. But he got the ball to me and I tapped it in."
FT: Tottenham 2-2 Wolves
Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson to Sky Sports: "It's disappointing. We had enough chances to win the game. My relationship on the pitch with Dejan Kulusevski? It works well because we are different players and he has a different skillset to me.
"I haven't really thought about being our top goalscorer, because to concede late on after having so many good chances is disappointing so that's the overall emotion. All the matters right now is that the results of late have not been good enough. We have a squad that's strong enough to compete so it's disappointing."
FT: Tottenham 2-2 Wolves
Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen to PLP: "It was a big point. It was a tough game and we know that Spurs away is a really tough game. We were a bit unlucky in the first half and then we came back. The manager was calm at half-time and adjusted a few things. The message was to stay in the game and that's what we did.
"We haven't had a lot of training sessions with the new manager but the message is clear - to be a team. They have brought a lot of good energy. It's been a good start and hopefully that continue.
"My goal? Normally I would pass it back across but I didn't see anyone so it went in the top corner. It's been a while now without a goal so it was about time."
FT: Crystal Palace 2-1 Southampton
Image source, Getty ImagesCrystal Palace goalscorer Eberechi Eze to BBC Match of the Day: "I feel we made it difficult for ourselves at times but the main thing was getting the three points today.
"It's always good to get goals. Once you get one you build it up. But for me the mindset is to keep doing what I'm doing, I know I'm doing the right things.
FT: Crystal Palace 2-1 Southampton
Southampton manager Ivan Juric to BBC Match of the Day: "I think the first goal for me is a foul. This goal changes the situation and it's the second goal we have conceded from set-pieces. Like against West Ham we do good things but it wasn't enough today because we conceded really stupid goals.
"Yes [it was a foul on Aaron Ramsdale] it's really difficult for Ramsdale to do something if he has a player pushing him. I don't know what is in the rules, but for me it is a foul.
"Second goal is really hard to explain. Against West Ham it was a similar situation. We are not tough enough in this moment. And it's a real pity because we are competing and creating chances and we concede goals we don't have to concede.
"Against West Ham we did really, really good. Today we did something good and there were some things we could do better. We have players who can compete. We are competing and we have to be much better in the details.
"They are fighting every game. We have to believe, there is no other option."
FT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
Jamie Redknapp
Former Liverpool midfielder on Sky Sports
The numbers that Mo Salah puts up, whether he's the best everyone will have their own argument, but his numbers are frightening.
Salah is so fit, he is completely ripped.
He will want to do this for the next couple of years and he wants to show everyone what he can do.
FT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder on Sky Sports
Luis Diaz is another player in that Liverpool front three that is just functioning at such a high level. He drifted into both wide areas throughout this game even though he was selected in the middle as nine and that enabled him to roam and find the space for his goal.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
Jamie Redknapp
Former Liverpool midfielder on Sky Sports
On Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil Van Dijk and Mo Salah's contracts expiring...
They are all hungry and they want to be successful.
The first thing they want is to win the Premier League. Then secondly they will want to sort their contracts out.
Because Mo Salah is playing so well he has forced Liverpool to give him what he wants.
FT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool
Liverpool forward Mo Salah, speaking to Sky Sports: "I am glad for the result. To score the goal early and we dominated the game very well."
On Luis Diaz's opening goal: "Luis [Diaz] was screaming and I knew that I was offside I had to run towards the goalkeeper - clever play.
"The only thing on my mind is I want Liverpool to win the league and I want to be part of that.
"I will do my best for the team to win the trophy. There is a few other teams catching up with us and we need to stay focused and humble and go again.
"I am just trying to enjoy the game. At the end of the day I came here for the result and I wanted to do something in the game, but I am almost hungry for more."
On contract talks: "No we are far away from that and I don't want to put anything in the media."
#bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826
Easy to blame Lopetegui but the players - with the honourable exceptions of Bowen, Kudus and Wan-Bissaka - are a disgrace. Paqueta thinks he is far better than he is and is basically a passenger, while the likes of Soler and Alvarez are like tortoises in midfield. Liverpool may be very good, but a Champioship side at home would have given them more problems today.
Chris
Image source, Getty Images| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 17 | 28 | 45 |
| |
| 19 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 37 |
| |
| 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 35 | 16 | 19 | 36 |
| |
| 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 21 | 17 | 35 |
| |
| 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 32 | 26 | 6 | 31 |
| |
| 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 30 |
| |
| 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 29 |
| |
| 19 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 29 |
| |
| 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 29 | -3 | 28 |
| |
| 18 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 27 | 26 | 1 | 26 |
| |
| 19 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 41 | 28 | 13 | 24 |
| |
| 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 24 |
| |
| 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 35 | -12 | 23 |
| |
| 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 24 | -3 | 22 |
| |
| 19 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 27 | -7 | 20 |
| |
| 18 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 24 | -9 | 17 |
| |
| 19 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 31 | 42 | -11 | 16 |
| |
| 19 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 42 | -20 | 14 |
| |
| 18 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 33 | -17 | 12 |
| |
| 19 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 39 | -27 | 6 |
|
Manager: Julen Lopetegui
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Arne Slot
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Julen Lopetegui
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Arne Slot
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Premier League
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All competitions
All competitions
West Ham have won just one of their last 16 Premier League games against Liverpool (D3 L12), beating them 3-2 at the London Stadium in November 2021.
Liverpool have scored at least twice in seven of their last eight Premier League away games against West Ham, including in each of the last five in a row.
West Ham have won their final league game in two of the last three calendar years (L1), beating Arsenal 2-0 in 2023. They last won their last league match in consecutive years in 2007 (v Man Utd) and 2008 (v Stoke).
Liverpool have lost their final league game in just one of the last 10 calendar years (W8 D1), going down 1-0 at Leicester in 2021.
West Ham are unbeaten in four Premier League games (W2 D2), last having a longer run without defeat between December and February last season (6). They’re also looking to win consecutive league games for the first time since March.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League away games (W6 D4), winning six of their eight on the road this season.
Liverpool have conceded 10 goals in their last four Premier League away games, shipping at least twice each time. However, they’ve not lost any of these games (W2 D2) – no team in Premier League history has conceded multiple goals in five consecutive away games and avoided defeat each time.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been involved in 15 goals in 16 appearances against West Ham in all competitions (12 goals, 3 assists), including seven in seven against them at the London Stadium (5 goals, 2 assists).
Jarrod Bowen has been involved in 82 Premier League goals for West Ham (48 goals, 34 assists), with only Michail Antonio (101) having a hand in more for the Hammers in the competition.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been involved in 27 goals in 17 Premier League games this season (16 goals, 11 assists), just one fewer than he was in 32 appearances last term (18 goals, 10 assists).
