Match Report Leaders Liverpool hit Hammers for five West Ham ...

The over-worked goalkeeper was called into action again and again in the final half-hour, making one particularly impressive reflex save to deny substitute Jota, and a more routine diving catch from Virgil van Dijk’s shot, but he could not keep out a Jota curler seven minutes from full-time that completed the scoring.

In between, West Ham lost captain Jarrod Bowen to an ankle injury suffered in a tackle by Mac Allister that somehow did not see referee Anthony Taylor produce a yellow card. Head Coach Julen Lopetegui will be hoping his skipper is fit to face Manchester City when the Irons return to action in the New Year.

Substitute Luis Guilherme had a shot deflected onto the post by van Dijk, and fellow replacement Crysencio Summerville curled wide in added time, but it was far too little, far too late as the rampant Reds left east London worthy winners.

West Ham United: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Coufal (Todibo HT), Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Álvarez (Füllkrug HT), Paquetá, Soler (Irving 73), Kudus (Luis Guilherme 82), Bowen © (Summerville 60)Subs not used: Foderingham (GK), Cresswell, Scarles, Ings

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez (Quansah 37), van Dijk ©, Robertson (Tsimikas 74), Gravenberch (Endo 57), Mac Allister, Salah, Jones (Elliott 74), Gakpo (Jota 58), DíazSubs not used: Kelleher (GK), McConnell, Danns, Núñez

Goals: Díaz 30, Gakpo 40, Salah 44, Alexander-Arnold 54, Jota 84

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Attendance: 62,476