Currently, Liverpool’s form is nothing short of irresistible, as opponents find themselves psychologically crushed by their sheer superiority – and on this occasion, West Ham appeared defeated even before the referee’s whistle.

From the first minute, Slot’s men took command, with the only shock being that it took nearly half an hour for Diaz to capitalize on a deflected pass off Vladimir Coufal, thrashing it past Areola.

Liverpool then shifted into a higher gear, with the only heart-in-mouth moment being when Kudus hit the post while the score was still at 1-0.

Salah, as expected, was the architect behind Gakpo’s stunning second goal, but this Liverpool lineup boasts threats from every angle, with both Diaz and the prolific Gakpo proving instrumental.

Jota emerged from the bench to add the fifth, effectively annihilating any hopes the Hammers harbored.

While title races are renowned for their unpredictability post-New Year, Liverpool’s current momentum starkly contrasts with their would-be rivals. Outside of a remarkable Nottingham Forest, an extraordinary turn of events would be necessary to halt Slot’s ambition for a Premier League title in his inaugural season at Anfield.

Arsenal and Chelsea may still cling to their title aspirations, but currently, this Liverpool team possesses such unwavering confidence and self-belief that their march towards a first championship since 2020 seems almost inevitable.

Following last season’s upheaval and the sacking of David Moyes—who led them to Europa Conference League glory—West Ham’s management anticipated a new dawn with Julen Lopetegui at the helm.

Yet, in a London Stadium ambiance so subdued it was palpable, Lopetegui’s quest for credibility continued to falter against the rampant Liverpool.

What unfolded was an eerie silence, punctuated only by the celebration of Liverpool’s travelling army, who were left practically untroubled throughout, save for two fleeting moments from Kudus, with his second hit coming long after the outcome was already sealed.

While Liverpool now stand as arguably Europe’s form team, West Ham’s overall demeanor spoke volumes of a team lacking resilience from the first kick.

Although the hosts entered the clash with an unbeaten streak of four league matches, this lamentable defeat crashed them back into uncomfortable reality.

Despite spending a hefty £120 million in the summer, conspicuous improvement remains elusive under Lopetegui, as West Ham languish in 13th place, with a precarious nine points separating them from the relegation zone.

New additions Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Füllkrug, meant to inject creativity and menace, started the match on the bench, leaving only Kudus—and the ever-busy Jarrod Bowen, who departed early due to injury—as flickers of hope.

It was a disappointing end to the outing, with thousands of West Ham supporters opting to leave early, leaving a patchwork of empty blue seats as Liverpool comfortably rounded off their victory.

Player of the match