LOSING STARS? As Liverpool’s successful run continues, there is mounting speculation over the futures of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold
AFP, LONDON
Rampant Liverpool smashed West Ham United 5-0 on Sunday to stretch their lead at the top of the English Premier League to eight points as Manchester City returned to winning ways at troubled Leicester City.
Nottingham Forest climbed to second in the table with a fifth straight win at Everton while Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur conceded late to draw 2-2 against Vitor Pereira’s rejuvenated Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool look unstoppable in their quest for a record-equaling 20th English top-flight title, recording their 23rd win in 27 matches in all competitions this season.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, right, looks on as West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola saves his shot during their English Premier League match at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Photo: AFP
Luis Diaz opened the scoring against Julen Lopetegui’s hapless team in the 30th minute , before Mohamed Salah set up Cody Gakpo for the second with some audacious footwork.
The Egypt international then scored his 20th goal of the season shortly before halftime to put the visitors in total control.
Trent Alexander-Arnold made it 4-0 with a deflected shot from distance in the 54th minute and Diogo Jota completed the rout, courtesy of another Salah assist following a surging run.
Juventus’ Khephren Thuram celebrates after scoring their first goal during their Italian Serie A match against ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, on Sunday.
Photo: AFP
Liverpool’s striking success has come against the background of mounting speculation over the futures of Salah, Alexander-Arnold and captain Virgil van Dijk.
All three can discuss a move to a foreign club on a free transfer from tomorrow, but remain focused on winning a second Premier League title together.
“The only thing on my mind is I want Liverpool to win the league and I want to be part of that,” Salah told Sky Sports.
AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca looks on during their Italian Serie A match against AS Roma at the San Siro in Milan, Italy, on Sunday.
Photo: AFP
Earlier, defending champions City traveled to relegation-threatened Leicester, drained of confidence after just one win in all competitions since late October.
Their frailties over the past two months, which resulted in nine defeats in their previous 13 games, were on display again.
However, Savinho’s first half goal and an Erling Haaland header after the break made it 2-0.
City’s bid for a fifth straight title looks to be over, as they are 14 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
However, the result lifts them to fifth in the table and within striking distance of fourth-placed Chelsea.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest beat Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park, leapfrogging Chelsea and Arsenal.
Chris Wood chipped over Jordan Pickford for the opening goal in the 15th minute after being set up by Anthony Elanga.
Wood turned provider for Forest’s second, which came just after the hour mark when Morgan Gibbs-White produced some neat footwork before firing home.
Crystal Palace won just their second home league game of the season, seeing off bottom club Southampton 2-1, thanks to goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Eberechi Eze.
Dango Ouattara scored an 89th-minute leveler as Bournemouth drew 2-2 at Fulham.
SERIE A
AFP, ROME
Juventus and ACF Fiorentina drew 2-2 on Sunday as the Serie A match was interrupted after seven minutes following racist insults from the stands aimed at home striker Dusan Vlahovic.
Earlier, SSC Napoli edged past struggling Venezia FC 1-0 to move level on points with leaders Atalanta BC.
Paulo Dybala’s crisp right-footed volley earned AS Roma a 1-1 draw at AC Milan in Sunday’s final match. Milan have fired coach Paulo Fonseca, the coach confirmed in the early hours of yesterday. Milan are expected to hire Sergio Conceicao, another Portuguese coach, as Fonseca’s replacement.
In Turin, a Khephren Thuram double was canceled out first by Fiorentina’s Moise Kean and then late on by Riccardo Sottil.
“I don’t believe in bad luck,” Juventus coach Thiago Motta told Sky Sport Italia after his side’s 11th draw in 18 league outings this term.
“We should have killed off the game and don’t leave a chance to the opponent,” he said. “I don’t believe in bad luck. I believe in merit.”
Juventus midfielder Thuram opened the scoring after play restarted with a 20th-minute strike. It was the first goal scored by the son of former Juventus and France international Lilian Thuram since he joined the Old Lady in the close season.
Former Juventus forward Kean leveled on 38 minutes before Thuram doubled up three minutes after half-time.
The hosts looked set to leapfrog their fifth-placed opponents, but Sottil struck in the 87th minute to ensure both sides remain level on 32 points.
Additional reporting by AP
