Utterly dominant Liverpool pick apart West Ham as David Moyes continues 15-game winless streak at Anfield

The Reds were comfortable as they piled more misery on the Scot

Emre Can scored and Liverpool never looked back (Getty)

For David Moyes, Anfield is an unyielding place. It was the fifteenth time he had brought a team to this ground. It was the fifteenth time he failed to record a victory. Before, there had been twelve Merseyside derbies, one trip with Manchester United and another with Sunderland. Only once had any of his teams scored more than a single goal and that record was not about to change. When you consider he has never triumphed as a visitor to Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge or the Emirates as a visiting manager, it partly explains why he is currently in charge of West Ham United, who are not yet safe from relegation.

In fairness to Moyes, this is Liverpool – Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool, a side that has registered 102 goals by the end of February, a side that has lost just the once at home in ten months, a side that contains the magical Mohamed Salah who cannot stop scoring and is reaching to the sort of standards that must surely make Real Madrid take notice, should they go ahead and sell Gareth Bale in the summer.

This was not one of Salah’s best performances for Liverpool and still, he was the most dangerous player on the pitch. “A bloody menace,” Bill Shankly would probably call him. His 31st goal of the season arrived here. He could have had a hat-trick.

Emre Can scored the opener, from which Liverpool never looked back (AFP/Getty Images)

Instead Liverpool’s four goals were spread across the team an that will delight Klopp because it reminds opponents that the threat is everywhere. Liverpool also hit the post twice. It was a game they really needed to win because those competing around them will drop points this weekend when facing each other. There have been regular complaints that Liverpool fail to deliver when it matters but they delivered here. It is not first position but they are now up to second. Manchester City should recognise that if progression continues and if Liverpool keep hold of outstanding figures like Salah, a challenge for the Premier League title next season will surely come from Merseyside.

Liverpool were utterly convincing with their domination. They nearly established a lead in the second minute when Salah’s side-footed shot was tipped onto the post by Adrián. Liverpool proceeded to play plenty of quick long passes, testing the concentration of West Ham’s three-man defence.

The visiting team were not particularly confident in possession unless Marko Arnautović was involved, the maligned striker with the Rhydian haircut. Twice he nearly scored out of nothing, first with a delightful chip which rebounded off the cross bar and then with a dipping shot from 25-yards which Loris Karius clearly enjoyed saving to the extent it would not be a surprise an if an image capturing the moment finger-tip met ball appeared on his Instagram account at some point this weekend.

West Ham’s forays into Liverpool’s half were otherwise rare. Liverpool’s control would tell through a series of corners, the third of which – taken by Salah – was met by Emre Can who was too tall and powerful for his marker, Patrice Evra – who was making his debut and jeered by the crowd every time he touched the ball due to his history on this pitch. Seven years ago he accused Luis Suárez of racism, for which he was banned for eight games by the FA.

The goal had been Liverpool’s 100th of the season. It has taken 40 games to reach the landmark, the third quickest in any campaign across the club’s history – albeit only one game short of 2013/14 when Brendan Rodgers’s side narrowly missed out on the title.

From that point, it felt like Liverpool’s victory would be a considerable one. Salah made it 2-0 shortly after the break with the coolest of finishes, then Roberto Firmino sprinted onto a Can pass and was able to flick past Adrián and roll the ball into the empty net.

Sadio Mané scored Liverpool's fourth goal (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Three-nil has proven to be a dangerous scoreline for Liverpool to defend and so there were some anxieties when Michail Antonio, with his first and second touches reduced the margin of Liverpool’s lead having been introduced less than a minute earlier.

Liverpool roared back though. Sadio Mané, guilty of striking the woodwork earlier when he should have done better, made it 4-1 when he home tucked Andy Robertson’s cross. Liverpool rise to second. And so, Moyes’s Anfield torture is prolonged.