There were some shocking results from the Premier League games played on Saturday, but it was Mohamed Salah’s brace that left West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic in grave danger of the sack as Liverpool thrashed the Premier League strugglers 4-1.
Salah put Liverpool ahead at the London Stadium and Joel Matip doubled the visitors’ lead before half-time to leave Bilic facing a toxic atmosphere.
Manuel Lanzini reduced the deficit, but woeful West Ham capitulated and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got Liverpool’s third before Salah bagged his 12th goal of the season to seal the rout.
Premier League Results
Bilic and his players were jeered by furious West Ham fans and it would be little surprise if the Croatian was dismissed during the forthcoming international break.
Even Bilic admitted his job was in jeopardy following last weekend’s draw against lowly Crystal Palace and his situation is even bleaker now.
West Ham are just one point and one place above the relegation zone after their winless league run extended to four matches.
In contrast to Bilic’s woes, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has silenced his critics for the moment thanks to the Reds’ third successive win in all competitions.
Assailed by questions about his tactics and signings following last month’s thrashing at Tottenham Hotspur, Klopp has steered sixth-placed Liverpool to successive league wins for the first time since August.
Klopp had received a pre-match boost when Senegal winger Sadio Mane was declared fit after returning ahead of schedule from a hamstring injury.
But the German still needed a dash of good fortune to avoid a nightmare start in east London.
Lanzini’s deflected pass gave Andre Ayew an early sight of goal, but although the West Ham striker flicked his shot past Simon Mignolet, his luck was out as it cannoned back off the post.
Liverpool made the most of their escape and opened the scoring with a lethal counter-attack in the 21st minute.
When a West Ham corner was cleared to the edge of the Liverpool area, Mane showed he’d shaken off any rust from his injury lay-off as he surged away with a burst of pace.
Suddenly, Bilic’s side were out-numbered at the back and Mane carried the ball into the Hammers area before slipping a pass to the unmarked Salah, who coolly slotted past Joe Hart for his fifth goal in his last four appearances.
[…] Liverpool are now fifth on the log after Saturday’s 4-1 bashing of West Ham United. […]