Liverpool climbed into the Premier League’s top five with a 5-2 win over struggling West Ham on Saturday, as Manchester City aimed to apply more pressure on Arsenal in the title race.
Three first-half goals, all from set-pieces, by Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, and Alexis Mac Allister put Arne Slot’s men on course for a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions.
Dutch duo Cody Gakpo and Jeremie Frimpong added more goals after the break, but despite the scoreline, it was another far from convincing performance from the English champions.
Defeat deals another blow to the Hammers’ hopes of survival as they remain two points adrift of safety.
But they hit back twice in the second half through Tomas Soucek and Valentin Castellanos and could have scored more at Anfield.
Top-Five Place
A place in the top five is almost certain to secure Champions League football next season, thanks to the strong results of English sides in European competition this season.
Liverpool move three points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, who face the daunting task of a trip to Arsenal on Sunday.
City trail the Gunners by five points at the top of the table, but have a game in hand.
Pep Guardiola’s men will have to do without prolific top scorer Erling Haaland, who misses the trip to the city of his birth due to a knee injury.
City face a tough task if they are to secure a sixth consecutive win against a Leeds side that have lost only twice in 16 matches in all competitions.
Brentford Edge Burnley In Thriller
Burnley’s slim chances of survival took another body blow in an agonising 4-3 defeat at home to Brentford.
The Bees were cruising to victory and within two points of Chelsea when goals from Mikkel Damsgaard, Igor Thiago, and Kevin Schade put them 3-0 up inside 34 minutes at Turf Moor.
Michael Kayode’s own goal gave the Clarets hope before half-time, and they levelled through Jaidon Anthony and Zian Flemming.
Flemming thought he had completed a remarkable comeback, only for a VAR review to rule the goal out for offside.
