A ruthless display from Liverpool saw them sweep aside West Ham United and climb level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United in the Premier League table.
The hosts stormed into a 3-0 half-time lead at Anfield thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister - all stemming from set-pieces.
Ekitike struck early, finishing smartly at the near post after being teed up by Ryan Gravenberch for his 16th goal of the season.
Although West Ham responded with a spell of pressure, Liverpool doubled their advantage when Van Dijk powered home Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.
The visitors had opportunities to respond, with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek all missing chances, and they were punished again just before the interval.
Mac Allister’s superb volley took a deflection on its way in, prompting sections of the travelling support to head for the exits before the break.
West Ham briefly reignited the contest early in the second half when Soucek converted El Hadji Malick Diouf’s inviting cross.
However, Cody Gakpo - atoning for an earlier miss - restored Liverpool’s three-goal cushion with a deflected strike in the 70th minute.
Taty Castellanos pulled another goal back for the visitors, but the scoring was completed when Jeremie Frimpong’s cross was turned into his own net by Axel Disasi, ensuring Liverpool netted five in a league game for the first time this season.
The win lifts Liverpool above Chelsea into fifth place, while West Ham remain 18th, two points adrift of Nottingham Forest.
While far from flawless, Liverpool were clinical when it mattered. It was the first time this season they had scored three first-half goals in a league match, effectively putting the game beyond reach before the interval.
Four of the five goals involved deflections, but Arne Slot’s side will not mind - especially given their transformation from set-pieces.
After struggling in that department earlier in the campaign, they now lead the league in 2026 for goals scored from dead-ball situations (excluding penalties).
There were positives beyond the scoreline.
Joe Gomez impressed at right-back, Frimpong marked his return from injury with an assist, and Liverpool recorded their first five-goal Premier League haul since last April’s title-clinching victory over Tottenham.
However, Mohamed Salah’s league drought continues, now stretching to 10 matches without a goal.
The 5-2 result will sting for West Ham, particularly as the expected goals tally suggested a far tighter contest.
In spells, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side competed well and created chances - but they were undone by costly errors at set-pieces.
Nuno admitted afterwards that the performance had positives despite the heavy defeat, pointing to moments of quality and attacking threat.
Yet conceding five goals leaves little room for consolation.
With the club recently revealing a £104.2m financial loss and the likelihood of summer sales even if relegation is avoided, the pressure is mounting.
Some travelling fans leaving early reflected the anxiety surrounding the club’s position.
West Ham remain deep in trouble - but with games still to play, their survival hopes are not yet extinguished.
