Liverpool moved up to second place in the Premier League table by beating West Ham United 4-1 at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds opened the scoring half an hour in through Emre Can's header, before Mohamed Salah doubled his side's tally early in the second half.
Roberto Firmino added a quick-fire third, before substitute Michail Antonio and Sadio Mane shared a goal apiece in a lively contest on Merseyside.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield. The Reds are the division's in-form team over the past couple of months, collecting 19 points from their last eight matches, and are now just a couple of points off Manchester United in second place.
West Ham returned to winning ways last time out, meanwhile, lifting themselves to within a point of the top half and improving the mood around the London Stadium in the process. The Hammers are still not fully clear of danger, though, only highlighting just how tight it remains in the bottom half, so they could do with another point on their travels today.
LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Can, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Mane, Firmino, Salah
SUBS: Mignolet, Lovren, Gomez, Henderson, Moreno, Lallana, Solanke
Starting with a look at the home team, manager Jurgen Klopp has stuck largely with the same group of players that picked up a convincing 5-0 win in Porto 10 days ago. Emre Can and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain earn recalls in the centre of the park, joining James Milner in a three-man midfield, meaning that Jordan Henderson drops down to the bench. Adam Lallana is also among the subs this afternoon as he continues his comeback from injury.
In terms of the Reds' starting lineup from their last Premier League outing - a 2-0 win at Southampton a fortnight ago - James Milner for Georginio Wijnaldum is the only change. Wijnaldum is not involved at all today, in fact, which is presumably down to an injury problem. Klopp has also opted to rotate at the back, meanwhile, as Joel Matip is restored alongside January signing Virgil van Dijk, with Dejan Lovren dropping down to the bench.
Nathaniel Clyne is still a week or so away from returning to the Reds' squad, while Joe Gomez is being eased back into action having appeared for 11 minutes in the win against Porto. So three changes in all made by Klopp from that emphatic victory in Portugal, then, as Oxlade-Chamberlain, Matip and Can take over from Wijnaldum, Lovren and Henderson. The only other piece of news is the absence of Danny Ings, which is due to illness.
WEST HAM UNITED TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Adrian; Cresswell, Collins, Ogbonna; Zabaleta, Kouyate, Noble, Evra; Lanzini, Joao Mario; Arnautovic
SUBS: Hart, Reid, Hugill, Hernandez, Byram, Antonio, Rice
Switching focus to the visiting side, David Moyes has handed a debut to experienced full-back Patrice Evra. The free signing takes up a place in what is effectively a five-man backline, alongside Aaron Cresswell, James Collins, Angelo Ogbonna and Pablo Zabaleta. Winston Reid had been pushing for a place in the starting lineup after recovering from a throat infection, but he is instead left among the back-ups.
Manuel Lanzini, linked with a move to Liverpool in January as a direct replacement for Philippe Coutinho, has recovered from injury in time to make the starting XI. A hamstring problem rendered the tricky forward a doubt for this afternoon's trip to Merseyside, though he is fit enough to join Joao Mario and Marko Arnautovic in a talented forward line. Rather surprisingly, in-form striker Javier Hernandez is among the subs.
Arthur Masuaku misses out on selection due to the prolonged ban handed to him for spitting at an opponent, while former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll is injured once again. Jose Fonte quit the London Stadium for a lucrative move to China on Friday, meanwhile, so Reid is the only real defensive reserve. It will likely be a busy afternoon for the Hammers' backline, up against arguably the continent's most fearful front three right now in Salah, Mane and Firmino.
Patrice Evra, pictured here kicking a fan prior to a Europa League game in November, makes his West Ham United debut this afternoon. The former Manchester United full-back provides experience down the flank, taking up a spot on the opposite side to Pablo Zabaleta who will also be tasked with carrying the ball forward. In terms of the home side, Jurgen Klopp has made three changes from the 5-0 win at Porto.
Liverpool head into this match feeling refreshed after a 10-day break, spending four of those days at a warm-weather training camp in Marbella. Ironically, though, they have returned to action minus three first-team players due to illness! Still, even without the likes of Wijnaldum and Ings in the squad, this is still a very strong Reds side and one that heads into this contest as strong favourites to pick up all three points.
Klopp's men are unbeaten in four matches since losing back-to-back games against Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion at the end of last month, seeing them cede ground in the race to finish runners-up, while also exiting the FA Cup. That was a major disappointment for the Reds, but they are still in a strong position in the Premier League and are assured of a place in the last eight of the Champions League.
Going further back, meanwhile, it is just those two defeats in 24 matches since October 22. Liverpool have showed far more consistency of late and are the division's in-form side right now, with Man City dropping more points over the last couple of months. It is difficult to ascertain exactly what the Reds' target is for the season in the Premier League - would finishing fourth be good enough for Klopp?
The bottom line is that the Merseyside outfit have not finished in the top four in back-to-back campaigns since 2009, so finishing above Tottenham and Arsenal to finish in fourth would surely be considered a success, particularly with their European campaign still ongoing. Two points adrift of a stuttering Manchester United side, who they face in a couple of weeks time, Liverpool will feel confident of bettering that target of fourth.
That victory at Porto really did send out a message to the rest of the Champions League challengers, as Liverpool - in their first campaign in that competition since 2009 - became the first English club to score five goals away from home in the knockout stages. Many predicted Liverpool to crumble, as they so often have in the past, but all of a sudden they effectively have a dead rubber when Porto visit Anfield for the return leg.
DID YOU KNOW? Jurgen Klopp failed to win his first four matches against West Ham United as a Premier League manager, drawing two and losing two, but he has since won successive matches - 4-0 and 4-1 at the London Stadium. Opposite number David Moyes has never won a mach at Anfield in 14 attempts, meanwhile, across spells with Everton, Manchester United and Sunderland.
All the talk in recent weeks has been centred on the form of Mohamed Salah, who averages a goal or assist on home soil every 64 minutes in the Premier League. Salah has set all sorts of records and is already on his way to becoming a real legend in these parts, while attacking teammates Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have not done too badly; the latter scoring a treble in Portugal to get his campaign firmly up and running.
Throw the incoming Naby Keita into the mix, plus one of the numerous defensive midfielders Liverpool have been linked with, and it is obvious to see why they are being tipped to challenge for the title next season. Finishing as runners-up this time around would strengthen those predictions, though Klopp will know that he cannot get carried away as fifth-placed Tottenham - themselves runners-up in 2016-17 - are just two points behind.
Liverpool are now unbeaten in 15 Premier League matches at Anfield since going down to Crystal Palace in April, winning eight of those. Nineteen points from their last eight matches overall ensures that they are the in-form team right now, and their only defeat of any sort in the top flight over their last 18 matches came at Swansea City in January. That is a run spanning some four months.
Jurgen Klopp has lost 17 Premier League games as Liverpool manager, with the average position of those sides being 12th. That, interestingly enough, is the position today's opponents West Ham United found themselves in at the start of the day - could they become the latest mid-table club to take points off Klopp's men?
RESULT! The full-time whistle has sounded at the King Power Stadium, where Stoke City have picked up a point against Leicester City. The Foxes had a bizarre Jack Butland own goal to thank for rescuing a point that takes them up to seventh place, while Stoke move a point closer to safety. The Potters could have done with victory, truth be told, but that it still a positive result and keeps things tight at the bottom.
United sit 12th in the table and are just a point off the top half, though looking the opposite way just four points stand between themselves and the dropzone - it really is that tight. Moyes, appointed in November as Slaven Bilic's successor, has collected 20 points from the last 36 on offer - a good return that has kept them ticking over, and twice as many as they accrued in their opening 15 games.
Two league defeats since the beginning of December suggests that West Ham will be a tough nut to crack this afternoon, and the Hammers have had a two-week rest since beating Watford 2-0, so they should be feeling even fresher than their opponents. That much-needed victory against the Hornets, secured through goals from Hernandez and Arnautovic, helped lift the mood around the London Stadium following an underwhelming set of results.
Home draws against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace were followed up by defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, so it was vital Moyes's men got back to winning ways against Watford last time out. The Hammers also have some favourable fixtures on the horizon and, with five teams between themselves and the dropzone, they should have more than enough in the tank to get them over the line come the middle of May.
Hernandez, who is only on the bench this afternoon, has three goals and one assist in his last four Premier League matches, while Arnautovic has been in even better form. Since Moyes's arrived in East London, the Austria international has directly contributed to 10 goals - seven of his own and three assists - so Liverpool's defenders will need to be alert to his threat. That is not to mention Lanzini, who returns from injury to start this tasty showdown.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! West Ham United are unbeaten in their last three visits to Liverpool in all competitions, though their only win in the past 48 attempts here came in August 2015. The Hammers have only lost more top-flight games to Everton (61) than Liverpool (60), so while their recent form at Anfield is positive, they do not tend to fare all that well in this fixture.
As mentioned a little earlier, West Ham have lost successive games to Liverpool on home soil, shipping a combined eight goals. Liverpool last netted four goals in three successive matches against a single opponent when facing Norwich City in 2012, which they can match this afternoon should their forward trio turn up. Goals certainly have not been an issue for the Reds, and the defensive part of their game has also improved since Van Dijk arrived.
With kickoff on Merseyside now less than five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Jurgen Klopp: "They are in a good moment as well and they will show that. You play against a wall of eight players, at least, then they have two quick players, maybe Chicharito and Arnautovic, or Lanzini, a little bit hidden in different areas ready for the counter-attack. It's good organisation, a clear plan, playing the players in their best positions. A few brave decisions as well. David is very, very experienced and he knows what he's doing."
David Moyes: "It's tough for any club going to Liverpool. It always has been and I've never known it any different as a fan, player or manager. But we are looking forward to it. In my last two seasons at Everton I finished above them, so I will always remember that. Over the years I have done my best to get wins there, which has been hard, but finishing above them was nice. We've got a bit of confidence, we're in a good run of form ourselves but it will be a big test."
West Ham, rather incredibly, have failed to win back-to-back games in the Premier League since January 2017. Putting an end to that this afternoon would potentially lift them into ninth place, though defeat, combined with a set of unfavourable results elsewhere, and all of a sudden they are right back in a relegation scrap. Liverpool, meanwhile, have second in their sights as Manchester United are not in action until tomorrow.
KICKOFF! West Ham United, aiming to break into the top half of the division this weekend, get us under way at Anfield. Expect the Hammers to get pretty much every player back behind the ball for large parts of the contest.
Arnautovic will have to make the most of any chances he gets to run in behind, which on this occasion he fails to do. Van Dijk with an error, though the Dutch defender did well to recover by intercepting the ball before his opponent could reach full speed.
OFF THE POST! So close to a breakthrough goal less than five minutes into the contest, as Firmino picked out Salah, who in turn picked out the upright with his shot from 14 yards. Adrian at full stretch and could not get a touch.
A dominant start to the contest by Liverpool, who came within inches of opening the scoring less than five minutes in. Another quick move culminates in Alexander-Arnold getting a cross in for Collins to head behind for a corner.
Difficult to see West Ham holding out for the full 90 minutes at this rate; they are being pegged right back and struggling to pick up Liverpool's runners. Salah with some nice movement in behind, but Adrian gets to the ball first.
Liverpool with more than 80% of possession in the opening 11 minutes of the contest. West Ham with a chance to break, but Joao Mario loses the ball as soon as he received it from Arnautovic - West Ham simply have to do better in those situations.
Robertson is seeing plenty of the ball down the left-hand side. So far West Ham have managed to stand firm, though they did have that huge scare early on when Salah struck the post after being fed by Firmino inside the area.
Salah with a brilliant touch inside the box to bring down a ball over the top, only for Collins to clear it away before the shot could arrive. Credit to the Hammers' backline for standing up to the task, though we have played just 15 minutes.
OFF THE BAR! From pretty much out of nowhere, Arnautovic attempts an audacious chipped attempt that nearly catches Karius out. The ball floated towards the back of the net, but the Liverpool keeper got the slightest of touches to help it on to the crossbar.
SHOT! Zabaleta drags a volley wide from a decent position as momentum swings the visiting side's way. After a dominant opening 15 minutes, Liverpool are now second best and perhaps relieved not to be a goal down.
Firmino with a nice delivery into the middle, where Mane was waiting to head the ball. The Senegalese made the wrong contact, however, mistiming his hump and sending his effort spiralling over the crossbar. Real open game on our hands now.
A short stoppage in play for Milner to receive some treatment. The versatile midfielder was caught by the boot of Noble, who was sliding in to block the ball but unintentionally followed through. Can Liverpool regain some momentum?
Can with a chipped ball into the box, which a leaping Salah cannot quite get on the end of. The offside flag was up anyway, so it would not have counted had the Egyptian forward made any contact. The Reds just looking to grab a foothold in the game.
Nearly half and hour played at Anfield and, while Liverpool have pretty much dominated possession, the Hammers have arguably done more to warrant a lead. Arnautovic hit the frame of the goal, as did Salah, while Zabaleta blasted narrowly wide.
Robertson and Milner constantly linking up down the left at the moment, but the Reds cannot get the ball into a dangerous position. After a worrying start for his side, visiting boss Moyes will be pleased with how things have panned out since.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 WEST HAM UNITED (EMRE CAN)
Liverpool have 100 goals for the season, thanks to Emre Can's flicked header to convert from a corner. Adrian was forced into a couple of stops in quick succession, and from the resulting set piece Can was there to meet the ball with his head.
West Ham need to find their shape again, as Can has just picked out the ball 20 yards from goal and curled narrowly wide. Far too much time and space for the German, whose goal just short of the half-hour mark is proving the difference so far.
CHANCE! Liverpool desperate for a quick-fire second, which they so nearly bagged through star man Salah. Robertson with another delicious cross, which the Egyptian could only head over the bar when under pressure at the back post.
Joao Mario again fails to make the most of a rare counter-attacking opportunity, looking to pick out Arnautovic with a cross rather than taking on the shot. In the end it was blocked clear and Liverpool were able to regroup at the back.
Klopp would love a second goal before the interval, as West Ham are more than capable of snatching a goal of their own. Alexander-Arnold with a brilliant cross from the right, which Mane did not gamble on for some reason.
Liverpool second in the Premier League as things stand, then, and that is where they no doubt intend to stay. One or two chances since edging in front this afternoon, with Can curling wide and Salah heading over the crossbar at the back post.
SAVE! Marko Arnautovic hit the crossbar earlier in the half and comes close with his latest attempt, which Loris Karius was happy to simply help behind for a corner. The ball comes in from the right and Van Dijk clears it away.
YELLOW CARD! Collins earns the game's first booking right at the end of the first half for tripping Robertson on the counter. The Welshman unhappy with the referee's decision, nearly talking himself into a second caution
HALF TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 WEST HAM UNITED
Liverpool take a slender one-goal lead into the interval at Anfield, courtesy of Emre Can's headed opener half an hour in. A lively first half overall, with both team also hitting the frame of the goal - Salah for the Reds and Arnautovic for West Ham.
Liverpool almost bagged the early goal they craved after Roberto Firmino picked out Mohamed Salah, only for the Egyptian's shot to come back off the post with less than five minutes on the clock. After seeing just 20% of possession in the opening quarter of the contest, West Ham gave their opponents a real scare when Marko Arnautovic attempted to chip Loris Karius.
The elevation was almost perfect, but Karius got his fingertips to the ball and it hit the crossbar, and Pablo Zabaleta could only scuff a volley wide from the Hammers' next attacking move. For all their intricate play in the opening half an hour, Liverpool's breakthrough goal arrived via a set piece as Emre Can glanced the ball past Adrian with his head, moments after the West Ham stopper had produced two saves.
That was the Reds' 100th goal of the season in all competitions, and 101 did not look to be too far behind as Can curled a shot marginally wide and Salah headed over the bar when picked out at the back post. West Ham were failing to truly make the most of their rare counter-attacking opportunities, though that nearly changed shortly before half time after Arnautovic got another shot away, this time going for power and forcing Karius into another smart save.
BENCH WATCH!
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Lovren, Gomez, Henderson, Moreno, Lallana, Solanke
WEST HAM UNITED SUBS: Hart, Reid, Hugill, Hernandez, Byram, Antonio, Rice
RESTART! Liverpool get proceedings back under way at Anfield, where there is no news of any changes from the interval. Milner was limping around at the end of the first half but is clearly OK to continue for the time being.
For as long as the scoreline remains at 1-0, West Ham are well and truly in the game. Arnautovic came close on a couple of occasions in the first half; West Ham need to get the Austrian forward on the ball as often as possible.
West Ham have started the brighter of the two sides in this second half. Liverpool need to regain some momentum if they are to avoid being pegged back and dropping a couple of points. Remember, as things stand the Reds are second in the division.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 WEST HAM UNITED (MOHAMED SALAH)
Goal number 31 of the season for Mohamed Salah, who profited from some good work from Oxlade-Chamberlain to turn and send the ball past Adrian. A clinical finish from the Egyptian, tucking the ball past Adrian from eight yards. Game over?
Oxlade-Chamberlain takes Alexander-Arnold's pass in his stride but cannot quite clip the ball past Adrian towards his near post. West Ham now having to come out of their shell a little more, with a couple of goals required if they are to snatch a point.
SAVE! Moyes is about to send on Antonio for the final half an hour or so. Mane is played through by a reverse pass but cannot beat Adrian with his low shot, ensuring that the Hammers are not quite out of the game just yet.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-0 WEST HAM UNITED (ROBERTO FIRMINO)
The goals for Liverpool and three more points! Firmino prods the ball past an outrushing Adrian and has the simple task of tapping it into an empty net. The Reds' talented attackers once again making their presence known at Anfield.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-1 WEST HAM UNITED (MICHAIL ANTONIO)
Antonio gives West Ham a lifeline just a minute after coming off the bench. The winger was played through on goal and tucked the ball past Karius to give the visitors something to build on. Liverpool nearly restore their three-goal lead within seconds, but Salah's shot was saved by Adrian.
SAVES! Well it is all happening now! First Firmino is denied by a decent save from Adrian, before the West Ham keeper repositioned himself to keep out Mane's shot from the edge of the area. More goals to follow in this one.
Eight minutes between the three second-half goals. Liverpool looked home and dry after Firmino rolled the ball over the line for his side's third of the afternoon, only for Antonio to score a minute after coming off the bench.
It may be a cliche, but the next goal in this game - if one does indeed arrive - will be crucial. A fourth for Liverpool will surely settle it; a second for West Ham and we will have a grandstand finale on our hands at Anfield.
Collins gets his head to a set piece and sends the ball looping on to the roof of the net. Not quite sure whether the Welshman was looking to pick out the net or instead find one of his teammates lining up towards the back post.
SAVE! More than three-quarters of the game played and Liverpool looking comfortable enough at the moment. The Reds are the side looking for the game's fifth goal, with Adrian producing a good stop to keep out Oxlade-Chamberlain's long-range drive.
Adrian, at fault for Liverpool's third, has redeemed himself somewhat by keeping out Firmino, Mane and Oxlade-Chamberlain in the space of a few minutes. A little under 20 minutes left to play on Merseyside and this one is not over just yet.
OFF THE POST! Mane with a bad miss, failing to find the target after being played through on goal by Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Senegalese, fresh on the back of netting a hat-trick 10 days ago, clipped the outside of the post from this latest shot.
Liverpool really knocking on the door for a fourth goal of the afternoon, which would settle things for good. Klopp reluctant to turn to his bench for the time being, clearly happy with the workload of his players thus far.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-1 WEST HAM UNITED (SADIO MANE)
Liverpool at their free-flowing best; Firmino to Robertson to Mane - goal. The Senegal international used the post to his advantage on this occasion, sending his shot from no more than a few yards out past Adrian after being spotted by Robertson.
Damage limitation surely the order of the day for West Ham now. They were unable to build on Antonio's strike and now risk conceding a fifth and sixth goal if Liverpool continue at this rate. Barring a dramatic collapse, the Reds will move second.
Mane clearly after a second, but this latest attempt is scuffed wide of the far post from 20 yards. 'Fab three' Mane, Firmino and Salah once again on target for the Reds, joined on the scoresheet by midfielder Emre Can.
West Ham appear content to sit back now, knowing that the three points are out of reach. Both managers appear ready to make some changes, as we enter the final six minutes of what has been an entertaining contest at Anfield.
SUBS! Here come those changes - Adam Lallana on for Firmino as far as the hosts are concerned; Javier Hernandez and Declan Rice taking over from Arnautovic and Joao Mario for the visiting side. Klopp with two subs still available.
LIVERPOOL SUBS! Klopp decides to use those final two changes, bringing on Solanke and Moreno for Mane and Salah. Another hugely impressive shift put in by Salah this afternoon, while Mane is also back amongst the goals in the Premier League.
We are now into added time at Anfield, of which we will play a minimum of three minutes. This contest has been over for a while now, ever since Mane converted his side's fourth of the afternoon to kill off West Ham's faint hopes.
FULL TIME: LIVERPOOL 4-1 WEST HAM UNITED
The referee blows for full time, meaning that Liverpool will spend at least the next 20 hours or so sitting second in the Premier League. Another job well done for the Reds, earning a fourth win in five matches through goals from Emre Can, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from Anfield. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction from this and all the day's other Premier League games can be found elsewhere on the site in due course. Thanks for joining!
