Reds show no mercy
Liverpool thrash West Ham to keep Champs League hopes alive
LONDON: Philippe Coutinho starred as Liverpool emphatically maintained control of their Champions League qualification hopes with a 4-0 win over West Ham.
Coutinho set up Daniel Sturridge before adding a superb double of his own to ensure Liverpool can secure their place in the English Premier League’s top four by beating relegated Middlesbrough in next weekend’s season finale at Anfield.
The victory takes Liverpool back into third and more importantly four points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal, who had applied pressure to Juergen Klopp’s side with three victories in the past seven days.
Liverpool set out to attack, producing an entertaining encounter at the Olympic Stadium as West Ham were left space to counter-attack by the visitor’s attacking approach.
Wing back Sam Byram came within inches of giving West Ham an early lead when he shot inches wide before Liverpool wasted a chance of their own as Joel Matip headed Coutinho’s corner onto the crossbar.
There were warning signs for West Ham as Sturridge, making just his sixth Premier League start of the season, threatened with a couple of long-range efforts before Coutinho provided the clear open- ing he’d been waiting for.
Playing in a deeper than usual role, the Brazilian midfielder picked the ball up just inside his own half and released Sturridge, who calmly rounded West Ham goalkeeper Adrian before slotting home into an empty net.
West Ham should have been level just before the break but Andre Ayew instead added a late contender for miss of the season.
Manuel Lanzini’s corner fell to him at the back post just two yards from goal but he could only direct his shot onto the post, before doing the same with the rebound and allowing Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to dive on the loose ball.
Liverpool took note of their warning and emerged after halftime with renewed intent as Adam Lallana, Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum all forced saves from Adrian within the space of a minute.
Wijnaldum came close once more as his stunning long-range volley thudded onto the crossbar before being cleared to Coutinho, who evaded three defenders before finding the bottom corner from the edge of the box to double Liverpool’s lead in the 57th minute.
West Ham were left incensed as referee Neil Swarbrick waved play on when the ball struck Wijnaldum’s hand in the Liverpool penalty area before the Dutch midfielder immediately raced forward to supply the assist for Coutinho’s second at the other end.
Having initially led the counter- attack himself, Coutinho received the ball back from Wijnaldum before skipping past James Collins and finishing powerfully from close range.
Liverpool rounded off their stunning second-half display in the 76th minute when the increasingly confident Sturridge showed sublime skill to help set up a tap-in for Divock Origi.
In another match, Hull crashed out of the English Premier League as Crystal Palace secured their own survival with a 4-0 thrashing of their relegation rivals at Selhurst Park.
Marco Silva’s side knew only a victory yesterday would give them a realistic chance of staying up, but goals from Wilfried Zaha, Christian Benteke, Luka Milivojevic and Patrick van Aanholt consigned them to the drop.
Third-bottom Hull, winners just once in their last six matches, return to the English Championship just 12 months after their promotion via the playoffs.
They paid the price for a chaotic campaign marred by poor signings and boardroom turmoil.
The Tigers will join already relegated Sunderland and Middlesbrough in the second tier next season.
Palace had needed a point to stay up and their dominant display completed boss Sam Allardyce’s latest survival mission after he rescued Sunderland last season. — Agencies