Four-goal Liverpool stroll at struggling West Ham

Liverpool deepened West Ham United's problems as they strolled to a 4-1 win at the London Stadium.

West Ham came close to taking the lead with 10 minutes gone when Manuel Lanzini's pass deflected through to Andre Ayew, who clipped his shot over the advancing Simon Mignolet but hit the outside of the post.

That, however, was as good as good as it got for them before the break as they conceded a goal from their own corner after 21 minutes.

Liverpool cleared the cross and Mohamed Salah played it to Sadio Mane, who raced from his own half, with just one West Ham defender back, before finding Salah to slide a shot past Joe Hart.

Less than three minutes later, West Ham's fragility was to the fore again as Liverpool doubled their advantage from a corner.

Salah swung in a cross that was inadvertently deflected back towards his own goal by Mark Noble for Joel Matip to tap home after Hart had blocked.

The goal turned the mood at the London Stadium, with home fans booing passes back to Hart as West Ham struggled to find any momentum.

Their evening got worse when Noble was booked for simulation before they were almost gifted a chance as Mignolet's hesitation nearly allowed Ayew to get in, only for the ball to balloon to safety.

Home manager Slaven Bilic brought on former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll at half-time, with Edimilson Fernandes making way.

It seemed the change would have the desired effect when, 10 minutes into the second period, a lovely piece of control from Manuel Lanzini allowed him to lift a finish past Mignolet -- only for Liverpool to get their two-goal lead back within a minute.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was found in space on the right of the area, and although Hart blocked the former Arsenal man's effort he was able to lash the rebound in.

Lanzini blazed over when he should have made it 3-2 as the game became extremely open, with Javier Hernandez flicking a header over the top from substitute Marko Arnautovic's free kick.

Mane lashed over after a neat Liverpool break involving Roberto Firmino, but play soon switched to the other end where Hernandez, claiming a push inside the area, steered a header over from Arnautovic's cross.

It could have been 4-1 only for Firmino to sidefoot wide from an angle -- but with a quarter of an hour left it was four as Salah, given far too much space, thrashed a low shot into the corner.

James Milner almost made it five late on as the home fans drifted away on another dispiriting afternoon for their struggling team, with Firmino shooting over from another good late chance.