<\/p>\n
Liverpool climbed into the Premier League’s top five with a 5-2 win over struggling West Ham on Saturday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Defeat deals another blow to the Hammers’ hopes of survival as they remain two points adrift of safety.<\/p>\n
But they hit back twice in the second half through Tomas Soucek and Valentin Castellanos and could have scored more at Anfield.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Liverpool move three points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, who face the daunting task of a trip to Arsenal on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Burnley’s slim chances of survival took another body blow in an agonising 4-3 defeat at home to Brentford.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Michael Kayode’s own goal gave the Clarets hope before half-time and they levelled through Jaidon Anthony and Zian Flemming.<\/p>\n
Flemming thought he had completed a remarkable comeback only for a VAR review to rule the goal out for offside.<\/p>\n
Instead, it was Brentford who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when Damsgaard netted his second goal in stoppage time.<\/p>\n
There was still time for another VAR review to deny Burnley a point when Ashley Barnes was adjudged to have handled before scoring a 98th-minute equaliser.<\/p>\n
Everton notched another excellent away win to maintain their hope of European football next season with a 3-2 victory at Newcastle.<\/p>\n
Three times the Toffees led at St James’ Park through Jarrod Branthwaite, Beto and Thierno Barry.<\/p>\n
Newcastle slip to 12th, with the success of their season now relying on heroics in the Champions League against Barcelona and City in the FA Cup fifth round next weekend.<\/p>\n
Everton have struggled to adapt to their new home at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but only Arsenal have won more points on the road as David Moyes’ climb into eighth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n