Another day in the office for league leader Liverpool

Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot in the first half. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled its advantage early in the second period to wrap up a remarkable 23rd win from 24 games this season and stretch its unbeaten league run to 40 matches.

In a fixture postponed from December, when Liverpool was busy winning the Club World Cup, the away side never looked under much pressure and picked West Ham off at crucial moments, defending manfully when needed and looking a constant menace on the break.

Salah stroked home from the spot in the 35th minute after Belgian forward Divock Origi was chopped down from behind. Midfielder Oxlade-Chamberlain finished off a lethal counter-attack of the sort that has come to characterise Liverpool’s season in the 52nd minute.

The victory was achieved comfortably enough, but Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp remains a hard man to please. “These boys have played outstanding football throughout the season. This was a normal performance,” he said.

His West Ham counterpart David Moyes was more effusive in his praise for Klopp’s side. “Liverpool is as good as there has been around at this moment in time. It is very difficult for me as a former manager of Everton and Manchester United to say that,” said Moyes.

West Ham had glimpses at goal, with Manuel Lanzini fluffing an excellent opportunity at the start of the second half and Robert Snodgrass drawing a fine stop from Liverpool keeper Alisson. While Liverpool has amassed a whopping 70 points, Moyes’s side sits 17th on the table with 23, outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Holder Manchester City lost 0-1 to Manchester United in Manchester but hung on to reach the League Cup final 3-2 on aggregate.

Pep Guardiola’s side will meet Aston Villa in the decider on March 1. Midfielder Nemanja Matic’s 35th-minute strike gave United victory at the Etihad Stadium but it was not enough to overturn the 1-3 deficit from the semi-final first leg at Old Trafford.

Matic struck home a thumping half volley off the post as City failed to clear Fred’s curling free-kick in United’s first threatening attack of the game.