West Ham United have shown that their place in the Premier League's top four is fully warranted, outmuscling Liverpool for a memorable 3-2 victory at a rocking London Stadium.
Victory for high-flying West Ham ended Liverpool's club record 25-match unbeaten run in all competitions and lifted them above Juergen Klopp's side into third place in the table.
A tough fixture for Liverpool began badly, when keeper Alisson, who endured a difficult afternoon, flapped a cross into his own goal after four minutes.
Liverpool were rarely allowed to find their usual fluency, but they were level by halftime, thanks to a moment of magic from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Those expecting the visitors to find another gear after the break were left disappointed, as West Ham took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Craig Dawson hit the bar for West Ham early in the second half, as Liverpool wobbled at the back, before Pablo Fornals restored West Ham's lead in the 66th minute and Kurt Zouma rose to head in West Ham's third in the 74th minute.
Substitute Divock Origi gave Liverpool a lifeline with a shot on the turn in the 82nd minute and Sadio Mane should have levelled in stoppage time, but the hosts clung on for a victory that would be celebrated into the night by the home fans.
West Ham's fourth consecutive league win moves them to 23 points from 11 games, with Klopp's side one point behind, and the Hammers head into the international break just three points behind leaders Chelsea.
Hammers boss David Moyes had not tasted a league win over Liverpool for 11 years, losing 10 and drawing four in the interim period, as manager of Everton, Manchester United, Sunderland and West Ham.
"I want us to challenge the teams in the top four," he says. "I do not know who they will be, but I want us to challenge.
"This result shows that we're really in with a good chance of challenging."
Liverpool have dropped five points in their last two league games.
SOLSKJAER BACK IN THE DOCK
A 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur last week proved only a temporary respite for Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as defeat by Manchester City in Saturday's derby put the Norwegian back under the spotlight.
While not quite as spectacular as the 5-0 home thrashing from Liverpool a fortnight ago, the way United were outclassed in every department was depressingly similar.
The ease with which City won was underlined by the 753 passes they completed - more than any visiting team to Old Trafford since Opta began recording data in 2003-04.
City were very good and United suffered for the lack of the injured Raphael Varane, but the gulf between the two clubs is as wide as it has been since Solskjaer took over.
OPEN SEASON ON PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGERS
The Christmas lights are not even up yet, but already five Premier League clubs have parted ways with their managers this season and others might be looking over their shoulders.
Norwich City manager Daniel Farke had just celebrated his side's first league win of the season, when the tap on the shoulder came, ending his four-and-a-half year stint.
Less than 24 hours later, Aston Villa's Dean Smith was sacked with the club on a five-match losing run in the league.
In Farke's case, the decision appeared to have already been made, with the club's hierarchy clearly deciding that this campaign was heading in the same direction as Farke's previous top-flight season, when Norwich ended bottom.
Smith's exit is perhaps more surprising, as Villa performed well last season and began this campaign solidly, before a worrying loss of form.
The total of five managers jettisoned is already two more than the whole of last season.
INTERNATIONAL BREAK IS BAD TIMING FOR CONTE
Antonio Conte injected some much-needed passion into Tottenham Hotspur's ranks in a 0-0 draw with Everton at Goodison Park and was happy enough with a solid defensive display.
He praised his side's desire and spirit, but the lack of creativity and spark on attack that was so apparent under Nuno Espirito Santo was clearly evident, as his side failed to manage a single shot on target.
Tottenham's squad are not short of quality, especially on attack, and given time on the training ground, Conte will surely get them firing again, so the Italian will be frustrated that most of his players are on international duty for the next 10 days, denying him the chance to get his methods across.
ARSENAL REKINDLE TOP-FOUR HOPES
Few Arsenal fans would have expected the Gunners to challenge for European competition, after a dreadful start to their Premier League campaign, but the faith shown in manager Mikel Arteta by the club's hierarchy has paid off handsomely, with Arsenal now looking well-positioned to challenge for the top four.
Their 1-0 win over Watford was a scrappy one, but they are now unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions and have discovered a way of grinding out results like Arsenal teams of old.
LEICESTER NEED TO PLUG LEAKY DEFENCE
Leicester City's 1-1 draw at Leeds United mean they have conceded less than two goals in a match for only the second time in their last seven league games, but manager Brendan Rodgers will be aware that had more to do with the hosts' finishing.
Leeds dominated possession and created chances, with the best one falling to Jack Harrison, who was unmarked with an open goal, but sent his effort over the crossbar - much to the annoyance of manager Marcelo Bielsa.
A moment of brilliance from Harvey Barnes cancelled out Raphinha's free-kick, but for all their flair going forward, Leicester seem too vulnerable at the back with pressure likely to build with each dropped point.
Reuters
