EPL: Liverpool return to third place after whipping West Ham, Hull City complete relegated clubs’ line-up after 0-4 defeat at Crystal Palace

Liverpool beat West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday to return to third place in the English Premier League, with striker Daniel Sturridge scoring his first goal since January.
Philippe Coutinho’s sublime pass on the half-hour mark cut open the Hammers defence and picked out an unmarked Sturridge who went around goalkeeper Adrian before slotting home.
The Brazilian then scored two of his own after the break before Divock Origi fired in a fourth to complete the Liverpool procession.
Victory against Middlesbrough on the season’s final day will guarantee Liverpool a Champions League place in 2017/2018.
In a frenetic opening period there were chances for both sides.
But, as both teams settled down in the London sun, it was Liverpool’s Brazilian magician who turned up the gears and once again orchestrated a Liverpool victory.
The playmaker produced an exquisite pass from behind the halfway line for the opener as Sturridge evaded the offside trap and rolled home a tidy finish.
In spite of Liverpool’s dominance, West Ham could have however been level before the break had it not been for an astonishing miss by Andre Ayew.
They were then left to rue that mistake as the second half became a Liverpool procession orchestrated by playmaker Coutinho.
Georginio Wijnaldum’s thunderbolt pinged back off the bar and the Brazilian was the first to pounce.
He drove another shot home to make it three after a quick Liverpool counter-attack.
The Hammers woes were compounded when goalkeeper Adrian flapped at a high ball causing chaos in the box before Origi drilled in Liverpool’s fourth.
Meanwhile, Hull City Football Club were relegated from the English Premier League on Sunday with one game to go after a 0-4 defeat at Crystal Palace.
The result, while sending Hull City down, also secured top-flight survival for Crystal Palace.
Marco Silva’s side went behind after a shocking error just two minutes and 11 seconds into a game they needed to win.
A win would have given Hull City FC a fighting chance of survival.
Italy defender Andrea Ranocchia missed a simple clearance, allowing Wilfried Zaha to run clear and slot beyond goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic.
Christian Benteke’s header doubled Palace’s lead.
Late goals from Luka Milivojevic, from the penalty kick spot, and substitute Patrick van Aanholt, completed Hull’s misery.
The Tigers, who failed to register a shot on target on Sunday, will now join Sunderland and Middlesbrough in the Championship next season.
This result also means Swansea City, who were bottom of the table and four points from safety at the start of 2017, stay up.
Hull City FC are relegated 12 months after winning promotion by beating Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship play-off final.