West Ham's defensive woes continue as Slaven Bilic's men capitulate against one of the Premier League's big boys yet again

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Slaven Bilic puffed out his cheeks and stared vacantly into the middle distance. The question ‘how on earth can this be happening again?’ must have flashed across his mind.

It may hold 60,000 spectators, but the cavernous London Stadium can be a lonely place at times.

Just ask the West Ham manager, stood with chilled hands shoved in pockets on the edge of his technical area with his friends and allies sat on a bench the whole width of a nine-lane running track behind him.

He was stuck out there, an isolated figure watching a familiar story unfold. It’s the sorry tale of West Ham’s sudden capitulations when the Premier League elite visit. 

Slaven Bilic looked deflated following another miserable defensive display by West Ham

Liverpool ran riot at the London Stadium this evening, beating West Ham 4-1

As so often in football, it’s the hope that kills you. For 20 minutes here, West Ham looked organised and resolute.

Arguably they had been the superior team and should have led when Andre Ayew struck the post.

Liverpool moved the ball around, they probed the West Ham lines, but hadn’t found any fragility. Then, of their own volition, West Ham gifted them a breakthrough goal.

Bilic’s heart must have sunk as Liverpool effortlessly cleared a West Ham corner and the header landed at the feet of Mohamed Salah.

With one touch, he moved the ball past the half-hearted Edimilson Fernandes and sprung Sadio Mane. The roadrunner of the Premier League, there was simply no catching him.

Poor Aaron Cresswell, on full scale retreat, was left one on three with Roberto Firmino motoring up to give Mane yet another option.

In the end, Salah rolled the ball in like a six-a-side team of energetic teenagers playing the forty-somethings from the local office block.  

Liverpool took the lead through Mohamed Salah following an incisive break

Sadio Mane led the charge before playing in Salah, who calmly slotted past Joe Hart

What must annoy Bilic is that Fernandes - a fit young man of 21 years - completely gave up the chase as a lost cause. Even Winston Reid got back quicker - from the other penalty box.

It took Liverpool 13 seconds to transport the ball from six-yard box to six-yard box and a mere two minutes and 37 seconds later, they had been presented with a second.

To be fair to West Ham, it was unlucky. Andre Ayew’s near post clearance struck Mark Noble and though Joe Hart blocked the ricochet, Joel Matip appeared to tap home.

Bilic just glanced despairingly into the night. When your luck is out, your luck is well and truly out. 

And that was it. Liverpool led 2-0 and West Ham's early confidence had evaporated in an instant. From here, the remainder of the first-half was a shambles of misplaced passes and minimal effort.

Little wonder the fans booed at half-time. This is like the box set episode you realise you’ve already watched midway through.

Though many retired early for a half-time pie or pint, there was no fast-forward button.

Joel Matip doubled Liverpool's lead after he fired in from close range following a corner

Hart looked frustrated at his team's defensive performance throughout the match

Here are some other classic episodes. Earlier in the season, West Ham were on top against Tottenham then conceded two goals to Harry Kane inside the space of four minutes. They went 3-0 down, then rallied to score twice.

Last season’s capitulations against top quality opposition were even worse. Two goals inside four first-half minutes did for them against Manchester City. They lost 4-0.

In this very fixture, they trailed Liverpool only 1-0 well into the second-half then conceded the familiar two goals in four minutes. They lost 4-0.

Against Arsenal, they were only 1-0 behind at 70 minutes and fighting hard to stay in contention. Alexis Sanchez then scored a second and the floodgate opened. They lost 5-1.

But today was worse because there was a West Ham revival at the start of the second-half. They emerged with renewed purpose and when Manuel Lanzini halved the deficit there was genuine hope.

The stadium came to life, there was noise from all four corners. Even Bilic was feeling brighter.

Moments after West Ham pulled one back, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a third past Hart

Salah added his second of the game with a drilled strike into the far corner

Similar collapses have also occurred against Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal

For 55 glorious seconds there was optimism! Then Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was allowed to walk into their box completely unmarked and permitted two chances to score Liverpool’s third goal.

Goodness me, the fans had barely retaken their seats after celebrating Lanzini’s goal when the familiar gloom descended again.

The celebratory bubbles were still drifting across the pitch. Oxlade-Chamberlain ran through them as he went to the Liverpool fans to celebrate. The bubbles faded and died, like the song.

Salah’s second, scored from acres of space inside the penalty box, sparked thousands to make for the exits. Bilic turned away and grimaced, he’d seen enough. It is the hope that kills you.