Virgil van Dijk’s header sinks West Ham to edge Liverpool closer to title | Premier League

When Liverpool followers subsequent congregate at Anfield in two Sundays’ time it must be for an event they’ve craved for 35 years: the celebration of a league title triumph in particular person. This go to was fraught, West Ham’s second half superiority placing the place on edge, however Virgil van Dijk’s late rescue act ensured two extra wins will get the title-party began.

Van Dijk’s 89th minute winner got here three minutes after his error led to Andy Robertson placing by way of his personal objective and giving West Ham a well-merited equaliser. The Liverpool captain atoned in fashion and, whereas Anfield basked within the aid and pleasure of a valuable victory, made a degree of kissing the Liver hen on his chest. A brand new two-year contract to comply with that of Mohamed Salah must be confirmed quickly. All that issues to Arne Slot, nevertheless, is getting the job completed in opposition to Leicester and Tottenham. The Premier League title might be determined earlier than Spurs’ go to Anfield in a fortnight ought to Arsenal lose at Ipswich and Liverpool win at Leicester subsequent Sunday. A record-equalling twentieth league championship is so shut that Liverpool can nearly really feel it.

Anfield was within the temper to have fun Salah’s new deal and his continued brilliance initially. The sport was preceded by a solemn tribute to the 97 Liverpool supporters who have been unlawfully killed at Hillsborough. “Unlawfully killed – Unfairly blamed” learn one banner on the Kop, which was bedecked in a ‘97’ mosaic forward of the thirty sixth anniversary of the catastrophe on Tuesday. One other banner paid a becoming tribute to Phil Hammond, the tireless campaigner and former chair of the Hillsborough Household Assist Group who died in January. “The legend behind the reality,” it stated, completely capturing the nice man’s legacy.

Whether or not it was the carry of Salah signing a two-year contract extension or Arsenal’s newest draw bringing the title ever nearer, Liverpool appeared liberated within the early exchanges. Salah and co have been having fun with themselves. Luis Díaz examined Alphonse Areola within the West Ham objective and Conor Bradley had a shot deflected simply broad earlier than the Egypt worldwide began to shine. His first act was to exquisitely management an extended ball from Ibrahima Konaté, shift inside Oliver Scarles and curl a shot broad from a decent angle. Salah berated himself for not producing a trademark end. Irrespective of. The same transfer resulted within the breakthrough one minute later.

This time Salah spun away from Scarles as Konaté fired one other looking cross down the precise channel. The visiting defence was uncovered and the Liverpool ahead sprinted away to flick an inviting cross into the world. Diogo Jota was unable to attach however Díaz, sprinting in behind unchecked, transformed with ease. Diaz celebrated by adopting Salah’s pose on an promoting hoarding. Scarles, the 19-year outdated from Bromley, may solely rue the punishing schooling being meted out by one of many most interesting gamers on the earth. This was Salah’s twenty third help of the season in all competitions.

Areola denied Alexis Mac Allister as Liverpool pressed for a second objective. Steadily, nevertheless, with West Ham’s well-organised defence limiting the hosts and their inventive property, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquetá, seeing extra of the ball, Potter’s workforce turned the tide utterly. It spoke volumes that Alisson emerged as a decisive determine.

There have been warnings for Liverpool within the first half. Aaron Wan-Bissaka put Carlos Soler by way of on objective however Alisson was off his line shortly to dam. The rebound broke to Kudus, whose audacious try was crusing into the Liverpool objective till the back-tracking Brazil worldwide tipped his chip onto the crossbar. Konstantinos Mavropanos headed over from James Ward-Prowse’s nook in stoppage time. Unmarked and 6 yards out, the central defender ought to have scored.

Heartened, West Ham took the sport to Liverpool after the break and deserved far more than the late punishment that the soon-to-be champions inflicted. Vladimir Coufal’s introduction for Scarles, with Wan-Bissaka shifting to the left, performed a serious half within the transformation. Soler ought to have equalised from Bowen’s low cross after Van Dijk had didn’t clear, solely to blaze over from 12 yards out. Paquetá performed Bowen by way of on objective with an outstanding cross however Alisson stood tall for so long as potential and blocked the West Ham captain’s chip together with his chest. The Liverpool keeper made one other glorious save when Kudus aimed low for the far nook.

A West Ham objective was coming with Liverpool more and more out of kinds and dropping the midfield battle. The style of it encapsulated the house aspect’s second-half show. Wan-Bissaka broke free down the left and floated a cross into the centre. Van Dijk, not heeding a name from substitute Robertson, sliced a clearance in opposition to the unlucky left again and the ball rebounded inside Alisson’s proper hand nook. The captain delivered the right apology.

Liverpool got here alive after the West Ham equaliser with Díaz hanging the crossbar through the chest of Wan-Bissaka. Trying to clear the ensuing nook, Paquetá claimed to have been fouled by Mac Allister. Play continued with Areola conceding a second nook from Mac Allister’s low shot. The Argentina worldwide took the set-piece and there was van Dijk, too sturdy for Niclas Füllkrug, to energy a header into the Kop objective and take the roof off Anfield. There was nonetheless time for Füllkrug to rattle Alisson’s crossbar with a robust header however Liverpool survived. Virtually there.