Liverpool moved to potentially one win from the Premier League title as captain Virgil van Dijk’s late header helped them beat West Ham United at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool this week, provided the assist with a splendid pass for Luis Diaz to open the scoring on 18 minutes.
But Liverpool failed to build on this and West Ham deservedly equalised when Andy Robertson turned the ball into his own net making it 1-1. Liverpool nearly doubled their lead after the break when Alexis Mac Allister’s free-kick rattled the bar.
It was a frantic end to a game in which Liverpool allowed control to slip from their grasp and where West Ham, who are not yet mathematically safe from relegation, came close on numerous occasions before finally scoring.
However, in the 90th minute Van Dijk – who is expected to join Salah in agreeing a new deal to stay with the club – rose highest to head home a corner and put Liverpool 13 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with just six league games to play. West Ham sub Niclas Fullkrug also hit the woodwork with a chance to make it 2-2.
Liverpool can move 13 points clear when they host West Ham on Sunday , but Arsenal’s focus now moves to their Champions League second leg in Madrid on Wednesday.
Victory means that if Arsenal lose at Ipswich next weekend, the Reds can wrap up the title by beating an already struggling Leicester. This win also mathematically ensures the Reds have qualified for the Champions League for 2025-26.
With Wolves winning, West Ham fall to 17th but are 14 points above the bottom three.
