LIVERPOOL, England — Virgil van Dijk turned in the direction of the Kop and let loose an almighty roar. The 33-year-old captain’s 89th-minute objective in opposition to West Ham United had simply restored Liverpool’s lead at Anfield, placing them on the cusp of a treasured 2-1 victory that edged them nearer to claiming the Premier League title.
Three minutes earlier, his misjudgment had brought about left-back Andy Robertson to attain an personal objective that leveled the tie after a spell of West Ham strain and — amid a run of three defeats from their previous 4 video games in all competitions — every little thing appeared somewhat bleak for the Reds because the clock ticked down. However with minutes left, Van Dijk struck, and there was pandemonium within the stands. On the touchline, head coach Arne Slot celebrated with a fervency he has reserved for less than the largest moments this season.
Actually, this consequence was a giant one for Liverpool as they opened up a 13-point lead on the summit over second-placed Arsenal (with the Gunners dropping extra factors in a draw with Brentford on Saturday) and added additional weight to the assumption that their coronation as champions is now inevitable.
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That the league leaders required a late rescue act from their captain to see off a crew at present positioned seventeenth within the desk is reflective of a latest dip of their efficiency ranges. However successful league titles isn’t purported to be simple, and Liverpool have been the masters of discovering a strategy to recover from the road this season.
Slot’s reign at Anfield has largely been regular since he changed Jurgen Klopp final summer time, however the previous month has seen Liverpool locate a number of fronts, with final week’s 3-2 reverse at Fulham including strain to show round a mini disaster.
From the outset in opposition to West Ham, although, Liverpool performed with the type of verve and tenacity that had been sorely missing at Craven Cottage; they merely appeared sooner, sharper and hungrier than they’ve in latest weeks.
Luis Díaz drew an early save from Alphonse Areola earlier than Mohamed Salah curled an effort agonizingly broad of the put up. Neither participant would have lengthy to attend, nonetheless, earlier than they as soon as once more discovered themselves on the middle of the motion, with Diaz tapping residence from a elegant Salah help after 18 minutes.
Solely two days after it was confirmed that Salah had signed a brand new two-year extension at Liverpool, lastly ending hypothesis over his future, the 32-year-old offered one more instance of his significance at Anfield. In doing so, he broke the document for essentially the most objectives and assists in a 38-game Premier League season (45), surpassing the earlier document collectively held by Thierry Henry in 2002-03 and Erling Haaland in 2023-24 (44).
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Earlier than a ball was kicked on Sunday afternoon, Salah was serenaded by the Anfield crowd. Maybe unburdened from the longstanding undercurrent of uncertainty, the ahead turned in a elegant first-half show to place his crew firmly within the driver’s seat in opposition to Graham Potter’s facet.
At that time, it felt prefer it was solely a matter of time earlier than the floodgates opened. However Liverpool have been unable to essentially make their dominance depend, leaving them susceptible to a West Ham resurgence after halftime. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker was known as into motion on a number of events, making spectacular stops to disclaim Jarrod Bowen and the energetic Mohammed Kudus. And the guests received their reward within the 86th minute when a defensive mix-up between substitute Robertson and Van Dijk resulted within the ball being was the again of the Liverpool web for the equalizer.
It was an error that felt emblematic of the Reds’ latest malaise, and with six video games left, it appeared like Slot would have some awkward inquiries to reply. But when one of many hallmarks of champions is responding to adversity, then Liverpool confirmed their title credentials as Van Dijk powered residence a header from an Alexis Mac Allister nook solely two minutes from time.
Virgil van Dijk celebrates his late winner for Liverpool in opposition to West Ham. PAUL ELLIS/AFP through Getty Photographs
The importance of the objective was underlined by the captain’s celebration. Usually one of many coolest characters within the Premier League, Van Dijk allowed himself a uncommon second of emotional launch as he thumped his chest and kissed the Liverpool badge.
With a contract that expires in the summertime, the Dutchman’s future remains to be unclear, and after the match when quizzed on his future, he remained coy. Nevertheless, there’s an expectation that the defender will pen a two-year extension within the coming days, and with Salah’s signature already secured, retaining Van Dijk’s providers alongside these of Alisson (who’s out of contract in 2027) feels integral to making sure Liverpool’s success sooner or later.
“It would not be completely fair to only talk about them [Van Dijk, Salah and Alisson], but as a manager you are looking for the players who have already achieved a lot in their career to step up in the most important moments of the season,” Slot mentioned. “It’s all the time on the finish of the season that the moments get greater and larger, and immediately all three of them confirmed up.
“Alisson had probably had his best game of the season today; Virgil scores the header to get us three points; and Mo was very important in the first goal. He was really lively in the first half, and I saw the Mo Salah we have seen for most of the season.”
In a contest that was balanced on a knife’s edge, it was three of Liverpool’s most skilled gamers that made the distinction. They have already got legendary standing on Merseyside, and that can solely be cemented additional in the event that they may also help seal the title with the six factors the membership now want.
