Captain Virgil van Dijk scored a dramatic late winner as Liverpool defeated West Ham United 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday, April 13th, moving the Premier League leaders potentially to within just a couple of wins of securing the title.
Liverpool, bouncing back from a league defeat at Fulham last weekend, took an 18th-minute lead through Luis Diaz. Mohamed Salah, playing his first game since signing a new two-year contract extension, marked the occasion by providing a superb outside-of-the-boot assist for the Colombian to finish. Salah received a huge reception from the Anfield crowd before kick-off.
Despite Liverpool’s control, West Ham remained a threat, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker producing several crucial saves. He brilliantly tipped a Mohammed Kudus chip onto the crossbar in the first half and made further important stops from Jarrod Bowen and Kudus again after the break.
West Ham looked to have snatched a point in the 86th minute when Andy Robertson inadvertently turned the ball into his own net following a Van Dijk clearance.
However, Liverpool responded almost immediately. Just three minutes later (89th minute), Van Dijk rose highest to powerfully head home an Alexis Mac Allister corner, securing a vital three points. There was still time for West Ham substitute Niclas Füllkrug to hit the woodwork.
Liverpool Edge Closer to Title, Secure Champions League Spot
The victory restores Liverpool’s 13-point lead over second-placed Arsenal with just six games remaining. Arne Slot’s side now needs a maximum of 11 more points to guarantee their 20th top-flight title, and the win also mathematically confirms their qualification for the 2025-26 Champions League.
Salah’s assist was his 45th league goal involvement this season (27 goals, 18 assists), reportedly a record for a 38-game Premier League campaign. Attention now turns to securing Van Dijk’s future, with the captain confirming “progress” in his own contract talks, while Trent Alexander-Arnold’s situation remains uncertain amidst links to Real Madrid. Forward Darwin Núñez was notably absent from the matchday squad.
West Ham, despite the defeat, remain 17th but are 14 points clear of the relegation zone. They produced a spirited performance and were unfortunate not to take a point, largely thanks to Alisson’s Man-of-the-Match display in the Liverpool goal.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
