Liverpool are now very close to securing the Premier League title, after beating West Ham at Anfield on Sunday.
Luis Diaz scored for Arne Slot’s side in the 18th minute, but the victory appeared to be slipping from their grasp when a moment of miscommunication between Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson resulted in the Scottish left back diverting the ball into his own net with five minutes to go. However, Van Dijk made amends for his mistake three minutes later by heading Alexis Mac Allister’s corner home to score a crucial winner.
Teams
Trent Alexander-Arnold was still out of action for the hosts, as were Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton. Interestingly enough, Darwin Nunez was left out of the squad too, though there had been no reports of any kind of injury for the Uruguayan striker.
But Slot was able to welcome back Alisson Becker between the posts. Conor Bradley, also recently returned from injury, stood in on the right defensive flank. Following a highly dubious performance in the previous round against Fulham, Robertson dropped out of the starting XI in favour of Kostas Tsimikas, while Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate took their usual places in the heart of defence. Dominik Szoboszlai also didn’t cover himself with glory against Fulham, and with Bradley back in the team, Slot was able to restore Curtis Jones to his natural midfield position, along with Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch. Mohamed Salah, who thrilled the Anfield faithful by signing a new contract on Friday, was joined in attack by Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.
As for the Hammers, manager Graham Potter was also without three names in his squad – Aaron Cresswell, Crysencio Summerville, and Michail Antonio.
With Alphonse Areola in goal, the back line of three consisted of Jean-Clair Todibo, Konstantinos Mavropanos, and Max Kilman. James Ward-Prowse and Carlos Soler paired up in the middle of the park, flanked by wing-backs Oliver Scarles and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Further up, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus supported Jarrod Bowen as the focal point of attack in the absence of Antonio.
How it happened
Liverpool started on the front foot, with Diaz and Jones both drawing early saves from Alphonse Areola, while Bradley’s powerful strike took a deflection just wide.
Their dominance was soon rewarded, as Salah beat Scarles down the right and squared for Diaz to convert at the back post with under 20 minutes played.
That goal jolted West Ham into action. Kudus nearly equalized with a delicate lob that Alisson tipped onto the crossbar, before Soler found the side-netting from the rebound.
Despite Liverpool continuing to threaten, it was the visitors who created the clearer chances before half-time, with Mavropanos heading just over from a corner when well placed.
After the break, Liverpool almost extended their lead when Mac Allister struck the crossbar with a curling free-kick.
But West Ham kept pushing, with Bowen setting up Soler to fire over before forcing Alisson into a smart stop from a chipped effort after bursting through the defence. The Brazilian keeper was called into action again moments later, reacting sharply to palm away a low shot from Kudus that looked destined for the far corner from a tight angle.
Eventually, the pressure told, and West Ham were level when Robertson, who had replaced Tsimikas with the hope of an improved performance after last week’s blunders, turned into his own net following impressive work from Wan-Bissaka on the left.
The equalizer reawakened the Anfield crowd, who spurred Liverpool on as Diaz struck the bar once more before Van Dijk rose highest at the Kop end to power in a header and keep the hosts’ title charge on course.
Races nearly over at both ends of Premier League table
This victory means Liverpool have finally taken advantage of Arsenal failing to win – the Gunners had drawn at home against Brentford the previous day – to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to huge 13 points. With just six rounds of the season left to be played, the Merseysiders could potentially secure the title at their next outing.
Both title contenders face relegation-bound teams as Liverpool travel to Leicester and Arsenal to Ipswich. In the case of an unlikely defeat for Arsenal, Liverpool would be crowned champions if they win at the King Power Stadium. However, it’s far more likely that the Reds will have to wait a week longer than that – a win over Leicester and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield would mathematically end the race regardless of what the Gunners may do in their own matches against Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, sitting 17th at this point in a season would obviously be a worrying position for the Hammers, if it weren’t for a 14-point gap between them and Ipswich Town in 18th. Potter’s men face the already relegated Southampton at home next, and if they win, and both Liverpool and Arsenal win their own matches next week, that race will also be over mathematically, condemning Leicester and Ipswich to joining Southampton in the Championship next season.
Mo Salah – New contract, new records
Salah didn’t score in this match, but he did provide the assist for Diaz’s opener, taking his tally of created goals to 18, eight more than Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard, Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy, Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, who all share the second place in the Premier League chart. In fact, three more would see the Egyptian become the best assist maker ever in a 38-match Premier League season.
Salah also leads the way in goals scored with 27, six more than Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in second place.
The total of 45 goal involvements in 2024/25 means Salah has now set a new record for a 38-match season in the Premier League, overtaking the one set in 2002/03 by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry (44). The overall record (47) is still held jointly by Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers, 1994/95) and Andy Cole (Newcastle, 1993/94), but with six matches left to play this term, it stands to reason to expect Salah to break even that one.
An unbelievable player indeed, and only Liverpool’s round-of-16 exit from the Champions League seems likely to diminish his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or this year.
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