Liverpool 2-1 West Ham: Van Dijk scores winner moments after Robertson own goal

Liverpool only need another six points to guarantee their second Premier League title after beating West Ham at Anfield on Sunday.

Match Report

Luis Diaz fired Arne Slot's Reds 1-0 up in the 18th minute when he tapped home at the far post following a low cross by Mohamed Salah, playing in his first game since signing a new contract.

An Andy Robertson own goal gifted the Hammers a deserved equaliser in the 86th minute.

But captain Virgil van Dijk restored Liverpool's lead moments later to leave Liverpool 13 points clear of Arsenal in second place with just six rounds of fixtures remaining.

Liverpool need just two wins to claim the Premier League title after Virgil van Dijk made amends for a late mistake with a last-gasp winner in a chaotic 2-1 victory over West Ham.

Sunday seemed set to belong to Mohamed Salah, who celebrated Friday's two-year contract extension at Anfield with a record-breaking assist for Luis Diaz's 18th-minute opener.

That saw Salah break the record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game season in the competition with 45, though his achievement was overshadowed by late drama in an enthralling finale.

Van Dijk scuffed Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross onto Andy Robertson, who turned past Alisson with four minutes remaining, only for Liverpool's captain to then head home from Alexis Mac Allister's 89th-minute corner.

Diaz had thrashed against the crossbar just moments before, as Mac Allister did with a second-half free-kick at 1-0 up, before Niclas Fullkrug headed onto the woodwork with what would have been the leveller in stoppage time.

The dramatic victory leaves Arne Slot's side needing just six points from their remaining six games to clinch the crown, while West Ham drop to 17th but 14 points clear of Ipswich Town in the relegation zone.

Data Debrief: Super Salah

Salah moved past Arsenal's Thierry Henry (2002-03) and Manchester City's Erling Haaland (2022-23) with his first-half assist breaking the 38-game record for Premier League goal involvements in a single term.

The Egypt star will now aim for the single-season record of 47, held jointly by Andy Cole (for Newcastle United in 1993-94) and Alan Shearer (for Blackburn Rovers in 1994-95), with six games remaining.

Salah has also assisted 18 Premier League goals this season, the most by a player in a season since Kevin De Bruyne in 2019-20 (20), which remains a joint-record with Henry from the 2002-03 campaign.

However, Liverpool required an alternate hero in Van Dijk, who has scored more Premier League goals than any other central defender (24) since his debut in September 2015.

Eighteen of those Premier League goals have come through headers, the only defender with more is John Terry (27), though this one may have been the most important in Liverpool colours to date.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' In memory of the 97 people who lost their lives

3' Salah catch the ball in box but offside first

4' Luis Diaz sees a shot saved

10' Lucas Paqueta has just taken out the referee

16' Mohamed Salah goes very close.That would have brought the house down

18' LUIS DIAZ scores!! MO SALAH with the assist! Liverpool 1-0 West Ham

22' Alisson Becker actually tipped Mohammed Kudus' chip on to the bar

27' Highlight from Liverpool vs West Ham

32' Alphonse Areola denies Alexis Mac Allister after another lovely Salah pass

38' The home supporters trying to lift the volume as Alisson saves from Kudus

42' Kudus not far away with an effort from distance. Alisson Becker had it covered.

47' Alexis Mac Allister hits the bar from a free-kick

53' Highlight from Liverpool vs West Ham

53' Premier League release statement after VAR penalty decision against West Ham

59' Liverpool have made a double substitution

61' Soler fires over. Tough chance but a chance. Liverpool need to wake up here

66' Alisson Becker denies Jarrod Bowen. Great goalkeeping. West Ham threatening here

71' Alisson Becker saves superbly from Mohammed Kudus

83' Wataru Endo on for Mohamed Salah

86' Andy Robertson own goal! Liverpool 1-1 West Ham

90' GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 West Ham

Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Salah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Jota, Konate, Mac Allister, Luis Díaz, Curtis Jones, Gravenberch, Conor Bradley

Subs: Endo, Robertson, Kelleher, Gakpo, Chiesa, Szoboszlai, Jaros, Elliott, Quansah

West Ham XI: Areola, Ward-Prowse, Bowen, Soler, Mavropanos, Paqueta, Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Mohammed Kudus, Todibo, Oliver Scarles

Subs: Fabianski, Vladimír Coufal, Füllkrug, Emerson, Soucek, G. Rodriguez, Alvarez, Evan Ferguson, Luis Guilherme