Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Virgil van Dijk brings Premier League title closer

Liverpool‘s 2-1 victory against West Ham United on Sunday afternoon means they need just two victories to be crowned Premier League champions.

Mohamed Salah provided his 18th assist of the Premier League season in the 18th minute when he charged down the right flank before playing across the box to Luis Diaz for a close-range finish.

The Hammers nearly drew themselves level just moments later when Mohammed Kudus struck the bar, with the attacker trying to catch out Alisson Becker, who had not recovered his position in goal after saving an effort from Carlos Soler.

Despite the Reds being fairly comfortable in the first half, the second saw Alisson called into action on a number of occasions, and the nerves from the crowd were palpable.

It looked like Liverpool had failed to claim all three points from a winning position yet again when Andrew Robertson bizarrely deflected Virgil van Dijk‘s clearance into his own net four minutes from time, but the latter powered a header home shortly after from a corner to give the Merseysiders the win.

Liverpool moved 13 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal with the victory and need just two more wins to be crowned champions, while West Ham drop to 17th place and have just 35 points.

SPORTS MOLE’S VERDICT

© Imago

Some have suggested that winning the Premier League title would represent a disappointing campaign given the Reds’ exits from the Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup, but supporters will not care what others say about the team’s 2024-25 season.

Arne Slot should be given enormous credit for taking the side he inherited from Jurgen Klopp to the title, and their inevitable first-placed finish will see the Premier League trophy paraded in front of fans for the first time ever considering their 2019-20 triumph was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, West Ham can count themselves fortunate that Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton have been so poor this term as they would have otherwise been fighting a relegation battle.

LIVERPOOL VS. WEST HAM UNITED HIGHLIGHTS

Luis Diaz goal vs. West Ham United (18th min, Liverpool 1-0 West Ham United)

Salah spins away from his marker near the halfway line and charges down the right flank before crossing with the outside of his boot to Diaz, who has a simple tap-in to open the scoring.

Assist number 18 for Salah!

21st min: Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United) hits crossbar

Soler is played through on the right side of the box and Alisson smothers his effort, though the ball bounces to Kudus, who attempts an audacious lob over the goalkeeper and hits the bar.

An excellent shot!

Andrew Robertson own goal vs. West Ham United (86th min, Liverpool 1-1 West Ham United)

Van Dijk looks like he will flick the ball away from the penalty area, but Robertson bizarrely comes across and the clearance deflects off of the left-back and into his own net.

What was Robertson thinking?

Virgil van Dijk goal vs. West Ham United (89th min, Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United)

Alexis Mac Allister swings in a corner from the right to the penalty spot, where Van Dijk rises highest to head the ball home.

That could be the winner!

MAN OF THE MATCH – MOHAMED SALAH

© Imago

Salah was back to his imperious best, producing an assist in the first half for Diaz’s opener, and he was by far the most threatening player on the pitch.

The Egyptian was more limited in the second half, but he still managed to create three chances across the course of the game, the most of any player on the pitch.

LIVERPOOL VS. WEST HAM UNITED MATCH STATS

Possession: Liverpool 55%-45% West Ham United
Shots: Liverpool 15-11 West Ham United
Shots on target: Liverpool 6-4 West Ham United
Corners: Liverpool 10-3 West Ham United
Fouls: Liverpool 15-8 West Ham United

BEST STATS

WHAT NEXT?

Liverpool can move to within one win of the title should they beat Leicester City away from home on April 20, and they would secure the league with a win against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on April 27.

As for West Ham, they host relegated Southampton on April 19, and they will then face Brighton & Hove Albion on April 26 away from home.

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