April 13, (THEWILL) – Liverpool moved within two victories of claiming the English Premier League title following a tense 2-1 win against West Ham, with captain Virgil van Dijk scoring a decisive header in the 89th minute after earlier involvement in an unfortunate equaliser.
Mohamed Salah, fresh from signing a two-year contract extension at Anfield on Friday, provided the assist for Luis Diaz’s 18th-minute opening goal, setting a new record for most goal contributions in a 38-game EPL season with 45.
Liverpool dominated chances throughout, with both Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister striking the crossbar during the match.
The drama unfolded in the final minutes when van Dijk deflected Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross onto Andy Robertson, resulting in an own goal with four minutes remaining.
The Liverpool captain made immediate amends, powering home a header from Mac Allister’s corner just moments later to restore Liverpool’s advantage.
West Ham nearly equalised in stoppage time when Niclas Fullkrug’s header struck the woodwork, but Liverpool held firm to claim all three points.
The victory means Arne Slot’s team requires just six points from their remaining six fixtures to mathematically confirm their league triumph.
The defeat leaves West Ham in 17th position, though they maintain a comfortable 14-point gap above Ipswich Town in the relegation zone, virtually guaranteeing their top-flight status for next season despite their current league standing.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
