LIVERPOOL, England — Virgil van Dijk became against the Kop and set free an almighty roar. The 33-year-old captain’s 89th-minute purpose towards West Ham United had simply restored Liverpool’s lead at Anfield, hanging them at the cusp of a valuable 2-1 victory that edged them nearer to claiming the Premier League identify.
3 mins previous, his misjudgment had led to left-back Andy Robertson to attain an personal purpose that leveled the tie after a spell of West Ham drive and — amid a run of 3 defeats from their previous 4 video games in all competitions — the whole lot regarded a bit bleak for the Reds because the clock ticked down. However with mins left, Van Dijk struck, and there was once pandemonium within the stands. At the touchline, head trainer Arne Slot celebrated with a fervency he has reserved for most effective the largest moments this season.
Definitely, this end result was once a large one for Liverpool as they unfolded a 13-point lead on the summit over second-placed Arsenal (with the Gunners losing extra issues in a draw with Brentford on Saturday) and added additional weight to the realization that their coronation as champions is now inevitable.
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That the league leaders required a past due rescue act from their captain to look off a group these days positioned seventeenth within the desk is reflective of a contemporary dip of their efficiency ranges. However profitable league titles is not meant to be simple, and Liverpool had been the masters of discovering a solution to recover from the road this season.
Slot’s reign at Anfield has in large part been stable since he changed Jurgen Klopp final summer time, however the previous month has observed Liverpool come across a couple of fronts, with final week’s 3-2 opposite at Fulham including drive to show round a mini disaster.
From the outset towards West Ham, although, Liverpool performed with the type of verve and tenacity that were sorely missing at Craven Cottage; they only regarded sooner, sharper and hungrier than they have got in fresh weeks.
Luis Díaz drew an early save from Alphonse Areola sooner than Mohamed Salah curled an effort agonizingly huge of the submit. Neither participant would have lengthy to attend, alternatively, sooner than they as soon as once more discovered themselves on the middle of the motion, with Diaz tapping house from a chic Salah lend a hand after 18 mins.
Most effective two days after it was once showed that Salah had signed a brand new two-year extension at Liverpool, after all finishing hypothesis over his long run, the 32-year-old supplied but any other instance of his significance at Anfield. In doing so, he broke the file for essentially the most targets and assists in a 38-game Premier League season (45), surpassing the former file collectively held by way of Thierry Henry in 2002-03 and Erling Haaland in 2023-24 (44).
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Earlier than a ball was once kicked on Sunday afternoon, Salah was once serenaded by way of the Anfield crowd. Possibly unburdened from the longstanding undercurrent of uncertainty, the ahead became in a chic first-half show to place his group firmly within the motive force’s seat towards Graham Potter’s facet.
At that time, it felt adore it was once just a subject of time sooner than the floodgates opened. However Liverpool had been not able to in point of fact make their dominance rely, leaving them at risk of a West Ham resurgence after halftime. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker was once referred to as into motion on a number of events, making impressive stops to disclaim Jarrod Bowen and the full of life Mohammed Kudus. And the guests were given their praise within the 86th minute when a defensive mix-up between change Robertson and Van Dijk resulted within the ball being become the again of the Liverpool internet for the equalizer.
It was once an error that felt emblematic of the Reds’ fresh malaise, and with six video games left, it gave the look of Slot would have some awkward questions to reply to. But when probably the most hallmarks of champions is responding to adversity, then Liverpool confirmed their identify credentials as Van Dijk powered house a header from an Alexis Mac Allister nook most effective two mins from time.
Virgil van Dijk celebrates his past due winner for Liverpool towards West Ham. PAUL ELLIS/AFP by the use of Getty Photographs
The importance of the purpose was once underlined by way of the captain’s party. Generally probably the most coolest characters within the Premier League, Van Dijk allowed himself a unprecedented second of emotional free up as he thumped his chest and kissed the Liverpool badge.
With a freelance that expires in the summertime, the Dutchman’s long run continues to be unclear, and after the fit when quizzed on his long run, he remained coy. Alternatively, there may be an expectation that the defender will pen a two-year extension within the coming days, and with Salah’s signature already secured, holding Van Dijk’s services and products along the ones of Alisson (who’s out of contract in 2027) feels integral to making sure Liverpool’s luck sooner or later.
“It will no longer be utterly honest to simply speak about them [Van Dijk, Salah and Alisson], however as a supervisor you’re searching for the avid gamers who’ve already completed so much of their occupation to step up in crucial moments of the season,” Slot mentioned. “It’s at all times on the finish of the season that the moments get larger and larger, and these days all 3 of them confirmed up.
“Alisson had more than likely had his perfect sport of the season these days; Virgil rankings the header to get us 3 issues; and Mo was once essential within the first purpose. He was once in point of fact full of life within the first 1/2, and I noticed the Mo Salah now we have observed for lots of the season.”
In a competition that was once balanced on a knife’s edge, it was once 3 of Liverpool’s maximum skilled avid gamers that made the adaptation. They have already got mythical standing on Merseyside, and that may most effective be cemented additional if they may be able to assist seal the identify with the six issues the membership now want.
