Match reportLate Virgil van Dijk winner beats West Ham and brings Premier League title closer for Liverpool

A dominant first-half display, which included Luis Diaz’s opener, put the Reds on course for what appeared set to be a comfortable three points, but a tense second 45 minutes ensued.

Alisson Becker made two outstanding saves before an unfortunate Andy Robertson own goal – Van Dijk inadvertently playing the ball off the No.26’s shins – drew West Ham level inside the final five minutes.

But Arne Slot’s side pressed on and, as time ebbed away, Van Dijk towered above the visitors’ defence to nod in Alexis Mac Allister’s corner and spark wild scenes of celebration inside Anfield.

Two more wins are now required to make top spot a mathematical certainty, though the Reds would be crowned champions next Sunday if they claim victory at Leicester City and Arsenal lose to Ipswich Town earlier in the day.

Team

Slot, taking charge of Liverpool for the 50th time, made four changes to his starting line-up, with Alisson and Diaz back in the XI alongside Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas.

Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz, Mac Allister, Salah (Endo, 84), Jones (Szoboszlai, 68), Jota (Gakpo, 59), Tsimikas (Robertson, 59), Gravenberch, Bradley (Quansah, 68).

Unused subs: Jaros, Kelleher, Chiesa, Elliott.

First half

Before kick-off, Anfield paused for an impeccably observed period of silence to mark the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster on Tuesday.

Once the game got under way, Liverpool’s front-footed approach – backed by incessant noise from the home crowd – meant West Ham were barely able to venture out of their own half.

Diaz tested Alphonse Areola early on and Bradley saw an effort deflect wide before Mohamed Salah, serenaded regularly following his contract renewal, began to exert his influence.

Twice in quick succession Salah beat Hammers left-back Ollie Scarles all ends up, with a wondrous first touch followed by a narrowly off-target shot first up. A minute later, the Egyptian cleverly rolled his marker and delivered an inviting outside-of-the-boot cross, which Diaz planted home.

A rare West Ham attack resulted in Alisson twice denying Carlos Soler in impressive fashion, before Areola thwarted Mac Allister – fed by a lovely Salah pass – from close range at the other end.

Despite the Reds’ dominance, the visitors could have snatched an equaliser in first-half stoppage time, but Konstantinos Mavropanos headed James Ward-Prowse’s corner over the crossbar.

Second half

The established pattern of play continued immediately after the restart and a brilliant Mac Allister free-kick came crashing back off the bar.

West Ham, however, then managed to stem the tide and Soler went close to levelling as he drilled Jarrod Bowen’s cut-back over.

With the visitors’ confidence growing, Alisson came to the fore. First, the No.1 bested Bowen in a one-on-one as the West Ham captain raced in behind and tried to lift his finish over his adversary.

Alisson’s next intervention was just as good, the Brazilian this time getting down at lightning speed to palm Mohammed Kudus’ drive away to safety.

With the stakes so high, nerves were frayed around Anfield and West Ham equalised when the ball rebounded off Robertson’s shin and into the corner.

Straight away, Liverpool responded and Diaz had a shot deflected onto the Kop-end bar. The corner that followed would prove pivotal, as Van Dijk climbed highest and powered his downwards header beyond Areola.

There was still time for more drama as Hammers striker Niclas Fullkrug hit the woodwork with a header of his own deep into stoppage time, but the Reds held on to claim a huge victory.

Attendance: 60,376