It`s fortunate that Mo Salah recently signed his contract, as Liverpool would have a significantly harder time defending their Premier League title without him.
Liverpool`s Egyptian star, who signed a new two-year deal last Friday, provided an assist to Luis Diaz for an early goal, marking his 18th assist of the season.
However, it was another underwhelming performance from Arne Slot’s likely champions, as Virgil Van Dijk`s 90th-minute header secured a somewhat undeserved victory over struggling West Ham.
Captain Van Dijk had previously been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons just three minutes prior, involved in a defensive mix-up with Andy Robertson, which resulted in an own goal and an equaliser for Graham Potter’s team.
Liverpool now only require six more points to guarantee their record-equalling 20th English top-flight title and could be crowned champions as soon as next Sunday when they play Leicester away.
If Arsenal hadn`t faltered in the title race, we might have witnessed a more competitive battle for the league.
Salah, who has now contributed 45 goals and assists this season, broke the record for the most goal contributions in a 38-game Premier League season.
Once again, he was the standout performer for a Liverpool team that might not be remembered among the Premier League`s greatest champions.
He gave West Ham’s 19-year-old left-back Ollie Scarles a tough lesson in the first half.
While Potter’s West Ham dropped into the bottom four, extending their winless streak to five games, they were arguably the better team in the second half.
Despite their defeat to Fulham last week, things were looking positive for Slot.
The announcement of Salah’s contract extension, combined with Arsenal’s recent setback against Brentford, seemed to clear any doubts about the title`s destination.
Slot welcomed back goalkeeper Alisson after a concussion and made two changes in the full-back positions following the defeat at Craven Cottage.
After a minute of silence to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, the fans were enthusiastically chanting Salah’s name.
Potter chose not to start Niclas Fullkrug, despite the forward`s goal in their previous draw against Bournemouth.
West Ham, who are near the bottom of the league, had only won two of their last ten matches and had low expectations coming into the game, especially considering Liverpool had scored ten goals against them in their previous two encounters this season.
Early in the game, Diaz had a shot saved by Alphonse Areola, and Conor Bradley`s effort was narrowly deflected wide.
Referee Andy Madley was accidentally tripped by Lucas Paqueta.
Salah then began to dominate, first controlling a long pass from Ibrahima Konate, cutting inside Scarles but shooting wide.
Shortly after, Salah again outmaneuvered Scarles and his low cross allowed Diaz to score past Areola.
West Ham had been quiet offensively but then hit the woodwork twice in quick succession. Carlos Soler`s shot was blocked by Alisson, and Mohammed Kudus`s curler was tipped onto the bar by the Liverpool keeper.
Salah, continuing to trouble Scarles, set up Mac Allister, whose shot was saved by Areola`s feet.
However, West Ham finished the first half strongly. Kudus hit a powerful long-range shot off the post, and Konstantinos Marvopanos headed over from a corner.
Immediately after halftime, Liverpool attacked again. Kostas Tsimikas was fouled by Jean-Clair Todibo, and Mac Allister`s free-kick struck the bar.
Mac Allister then had a shot-cross saved by Areola, and from the resulting corner, Ward-Prowse was fortunate not to concede a penalty for handball.
Scarles was substituted in the 57th minute, following a challenging first half against Salah, and Cody Gakpo and Robertson were brought on for Liverpool.
Liverpool struggled to finish off West Ham, and a mistake by Virgil Van Dijk allowed Jarrod Bowen to set up Soler, who shot over.
Then, Paqueta’s pass found Bowen, with Alisson making a block, before saving a shot from Kudus.
Four minutes from the end, West Ham equalised when Wan-Bissaka’s cross led to a mix-up between Van Dijk and Robertson, with Van Dijk deflecting the ball into his own net off Robertson.
Diaz then had a shot deflected onto the bar by Wan-Bissaka, and Van Dijk then headed in the winner from Mac Allister’s corner to secure the three points, although substitute Fullkrug almost equalised again with a header against the post.
