EPL: Reds Hold On for Crucial Victory Over West Ham

Liverpool secures a thrilling 2-1 win over West Ham, with Virgil van Dijk scoring a late winner to cement their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Liverpool took a significant step towards securing their 20th league title with a hard-fought 2-1 win over West Ham United at Anfield. This victory was crucial for Liverpool, especially after Arsenal's slip-up, giving them an opportunity to edge closer to the championship. West Ham's woes at Anfield continued, as they extended their winless streak to 57 matches, with only one win in their last 58 visits.

Mohamed Salah played a pivotal role in Liverpool's win, providing his 18th assist of the season to set up Luis Diaz's opening goal in the 18th minute. This contribution marked a record-breaking moment for Salah, as he became the player with the most Premier League goal contributions in a 38-game season with 45. The Egyptian forward's recent contract extension added extra motivation, with every touch being celebrated by the fans.

West Ham quickly responded, with Carlos Soler denied a chance one-on-one with Alisson. Mohammed Kudus soon attempted a long-range lob, but Alisson made a crucial save, tipping the ball onto the crossbar. The Hammers continued to pressure Liverpool, coming close to equalizing just before halftime when James Ward-Prowse delivered a precise corner kick that Konstantinos Mavropanos headed just over the bar.

Liverpool came out strong after the break, nearly doubling their lead when Alexis Mac Allister's powerful shot hit the woodwork after being tipped by Alphonse Areola. With Liverpool's unbeaten record at home when leading at halftime dating back to 2009 (152 games), Arne Slot's side looked poised to extend that streak as they dominated the early stages of the second half. The Reds' confidence and momentum suggested they were in control, but West Ham remained a threat.

A late recovery that means @LFC are on the Virg... 🏆 pic.twitter.com/M1mn4qw9Dc

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 13, 2025

Liverpool maintained their strong home form, having not lost any of their previous 152 Premier League home games when leading at half-time. This impressive statistic, dating back to December 2009, seemed likely to continue as Arne Slot's side dominated the early stages of the second half.

As the hour mark approached, West Ham intensified their pressure and created several opportunities to level the score. Carlos Soler blazed over a chance when picked out by Jarrod Bowen in the box, and Bowen himself was later sent through on goal by Lucas Paquetá. However, Alisson made crucial saves, smothering Bowen's effort to deny West Ham.

Virgil van Dijk's 89th-minute winner against West Ham means Liverpool could win the title next week! 👀pic.twitter.com/G13SjBTimB

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 13, 2025

As the match wore on, Liverpool appeared to tire, allowing West Ham to gain momentum and dominate the late stages. This paid off when Andrew Robertson turned the ball into his own net after Virgil van Dijk's clearance ricocheted off him. Despite the setback, Liverpool once again showed their resilience in front of the Kop. Van Dijk, who had been at fault earlier, redeemed himself by heading in a late winner from Alexis Mac Allister's corner. This victory marked the 36th win in 50 games for Arne Slot, moving Liverpool points clear at the top of the table with just six games remaining.