Liverpool are six points away from sealing a 20th Premier League title after Virgil van Dijk went from zero to hero with a late header to seal a 2-1 win over West Ham.

With Liverpool winning 1-0 thanks to Luis Diaz’s first-half opener from a stunning Mohamed Salah assist, Van Dijk got involved in an awful mix-up with Andy Robertson for the latter to score an own goal in the 86th minute.

But moments later captain Van Dijk rose highest above West Ham substitute Niclas Fullkrug from a corner in front of the Kop to establish Liverpool a 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

There may have been a push by Van Dijk on the Hammers forward, which VAR did not punish. “Nice little shove isn’t there?” said Roy Keane. “I thought VAR would look at that but obviously not!”

Should Arsenal lose to Ipswich next weekend on Super Sunday, Liverpool will know victory over Leicester, also live on Sky Sports, will mathematically secure the title with five games to spare.

Asked if Liverpool can now “touch the title”, Salah said: “We can say that now. We owe the fans one, especially as when we won it, we won it in lockdown. So let’s go for it and win it!”

Liverpool were ultimately lucky to come away with the win, with Jamie Carragher calling the Reds “lethargic” and “distinctively average” after their opener.

Anfield was initially a cauldron of noise after a good week for the club. Two days after his new Liverpool contract was confirmed, Salah entered the record books in setting up Diaz’s opener.

Salah broke the record for most goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League season – and he did it in some style. A glorious outside-of-the-boot pass unlocked the West Ham defence and allowed Diaz to tap into an empty net.

But West Ham grew into the game almost straight away. Mohammed Kudus saw his effort tipped onto the bar by Alisson almost immediately after Diaz’s opener. Konstantinos Mavropanos missed a sitter from a corner right before half-time and West Ham’s pressure continued after the break, despite Alexis Mac Allister hitting the Hammers bar from a free-kick.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, back in the team after concussion, stood tall to deny Jarrod Bowen in a one-on-one, while he also tipped Kudus’ low drive wide of the far post. Carlos Soler also missed a good chance from Bowen’s cross.

Eventually, the pressure told as Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross should have been cleared by Van Dijk and Robertson – but the pair collided as the ball went in last off the Scot.

With Liverpool set to drop more points, up stepped their captain as his header sent Anfield wild. Amid the celebrations, Robertson gave Van Dijk a kiss – one of gratitude and relief – on the forehead.

West Ham, who saw Fullkrug hit the bar in stoppage time, will feel hard done by as they drop to 17th, but when it comes to the top of the table and the title, Liverpool are nearly there.

Zero to hero! Van Dijk’s messes up with Robertson – then gets the WINNER!

Van Dijk on his error, his winner – and his contract

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk to Sky Sports:

On the West Ham equaliser: “I heard Robertson shout, but these things unfortunately happen. It was time to make it right, and luckily we did.”

On the winner: “Finally, we had many set-pieces, we train a lot on corners and tried to be important. Today, finally, I could score the winner and on to the next.”

On his contract: “I can say I’m very proud to captain my 100th game for Liverpool, it was an emotional day with the Hillsborough anniversary.

“That was the main focus: get three points, get a step closer to all of our dreams – not just players, staff – everyone connected to Liverpool FC.

“Everyone knows how much I love this club, let’s see what next week will look like.”

Slot praises Liverpool mentality

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot to Sky Sports:

“That is what we’ve done the whole season. After the disappointment of being knocked out by PSG, we show up again, show up every three days, with this mentality.

“We don’t win games the easy way. The easy way is taking control of the ball, pass it around five times and we have a goal and the next goal and the next goal.

“If we achieve something this year, it’s mainly to do with the mentality the players have shown. That’s what you saw today as well.

“Very difficult second half, we needed Alisson because Paqueta and Kudus were incredible the whole game. And then we conceded the 1-1, with an own goal. How much more disappointment can you get after what happened last week? Getting the goal with Virgil shows you how much mentality these boys have.

“It’s not only us. I saw the result when I came in, Chelsea vs Ipswich, 2-2. There’s no-one who wins a game of football that easily and because this league is so strong now, you have to put so much effort to bring your wins over the line.

“It’s so much easier if you win a game 3-0 or 4-0 or 5-0, but to win it the way we do every time – against Everton, last week against Fulham – and now again, that is a big compliment for this team.

“The whole season has been hard for us, every win – except two or three – has been really difficult. The last three games have shown us how difficult it is to win a game of football, let alone one at the end of the season. We go again next week against Leicester.”

Potter: The best West Ham have played since I’ve been here

West Ham head coach Graham Potter to Sky Sports:

“It’s sore, for sure. The players gave such a good performance, especially in the second half.

“Credit to Liverpool, they started well. The emotion of the day and the intensity was tough for us, but credit to the players. They stuck at it and we grew into the game.

“Second half, in terms of big chances, we had a few, so very disappointed to lose. We deserved something from the game.”

On Liverpool’s winner: “Sometimes you need these little things to go your way, clearly it didn’t for us. We have to accept that.”

On if there was foul by Mac Allister in build-up to Van Dijk winner: “The fact you’re asking me the question suggests something. There’s nothing I can do about it now. The referees have to look at their performance over the 90 minutes and make their assessment then.

“For us, we have to try to focus on the things we can do control. There are a lot things we did well, in terms of performance it’s probably the best we’ve had since I’ve been here – in terms of balance, defence and attack.

“We created opportunities, we attacked Liverpool, we restrict them to not too may. They have top players, credit to them – they’re the best in the league.”

Story of the match in stats…

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