It might not have been the prettiest performance, but Liverpool fans won’t care.
On a nervy Sunday afternoon at Anfield, their team scraped past West Ham 2-1 in a match that nearly turned into a nightmare.
Now, with just six points needed to seal the Premier League title, the dream is very much alive.
A Win That Tells More Than the Scoreline
Years from now, fans might glance at the season’s final table and see Liverpool comfortably ahead of the pack. But this particular match? It told a much deeper story.
For those in the stadium and watching at home, this wasn’t a walk in the park — it was a tense, nerve-racking rollercoaster.
Having gone ahead early through a sharp finish from Luis Diaz, Liverpool looked set for a routine win.
They were dominant in the first half, controlling possession and peppering West Ham’s goal.
But football is rarely that straightforward — especially when titles are on the line.
A Sudden Shift in Momentum
Despite their early control, Liverpool lost their rhythm after the break. Nerves began to creep in. Passes became sloppy. Attacks fizzled out.
And when West Ham equalized in the 84th minute — courtesy of an unfortunate Andy Robertson own goal — Anfield fell into stunned silence.
Suddenly, the possibility of dropping points became very real.
Had the match ended in a draw, Liverpool’s lead over Arsenal would have stayed at 11 points with six games left.
Still a cushion, yes, but one that could’ve quickly evaporated with a few more slip-ups.
Captain Van Dijk to the Rescue
Just when it looked like the Reds might crumble under the pressure, up stepped Virgil van Dijk.
In the 89th minute, the captain rose above the West Ham defense and powered home a header from a corner, sending the Kop into absolute chaos.
It was a moment of sheer relief — and one of defiance.
Liverpool still had to survive seven agonizing minutes of stoppage time.
West Ham came dangerously close to stealing a point, with Niclas Fullkrug’s header clipping the crossbar in the 94th minute.
But luck was on Liverpool’s side this time, and the final whistle brought more than just a win — it brought belief.
First Half Promise, Second Half Struggles
Earlier in the match, it all seemed so straightforward. With Alisson back in goal after recovering from a concussion, Liverpool looked confident.
Diaz and Curtis Jones tested West Ham’s goalkeeper early, and Salah caused all sorts of problems for teenage defender Ollie Scarles.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Salah glided past Scarles and whipped in a low cross.
Diaz pounced, slamming the ball into the net and giving Liverpool a deserved lead.
There were chances to double it — Alexis Mac Allister struck the bar with a free-kick, and Salah curled an effort wide.
But as the second half wore on without a second goal, unease began to grow.
West Ham’s Fightback and Liverpool’s Slip
To their credit, West Ham didn’t give up. Lucas Paqueta began pulling the strings in midfield, and the visitors slowly began to assert themselves.
They found joy down Liverpool’s right side, and when substitute Aaron Wan-Bissaka whipped in a cross late on, chaos followed.
Van Dijk and Robertson got tangled, and the ball ended up in the net off the latter’s shin.
It could’ve been a defining blunder. A moment that haunted Liverpool like Steven Gerrard’s infamous slip in 2014.
But thanks to Van Dijk’s late heroics, it became just a footnote.
Liverpool’s Line-Up and Impact Players
Arne Slot made a few changes to the starting XI, with Salah, Diaz, and Jota leading the line.
Bradley and Tsimikas started as full-backs before being replaced by Robertson and Szoboszlai.
Van Dijk’s leadership and Alisson’s composure proved vital, especially in the dying moments.
Meanwhile, West Ham had some standout performers too.
Kudus threatened with a clever chip that Alisson tipped onto the bar, and Paqueta’s vision nearly unlocked Liverpool on several occasions.
So Close to Glory
With six games left and only six points needed, Liverpool can almost reach out and touch the title.
It hasn’t been smooth sailing — recent defeats and nervous displays have raised doubts — but this win could be the one they look back on as the turning point.
Football, after all, isn’t just about the big wins.
It’s about grinding out results when everything feels like it’s falling apart. And that’s exactly what Liverpool did here.