Liverpool 2-1 West Ham: Virgil van Dijk scores late winner moments after Andy Robertson own goal – with Reds needing just SIX more points to win the title

In years to come – when they look back on Liverpool’s 20th English title – they will doubtless not remember this day and how it felt. They will see only a final league table that shows a sizeable winning margin and maybe recall a Premier League title wrapped up before April had even given way to May.

But what we witnessed here at a frantic, anxious Anfield was a nervous, stumbling football team staring unthinkable calamity in the eyes and then – at the very last moment – somehow managing to turn their faces away and back towards the light.

Had Liverpool only drawn this game, their lead over Arsenal would have remained at eleven points with six games to go. Game, set and title surely?

But that’s not always the way football works and those who were here on this remarkable afternoon – both on the field and in the stands – will know that well enough now.

The truth is that football is played in the mind at times like this and here, drawing 1-1 with just a minute of normal time to go, Liverpool’s were utterly scrambled.

Having led early through Luis Diaz and having been comfortably superior to West Ham in every way, Liverpool’s second half nerves had slowly consumed them until they reached a point at which they were totally unrecognisable.

The winning goal came courtesy of Reds captain Virgil van Dijk in the 89th minute at Anfield

Van Dijk’s goal came just moments after left back Andy Robertson had scored an own goal

West Ham’s equalising goal in the 84th minute had been coming for about 20 minutes and was catastrophic in every way for the home team. It was an own goal from left-back Andy Roberston but trace the build up backwards and there were culprits in red to be found everywhere.

Anfield was stunned but not surprised. Sometimes footballers forget how to play well and teams forget how to win games.

Liverpool – beaten seven days earlier at Fulham and recently defeated in two big cup games – have been travelling along that road for a while and this is where it had led them, to the precipice.

So it was as well that they rescued this game. Had they not done so, a week of dreadful introspection would have followed. Where was the next win coming from? Leicester away next up looks straight forward on the pools coupon but then so did this one only for the reality to be a little different.

At the death it was captain Virgil van Dijk who rescued his team though a sudden rediscovery of communal urgency and energy was just as much to thank. It’s funny how it goes like that. Liverpool had been absent as an attacking force for half an hour, sucked back towards their own goal by doubt and uncertainty and maybe even some fear. But desperation enlivened them. Sport and psychology wrapped up together once more.

And after Diaz had come close with a shot and Alexis MacAllister won a corner with a drive saved at the near post, Van Dijk jumped to head in at the Kop End from six yards and the roof almost came off.

There were still seven minutes of time added on to negotiate. It didn’t prove easy. West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug – pushed in the back for Van Dijk’s goal but not with enough force to warrant a foul – ambled on to a Max Kilman cross in the 94th minute and looped a header up over Alisson Becker and on to the crossbar.

Yes, sometimes you need a bit of luck to win a game and there was Liverpool’s. Alisson is a fine goalkeeper but he wasn’t saving that one. 

The Reds now need just six points from their last six games to secure the Premier League title

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was playing for the first time since signing a new contract

Luis Diaz (left) fired Liverpool 1-0 up in the 18th minute when he tapped home at the far post

Much earlier in the game the Brazilian – back in action after a concussion injury – hadn’t had that much to do. Doubtless emboldened by yet another Arsenal slip-up the day before and indeed by Mo Salah’s new contract, Liverpool looked every inch champions-elect for half an hour. They were better than they had been at Fulham and indeed in beating Everton here in the game before that.

Slot’s team were slick and composed and clever and hungry. There were early shots from Diaz and Curtis Jones – both saved – and one from Conor Bradley that was deflected wide. Salah then collected a long pass from Ibrahima Konate beautifully and curled a shot past the far post.

Salah was up against 19-year-old West Ham defender Ollie Scarles and winning the battle easily. The teenager kept trying to win the ball in front of the Egyptian and failing. When he tried it again in the 18th minute, Salan ran clear to cross low and Diaz rammed the ball in.

West Ham almost equalised immediately as Alisson touched a Mohammed Kudus chip on to the bar. Just before half-time, Konstantinos Mavropanos headed a corner over. They were isolated threats, though, and MacAllister twice came close to stretching the lead, with a close-range volley in the first half that was saved and then a 46th minute free-kick that hit the bar.

A second Liverpool goal would have seen off any problems before they arrived. But it didn’t come and Liverpool – shorn of the security blanket they craved – started to retreat literally and emotionally. West Ham still had to step up and they did. Lucas Paqueta started to control the midfield and Graham Potter’s team benefitted off the back of that.

Carlos Soler could have converted a Jarrod Bowen cross after a Van Dijk mistake in the 62nd minute before Paqueta strode away from Diaz to release the England winger. Alisson dashed out to save fabulously.

Liverpool were running in sand by now and eventually they got stuck. Substitute Jarell Quansah vacated the Liverpool right side for Aaron Wan-Bissaka to run free and when he crossed to the near post Van Dijk and Roberston tangled for the ball to cannon in off the Scot’s shin. 

Robertson was furious with Van Dijk over the Dutchman’s role in West Ham’s 86th-minute goal

But Van Dijk quickly atoned for his error by finding the net moments later to secure victory

It’s a bit of a stretch to say it could have transpired to be Robertson’s ‘Steven Gerrard moment’. This was not quite Chelsea at Anfield in 2014. Nevertheless, it would have been Robertson’s face on the social media memes this morning.

Instead, Liverpool’s glory is almost theirs. That’s the way football goes and it’s all the more beguiling for it.