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If Liverpool's march toward the Premier League title has lacked one thing, a winning goal from the captain at the Kop End might just about have ticked the final box en route to No.20.

So having played his part of a defensive mix-up that allowed West Ham United to pilfer a deserved equaliser, it was fitting that Virgil van Dijk provided the game's defining moment.

Liverpool are now 13 points clear at the top, with this 2-1 win at Anfield putting them within a half dozen points of a second title in five years and, with the struggling pair of Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur to come, Arne Slot and his players might even be Premier League champions before April is even out.

Van Dijk's late header, from Alexis Mac Allister's corner, was his first in the league since the 2-2 draw at Arsenal in late October and it was celebrated riotously after supporters had been racked with anxiety as the game drifted from the leaders.

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But if the anticipated resolution of Virgil van Dijk will follow on from Salah's news, this match was also a timely reminder of how much Liverpool need another of their long-serving elite as Alisson Becker returned with a superb performance in goal.

Having missed the last two games as he awaited the green light after a concussion on Brazil duty last month, Alisson was exceptional, making two huge saves in the second half to keep out Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus as Graham Potter's side pushed and probed for a way back into the game.

There was little Alisson could do about the calamity that afflicted Van Dijk and Andy Robertson for an own goal that will officially be given to the left-back, but West Ham would have gained a share of the spoils as a minimum had it not been for the Brazil No.1's heroics.

Liverpool had their lead inside 20 minutes when Salah wriggled free of a challenge from Ollie Scarles only to see his ball across the face for Diogo Jota snaffled up by Luis Diaz instead at the back post.

It was fitting reward for the way Slot's men started the game, which was full of urgency and threat, particularly Salah, whose renewed vigour was evident early on.

That pass was Salah's 23 assist of the campaign across all competitions and the Egyptian, who was serenaded most of the afternoon by the Anfield faithful, was a constant thorn in the side of young defender Scarles, who was making just his 13th Premier League appearance.
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