IT’S just as well Mo Salah signed his contract – because you wouldn’t give Liverpool much chance of defending their impending Premier League title without him.
Anfield’s Egyptian king, who agreed a new two-year deal on Friday, teed up Luis Diaz for an early strike with his 18th assist of the season.
But this was another unconvincing display from Arne Slot’s champions-elect as Virgil Van Dijk’s 90th-minute header earned an undeserved win over struggling West Ham.
Skipper Van Dijk had been the villain just three minutes earlier when he was involved in a horrible mix-up with Andy Robertson, whose own goal equalised for Graham Potter’s side.
Liverpool now need only six points to make certain of their record-equalling 20th English top-flight title – and could be crowned as early as next Sunday, when they visit Leicester.
But had second-placed Arsenal not given up the ghost, we might easily have had a proper title race.
Salah, the top flight’s leading scorer and assist-maker this season, is the shining light of a Liverpool side who will not go down as one of the Premier League’s great champions.
He handed West Ham’s 19-year-old left-back Ollie Scarles a serious lesson in the first half.
But while Potter’s Hammers slid into the bottom four as they extended their winless run to five matches, they were easily the better side after the interval.
Despite last week’s defeat at Fulham, all was looking positive for Slot.
The announcement of Salah’s new contract, followed by Arsenal’s latest slip-up at home to Brentford, meant any shadows of doubt about the destination of the title had been swept away.
Still, Slot welcomed back keeper Alisson after concussion and made two changes at full-back after that capitulation at Craven Cottage.
After a minute’s silence to commemorate Tuesday’s 35th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, they were singing Salah’s name with gusto.
Potter had resisted the temptation to start Niclas Fullkrug after the centre-forward’s goal in last weekend’s draw against Bournemouth.
The lowly bubble-blowers had won just two of their last ten matches and travelled with little expectation – especially as Liverpool had already rattled up ten goals against them in two previous meetings this season.
Early on, Diaz had a shot pushed out by Alphonse Areola and Conor Bradley’s effort was deflected narrowly wide.
Ref Andy Madley was floored by a slipping Lucas Paqueta – and what are the odds on that? – before Salah truly got to work.
First, the Egyptian beautifully controlled a long, lofted pass from Ibrahima Konate, cut inside Scarles but shot wide of the far post.
Next, Salah’s turn bewildered Scarles again and his low curving centre allowed Diaz to slot past Areola.
West Ham had offered nothing going forward but then they suddenly struck the woodwork.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s pass fed Carlos Soler, forcing Alisson off his line to block, then Mohammed Kudus sent in a curling effort from an angle, which was tipped on to the bar by Liverpool’s keeper.
Salah, teasing Scarles once more, teed up Mac Allister for a shot Areola saved with his feet.
But Potter’s men finished the first half with a flourish.
Kudus, their most serious threat, hammered a long-range shot into the stanchion, then Kostas Marvopanos sent a free header over the bar from a James Ward-Prowse corner.
But straight from the restart, Liverpool were back on the front foot.
Kostas Tsimikas was brought down by Jean-Clair Todibo on the edge of the box and Mac Allister’s curling free-kick crashed against the bar.
Mac Allister then had a cross-shot tipped over by Areola and from the resulting corner, Ward-Prowse was lucky to escape without conceding a penalty for handball.
Scarles was withdrawn in the 57th minute, after a significant life lesson from Salah, before Cody Gakpo and Andy Robertson arrived for Liverpool.
But Liverpool were struggling to finish off West Ham and a Virgil Van Dijk error allowed Jarrod Bowen to cut back for Soler to balloon his shot over.
Then Paqueta’s through-ball released Bowen, with Alisson rushing out to block, before the Brazilian was forced to touch away an angled drive from Kudus.
And four minutes from time, West Ham earned the point they deserved when Wan-Bissaka sent over a low centre, with Van Dijk and Robertson going for the same ball – the Dutchman’s attempted clearance cannoning in off the Scotsman.
Diaz had a shot deflected onto the bar by Wan-Bissaka and then Van Dijk powered home a header from Mac Allister’s corner to clinch the three points – although there was still time for sub Fullkrug to head against the post.
