Liverpool can step a step closer to lifting the Premier League title if they beat West Ham United at Anfield but the confirmation of Mohamed Salah’s contract extension may mean it’s already party time on Merseyside.
The news of Salah’s new deal has given the Reds a timely boost after last weekend’s defeat at Fulham, and Arne Slot’s side now have the chance to move 13 points clear of Arsenal with a win this afternoon. The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford yesterday.
It leaves Liverpool three wins away from securing the title with seven games remaining this season and they will face a West Ham team have are without a win in their last four league games under Graham Potter. The Hammers have lost their last nine trips to Anfield and have only one win there from their past 57 visits.
Follow the latest updates from Liverpool vs West Ham below
HALF-TIME! Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
And that’ll be the last action of the half!
Liverpool lead and deservedly so, with Mohamed Salah showcasing exactly why the Reds offered him a bumper contract by brilliantly setting up Luis Diaz for the opener.
However, West Ham have shown signs of threat – and with the deficit only at one, they are still very much in this.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
45+1 mins: CHANCE! Mavropanos meets the corner just in front of the penalty spot and he really should score.
He gets a good connection on it but heads over.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
45 mins: Kudus lofts one in towards the back post, Van Dijk heads out for a corner.
A late chance for West Ham to snatch an equaliser.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
43 mins: West Ham haven’t been able to do much in this first half but when they have, it’s come through Kudus.
The forward receives the ball in space 30-odd yards out and releases a rocket towards the top-left corner – Alisson never looked troubled but it only went just wide of the post.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
39 mins: Minor penalty shout as Salah tries to get past Wan Bissaka before going to ground – looked more like the Englishman eased out Salah rather than illegally impeding him.
Up the other end, Kudus forces Alisson into a sharp save, only for the flag to go up. It wouldn’t have counted.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
35 mins: Liverpool are just chipping away at West Ham at the moment, pressing persistently and not giving their visitors a moment to get comfortable.
They’re peppering the Hammers box with crosses – Diaz just headed over from a Tsimikas delivery.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
33 mins: SAVE! Salah dinks a perfect through ball to Mac Allister who slides in the volley – Areola makes himself big to deny the midfielder.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
32 mins: Ward-Prowse whips in a free-kick that’s met by a West Ham head but the offside flag goes up.
Van Dijk looks to get things going again promptly and pings an absolute beauty to Salah up the field.
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham
28 mins: Diaz tries to pull it across the box and while it’s cut out by a West Ham body, Mac Allister comes in to try and wrestle the ball away in the six-yard box.
The Hammers survive the press and get out.
Salah flying off the back of his new contract
A couple of moments when Mohamed Salah has given Ollie Scarles a schooling: first for the goal and then when he fooled the young defender by taking Virgil van Dijk’s diagonal ball out of the Anfield sky.
Salah seems sharp today. The crowd seem buoyed his new contract and he looks it, too.