Virgil van Dijk proved Liverpool’s savior once again, scoring an 89th-minute header to secure a hard-fought 2-1 win against West Ham United at Anfield on April 13, 2025, bringing the Reds within two victories of a record-equaling 20th Premier League title.
The hosts took the lead in the 32nd minute when Luis Díaz latched onto Alexis Mac Allister’s pinpoint pass, firing past Alphonse Areola for his seventh goal of the season. West Ham, resilient under Graham Potter, equalized in the 86th minute via an own goal by Andrew Robertson, who deflected Jarrod Bowen’s cross into his own net, silencing the 60,000-strong crowd. But Van Dijk rose highest to meet Trent Alexander-Arnold’s whipped corner, nodding past Areola to restore Liverpool’s lead and spark pandemonium.
The victory, Liverpool’s 11th in 18 matches, stretched their lead atop the Premier League to nine points with 34 points, capitalizing on Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Brentford. Arne Slot’s side, with 68% possession and 18 shots, showed grit despite a defense that’s conceded 14 goals this season, fewer than all but Nottingham Forest.
Van Dijk, 33, now has four goals in 2024-25, matching his best-ever tally, while his 93% pass accuracy anchors a backline facing injury concerns. West Ham, 17th with 15 points, remain winless in four, with Potter lamenting “cruel luck” after Bowen’s 80th-minute volley struck the bar. Slot called the win “a massive relief''.