Liverpool clinched a dramatic comeback win over West Ham United.
The Premier League leaders took an early lead when Luis Diaz was able to slot home after Diogo Jota dummied Mohamed Salah’s cross into his path.
A cagey affair threatened to see the Hammer snatch a point in the closing stages as substitute Andy Robertson turned the ball into his own net.
But Virgil van Dijk restored the Reds’ advantage just minutes later by powering home Alexis Mac Allister’s corner in front of The Kop.
Arne Slot’s side are now 13 points clear in the title race and only require two more victories to clinch a record-equalling 20th domestic championship.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Title now in touching distance
The noise swirling around Anfield spoke volumes.
Just minutes earlier, Liverpool’s Premier League title procession looked set to hit its second roadblock in seven days against another London opponent.
Andy Robertson’s goal appeared to have earned West Ham a point which was not undeserved based on the balance of play in Sunday’s second half.
Cumulative failings had seen the Reds pulled level with Virgil van Dijk partly at fault for his defensive cohort turning the ball into the Anfield Road End’s net.
But almost in the blink of an eye, the captain had this famous ground back reverberating to the sound of triumph after powering home a late winner.
Arne Slot’s side hung back after the final whistle to soak up the atmosphere with the head coach raising two clenched fists toward in The Kop’s direction.
An uncharacteristic display of emotion from the usually composed Dutchman hinted at how tantalisingly close the Premier League title now is to L4.
Two more wins will seal it with Tottenham’s visit later this month potentially being the moment that Kopites will be kicking off the party to end all parties.
Alisson shows class is permanent
For all the fanfare around a newly re-signed Mohamed Salah before kick-off, it was an inclusion at the other end which kept Liverpool’s title bid on track.
Alisson has not featured since last month’s Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain after suffering a concussion in Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers.
The goalkeeper has needed to bide his time while the necessary protocols were followed to ensure that he was passed fully fit for a return to the fold.
Arguably, had he been available sooner then the Premier League leaders would not have shipped three goals on the road at Fulham last weekend.
That delayed return offered a timely reminder of Alisson’s qualities as he was on hand to deny the Hammers routinely before their fortuitous equaliser.
On no fewer than four second-half occasions, he repelled the visitors’ attacks with Carlos Soler, Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus, twice, all denied.
The Anfield faithful needed no reminder of the 32-year-old’s standing as one of the most formidable goalkeepers in elite-level football for several years.
Salah finally finds support again
Friday’s announcement invariably heightened the appetite of Liverpool fans to see Salah back in action for the first time since signing his new two-year deal.
Yet his renewal has also posed a question as to how Slot’s side can ensure their frontline is further geared towards their talismanic Egyptian’s strengths.
Salah’s brilliance has driven their team to the cusp of a 20th league title but he has often had to plough a lone furrow due to a subdued supporting cast.
Belatedly, he is rediscovering kindred spirits in the frontline as typified by Luis Diaz’s display which was capped off by a clinical opener in the 18th minute.
The man from Barrancas has endured more than a fair share of criticism after struggling to recapture the form which catapulted him into the starting line-up.
A fifth goal involvement in as many recent Premier League outings saw him emulate Salah’s celebration by perching himself on the advertising hoardings.
Beyond that, Diaz mucked in with pressing and seized the initiative in the fightback by crashing an effort against the crossbar after West Ham levelled.
More of the same in the final weeks would suggest that Salah may not have to go it alone again for large parts of the forthcoming campaign.