Mohamed Salah Stars as Liverpool Edge Closer to Historic 20th League Title | OneFootball

Liverpool 2 – 1 West Ham – Premier League Man of the Match

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool FC

With just three wins needed from their final seven games, Liverpool entered matchday 32 of the Premier League season knowing they stood on the edge of history. A 20th English league title, and the first under head coach Arne Slot, was within reach. The mood at Anfield was focused but electric as West Ham arrived on Merseyside, looking to play the role of spoilers.

Slot, who has managed squad rotation with precision through a demanding season, named a strong and rested starting eleven. His selections reflected both the gravity of the occasion and the lessons learned in recent weeks—intensity was non-negotiable. The Dutchman’s tactical approach has steadily evolved Liverpool’s play this season, and this match offered another test of that maturity: breaking down a compact, counter-attacking side with little to lose.

West Ham, for their part, showed early signs of resistance, but Liverpool’s energy was clear from the outset. The Reds pressed high, worked intelligently between the lines, and sought to assert dominance quickly. There was little sign of nerves in the opening exchanges, just a sense of sharp, collective focus. The front three looked lively, the midfield tidy and assertive, and the backline, marshalled by a returning senior figure, Alisson Becker, remained composed.

Photo: IMAGO

It wasn’t vintage Liverpool at every moment, but there was a ruthless edge in phases that pointed toward a side intent on finishing the job. What followed was a performance that carried title-winning credentials—and one standout player who drove it all, staking his claim for Man of the Match.

In a very fine opening thirty minutes, Liverpool was vibrant and industrious, with their talisman, Mohamed Salah, scintillating from his right-wing position. After a good long-range effort drifted wide, the newly re-signed attacker evaded his marker with brilliance, before striding forward and delivering a perfect pinpoint pass for the opening goal. Moments later the former Roma man was again terrorising in his work as he scampered down the wing to show his world-class skills.

Unfortunately for the 32-year-old, his teammates failed to give him service that matched his first-half output, as the Reds showed the strain of being so close to the finish line and the Premier League title. Next up is a visit to Leicester where only two wins are needed to secure the crown.

Steven Smith’s Pre-match Prediction;

Liverpool 3 – 1 West Ham