Van Dijk goal puts nervous Liverpool two wins from title

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West Ham outplayed Liverpool in the second half but a Van Dijk header gave the hosts the three points - Shutterstock/Peter Powell

For 89 minutes Liverpool were playing as if waiting for the title to be handed to them rather than hunting it down.

Anfield was serene as if the title was to be gift-wrapped. Then Andy Robertson’s 86th-minute own goal to equalise Luis Diaz’s opener sent the stadium into a frenzy.

Everyone woke up, including Virgil van Dijk who, minutes later, headed Alexis Mac Allister’s corner beyond Alphonse Areola. The self-inflicted jeopardy had triggered the necessary response.

Neutrals must have found it perplexing that the side on the cusp of going 13 points ahead was playing with more anxiety than they ever did in all those years going head-to-head with Manchester City when one mistake would be decisive.

Liverpool have gone into the past few weeks knowing they could afford many errors, yet their flirtations with danger have been unnecessary.

They almost paid a price here, granting Lucas Paqueta the freedom of the city of Liverpool. But for goalkeeper Alisson, Anfield would have exploded sooner.

Even once Liverpool were back ahead, Niclas Fullkrug headed against the post.

Few saw this coming when the hosts serenely took the lead 70 minutes earlier.

That followed 60 seconds to affirm why Liverpool have committed another £50 million to keep Mohamed Salah.

First came the instant control from Ibrahima Konate’s high looping ball, Salah taking possession before bewitching West Ham’s teenage full-back Ollie Scarles before beginning a trademark run.

The shock was that the subsequent attempt was narrowly wide.

No matter, in the next move Salah was turning provider, a diagonal pass with the outside of the left foot feeding Diaz for the 18th-minute opening goal.

Robertson’s own goal almost delayed the party another few weeks. Van Dijk, two wins from lifting the trophy, injected the necessary urgency which means it could be over by next weekend.

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03:57 PM BST​

Full-time scores​

• Chelsea 2 Ipswich 2
• Liverpool 2 West Ham 1
• Wolves 4 Spurs 2

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03:56 PM BST​

FULL-TIME: Liverpool 2 West Ham 1​

They lived dangerously in the second half but the hosts have, just, got the three points. They are six points off confirming their 20th league title. Nervy performance from the hosts but it’s just about getting it done at this stage.

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03:53 PM BST​

94 mins: Liverpool 2 West Ham 1​

This game is still not won for the hosts as Fullkrug heads against the bar for West Ham. There are still three minutes to go, with seven added on to the 90.

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03:51 PM BST​

More goals in the Black Country​

It’s now Wolves 4 Spurs 2.

Richarlison made it 3-2, but a minute later the returning Cunha restored Wolves’ two-goal lead.

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03:48 PM BST​

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL!​

Liverpool 2 West Ham 1

Van Dijk headers the hosts back into the lead from a corner and now it’s Anfield’s turn to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

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03:47 PM BST​

88 mins: Liverpool 1 West Ham 1​

Diaz so very nearly restores Liverpool’s lead, he turns and shoots in the box and it hits the bar.

The equaliser had been coming, Liverpool too passive, too cautious and inviting pressure. They have been more nervous 10 points clear at the top than they were in those years going-head-to-head with Manchester City.

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03:45 PM BST​

GOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLL!​

Liverpool 1 West Ham 1

It’s been coming and it has finally come. West Ham deserve it as Wan-Bissaka gets on the end of a long ball on the left before getting in a low cross to the near post. There doesn’t appear to be much trouble but Robertson and Van Dijk get in each other’s way and the Scot hits the ball into the back of his own net.

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03:43 PM BST​

GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!​

Chelsea 2 Ipswich 2

The hosts have equalised through Sancho. A few sighs of relief are breathed in west London.

A clever short corner routine and a cracking finish from Jadon Sancho has brought Chelsea level. The Manchester United loanee dropped off to receive the ball just inside the box on the left - and found the far top corner with a precision finish. It’s his first goal since December 8.

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03:40 PM BST​

Short game for Philogene​

It is not going to be Jaden Philogene’s day even if it turns out to be Ipswich’s. The former Aston Villa man comes on for Jack Clarke and within seconds comes off worse in a 50-50 with Enzo Fernandez. The sub has had to be subbed; Nathan Broadhead has replaced him. Liam Delap is also on for Ipswich.

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03:38 PM BST​

76 mins: Liverpool 1 West Ham 0​

West Ham are making all the running and asking all the questions and it’s a case of backs to the wall for Liverpool - bizarre to be writing that after their first-half performance.

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03:36 PM BST​

Wolves fans make their feelings known to Cunha​

It is a mixed reception for Matheus Cunha, returning after suspension, as he comes on as a second-half substitute for Wolves. The Brazilian made sure he clapped his team-mates but has not endured himself to Wolves fans after briefly sharing a black and white photo of himself wearing a Wolves tracksuit top on his Instagram story alongside the message: ‘Time to be happy. I will follow my dreams, not yours. So stay cool.’ The post was soon deleted but the damage was done.

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03:34 PM BST​

Alisson is Liverpool’s best player at the moment​

Not sure many would have believed Alisson would be a contender would be man-of-the-match when Diaz scored the opening goal, but that’s how it is turning out.

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03:33 PM BST​

Frustrating for Chelsea​

Time is beginning to run out for Chelsea, who have brought Jadon Sancho on for Noni Madueke. Cole Palmer continues to have a frustrating afternoon, the latest in a lengthy series. The England man has been booked, presumably for complaining about the non-award of a foul.

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03:31 PM BST​

66 mins: Liverpool 1 West Ham 0​

Yet another fine save by Alisson as West Ham continue their dominance. Kudus is played in in the inside-left channel in the box before unleashing a shot that the Liverpool keeper does well to save low to his left.

After a good first half the hosts have been flat since the break.

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03:30 PM BST​

West Ham on top thanks to Paqueta​

Paqueta is running the show at Anfield. Liverpool could have paid a price for allowing him so much space already, but for Alisson’s save from Bowen. The visitors are looking the most likely to score currently.

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Paqueta is running the show at Anfield - Reuters/David Klein

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03:27 PM BST​

Sorry, sorry Spurs​

What is happening to Spurs? No sooner do they get themselves back into the game than they gift Wolves a third goal. All three goals have been gifts, in fact. This time captain Cristian Romero is badly at fault. The Argentinean international may feel he is too good for Spurs. Not on this sorry evidence.

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03:26 PM BST​

66 mins: Liverpool 1 West Ham 0​

The hosts have been average since the break as Bowen nearly makes them pay. He gets on the ned of a fine through ball forcing Alisson off his line and into making a great save when it looked as though the West Ham man was going to equalise.

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03:25 PM BST​

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL!​

Wolves 3 Spurs 1

No sooner has a sliver of hope been injected into this match for Tottenham than the hosts restore their two-goal lead. Strand Larsen with the hammer blow.

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03:21 PM BST​

61 mins: Liverpool 1 West Ham 0​

Another warning sign for Liverpool as Bowen gets the ball into the box where Soler hits his first-time attempt over the bar.

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03:19 PM BST​

GOOOOAAALLL!​

Wolves 2 Spurs 1

Tel gets one back for the visitors - just what they needed.

Spurs have a goal back and, this time, it is Wolves with the defensive blunder as Nelson Semedo fails to deal with a cross and Mathys Tel sidefoots home. With half an hour to go they have the chance to rescue this game and, tellingly, Ange Postecoglou has already taken off both Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr. Both had played poorly.

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03:18 PM BST​

59 mins: Liverpool 1 West Ham 0​

Changes for Liverpool: Gakpo and Robertson on, Jota and Tsimikas off.

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03:17 PM BST​

Liverpool still looking to kill the game off​

More of the same at Anfield at the start of the second half. Liverpool in control but in need of the killer second, and Paqueta a joy to watch for West Ham.

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03:13 PM BST​

53 mins: Liverpool 1 West Ham 0​

Not sure whether it was a cheeky attempt at goal or a mishit cross, either way Gravenberch forces Areola into a tipped-over-the bar save.

Again there has been the odd warning sign that West Ham are far from out this game. Obviously, that is always the case at 1-0 but such was the ease Liverpool found the first half that they could be forgiven for being complacent.

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03:10 PM BST​

Maresca shuffles pack​

Maresca has decided something must be done ahead of the second half and that some thing is to hook Tosin Adarabioyo and replace him with Malo Gusto. It works as the hosts pull one back within 18 seconds of the restart. Looks like an own goal, bundled in off Axel Tuanzebe at the near post.

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03:08 PM BST​

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!​

Chelsea 1 Ipswich 2

Just the start to the second half the hosts wanted. An own goal from Tuanzebe halves the deficit.

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03:06 PM BST​

45 mins: Liverpool 1 West Ham 0​

They’re back under way at Anfield, can West Ham inject some urgency into their play and give the champions-elect some jitters?

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03:04 PM BST​

Liverpool dominant​

As with many Liverpool home games this season, they have been more dominant than the narrow leads suggests, so West Ham will take heart from the couple of chances they’ve created, not least Mavropanos’ header on the stroke of half-time. Still, so far, so serene for Slot’s side.

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03:02 PM BST​

Chelsea fans let their feelings be known​

“Maresca this is boring, you are a bore!” yells a fan near enough the home dugout to be heard by the Chelsea manager, whose preferred patient passing game is not impressing so far. The half-time whistle is predictably greeted by huge boos from the home support and cheers from a delighted away end.

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Fans at Stamford Bridge are not happy with Enzo Maresca - Reuters/Dylan Martinez

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02:59 PM BST​

From bad to worse for Spurs​

Half-time and it feels like a long way back for Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou. As preparation for their huge Europa League quarter-final second leg away to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday this has been awful. They have conceded two appalling goals through terrible defending and it could have been two more. To concede after just 85 seconds and in the manner they did feels almost unforgivable. In between they have had the ball but have not hurt Wolves. It is shaping up to be another bad afternoon for Postecoglou.

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02:50 PM BST​

Half-time scores​

• Chelsea 0 Ipswich 2
• Liverpool 1 West Ham 0
• Wolves 2 Spurs 0

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02:47 PM BST​

HALF TIME: Liverpool 1 West Ham 0​

Despite the odd warning the hosts are deserved leaders at the break.

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02:45 PM BST​

Another defences shambles for Spurs​

An inevitable chorus of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” from the Wolves fans directed at Ange Postecoglou after their team score again against a sorry Spurs. The second goal, even more than the first, was a defensive shambles from Postecoglou’s side with Guglielmo Vicario palming the ball into Djed Spence’s chest before it bounced over the line. On the touchline Postecoglou has just watched the replay on a monitor in disbelief. As well he might. That is two ridiculous goals for Spurs to concede.

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A penny for Ange’s thoughts... - PA/Jacob King

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02:42 PM BST​

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLL!​

Wolves 2 Spurs 0

Only so many times you can say ‘it’s gone from bad to worse’ but it has done again for Tottenham as a Djed Spence own goal makes it 2-0 to the hosts.

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02:40 PM BST​

Here’s a stat​

Thanks to that pass for Diaz to score...

Mo Salah breaks the record for most goals and assists in a 38-game Premier League season!

45 - Mohamed Salah (24/25)
44 - Thierry Henry (02/03)
44 - Erling Haaland (22/23) pic.twitter.com/U7ddUCjbHN

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 13, 2025

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02:39 PM BST​

Paqueta a bright spot for West Ham​

Paqueta’s class is standing out for West Ham. He’d already be playing for a Champions League club if it wasn’t for those allegations he spent too much time in William Hill.

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02:37 PM BST​

Ipswich haven’t won at the Bridge since the days of Chopper Harris...​

Semi-automated offside technology may be in place but there was still a long wait to confirm that Enciso was onside when he crossed for Johnson to nod in Ipswich’s second on the half-hour mark. Fine header across Sanchez at the back post by the ex-West Ham man. Peter Bonetti, Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris and Peter Osgood were playing for Chelsea last time Ipswich won at Stamford Bridge...

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02:36 PM BST​

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLL!​

Chelsea 0 Ipswich 2

Ben Johnson has allowed the visitors to sprint into a two-goal lead at Stamford Bridge. That could put a big dent in the west Londoners’ hopes of Champions League football next season.

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02:34 PM BST​

Busy start for Alex Palmer​

Palmer - Ipswich’s Alex rather than Chelsea’s Cole - is owed an apology from team-mate Dara O’Shea for the bungled backpass that saw him clonked on the head by the onrushing Jackson, who could not get out of the way. The Ipswich keeper has been cleared by medics to carry on.

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02:31 PM BST​

Baptism of fire for Scarles​

Have to feel for teenage left back Ollie Scarles being given the gig of marking Salah on this form. He’s getting a bit of a chasing so far. It’s a compliment Potter has picked him, but you have to wonder if it’s too tough an assignment. West Ham will take encouragement from Kudus’ near miss, but Liverpool are looking like they’ve benefited from a rare free midweek.

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Mo Salah have given Ollie Scarles a torrid time so far - Shutterstock /Peter Powell

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02:28 PM BST​

Slow Spurs​

Tottenham are just slower all over the pitch here and that has just been typified by Toti Gomes proving to be too strong and too determined for Dominic Solanke as he took the ball away from the striker. Spurs need to wake up if they are to get anything out of this game and relieve the pressure on their head coach Ange Postecoglou.

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02:27 PM BST​

‘Can we play you every week?’​

“Can we play you every week?” ask the jubilant Ipswich fans who have just seen Julio Enciso fire Town ahead. Chelsea are, of course, the only side to have lost at Portman Road in the Premier League this season.

Against the run of play would be an understatement though. Chelsea, having forced goalkeeper Alex Palmer into a string of saves, were caught on the counter. George Hirst, now of Scotland, burst forward from the centre circle, played Ben Johnson in on the right and Brighton loanee Enciso nipped in between the centre-backs to poke home.

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02:26 PM BST​

How Liverpool took the lead​

Assist for Mo Salah
Goal for Luis Diaz ️

Liverpool take the lead against West Ham pic.twitter.com/DGDsXXerYc

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 13, 2025

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02:25 PM BST​

Sublime Salah​

Sixty seconds which show why you get what you pay for with Salah. First, the control and shot just wide, and then the assist for Diaz to prove he has arrived at Anfield in party-piece mood. Total control so far from the hosts.

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02:23 PM BST​

20 mins: Liverpool 1 West Ham 0​

Warning for Liverpool as Kudus hits the bar with Alisson backpedalling. Brilliant effort after the Liverpool keeper came out for the ball, didn’t get it and the West Ham man went for the far corner of the net only to be denied by the woodwork.

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02:21 PM BST​

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLL!​

Chelsea 0 Ipswich 1

Enciso has put the visitors up at Stamford Bridge.

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02:20 PM BST​

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLL!​

Liverpool 1 West Ham 0

West Ham at sixes and sevens as Liverpool break with Salah on the left. He gets his head up and plays a delightful ball with the outside of his left foot for Diaz who hits it first time, running onto the ball. The weight of Salah’s pass was perfection.

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02:18 PM BST​

16 mins: Liverpool 0 West Ham 0​

What don’t you do with Mo Salah? Yep, it’s allow him to cut inside on his left peg and shoot. But that’s what happens as the Egyptian dances inside before unleashing an attempt that goes just wide.

Goal coming, I reckon...

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02:16 PM BST​

14 mins: Liverpool 0 West Ham 0​

Liverpool with all the ball - West Ham are struggling to keep it at the moment and it’s hard to see, if this carries on, how they come away with something from this first half.

Diaz and Mac Allister have been instrumental in a positive start. There’s been a feeling all season that when Mac Allister is playing well, Liverpool are a much more dynamic team. He’s an understated but pivotal figure in this team.

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02:15 PM BST​

12 mins: Liverpool 0 West Ham 0​

Was about to type ‘still no real chances or work for the keepers to do’ when Conor Bradley gets the ball inside the West Ham box before shooting low, just past the left upright.

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02:12 PM BST​

Safe Sanchez?​

Robert Sanchez, the sixth best goalkeeper in the world according to the CIES Football Observatory Index, has so far passed to Ipswich’s Jack Clarke (who fired woefully over) and pinged another attempt to find a team-mate off the park. In other fairly predictable Chelsea news, Nicolas Jackson has hit a post rather than the net from close range.

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02:09 PM BST​

Tottenham defending was awful​

Less than 90 seconds gone and Tottenham are a goal down. What a terrible concession it was with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario punching an inswinging free-kick out to the edge of the penalty area where Rayan Ait-Nouri sent a bouncing shot beyond the goalkeeper’s reach. Spurs’ defending was awful. No-one was close to Ait-Nouri and not even a VAR check for possible offside could save them. They should in fact be 2-0 with Jorgen Strand-Larsen missing a sitter - while sitting down - after another defensive calamity.

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02:07 PM BST​

5 mins: Liverpool 0 West Ham 0​

Liverpool dominated possession but no chances created yet. West Ham are defending deep with bank of five at the back and the midifled not far in front of them. Think it’s clear how the Londoners have come to play.

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02:05 PM BST​

GOOOOAAAAALLL!​

Wolves 1 Spurs 0

It goes from bad to worse for Tottenham as Ait-Nouri has put the hosts ahead.

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02:02 PM BST​

1 min: Liverpool 0 West Ham 0​

The match is under way, Liverpool in their famous all red, West Ham in their white and claret.

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02:01 PM BST​

Anfield remembers the 97​

Thirty six years ago 97 people went to watch a football match. They never returned home. Many other lives were irrevocably changed that day and the injustices that followed only compounded the pain that, thankfully, few will ever experience.

There is a minute’s silence perfectly observed.

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01:58 PM BST​

Kop chant Salah’s name​

Not surprising that the Kop is vociferously chanting Salah’s name before kick-off. The contract announcement was timed to give everyone a lift ahead of this fixture.

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01:55 PM BST​

The teams are in the tunnel and kick-off is moments away​

At Anfield. There’s a lovely rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone being sung as I type.

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01:43 PM BST​

Arne Slot speaks to Sky Sports - ‘Salah staying is great news for Liverpool’​

On Mo Salah putting pen to paper...

“I think it is only a positive vibe for the fans. They love him [Mohamed Salah] so they will like to keep him here for two more years. But I think the main thing they would like to see today is the team getting a good performance in and getting a good result. We all know Mo has been really important in attributing to results so I think that’s what today is about - the West Ham game - but it’s very nice for the short-term and long-term picture of the club.”

On today’s match...

“You have to put a lot of effort in to get a result in general in football let alone in the Premier League. We are enjoying the position we are in and the way we have played so far but we also know how much effort it took to be in the position we are in at the moment and that’s why we are now focused on the West Ham game.”

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01:36 PM BST​

Slot responds to Fulham defeat​

Fair play to Liverpool’s marketing department. Plenty of red crowns with ‘Egyptian King’ been spotted around Anfield, presumably direct from the souvenir shop unless the street-sellers have been on the case.

Slot looks like he’s responded to last weekend’s shocker against Fulham, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson left out. Darwin Nunez took a knock in training on Saturday, so he isn’t in the squad at all. Arsenal have tried their best to speed up Liverpool’s coronation. Naturally, the leaders are keen to wrap this up as soon as possible.

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01:23 PM BST​

So Mo Salah is staying at Anfield​

After an epic/boring (delete as you see fit - I could argue both ways to be honest) set of negotiations the Egyptian King is to remain a Liverpool player.

Being objective (very hard for football fans, I admit...) it’s great news. He’s a wonderful player who only enhances any league and match he plays in. And how refreshing is it to see someone who could have commanded zillions in Saudi Arabia decide that legacy is more important than an even bigger bank balance.

Here’s Jamie Carragher’s take.

READ: It would have been ridiculous for Mohamed Salah to refuse new deal

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Salah is stay at Liverpool for another two years - Getty Images/Andrew Powell

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01:14 PM BST​

Why is Delap starting on the bench for Ipswich?​

Kieran McKenna has explained why Delap is only a substitute today. “Liam has got a nasty rib injury that he picked up in the last game,” he said. “He’s been in pain this week, not been able to train uninhibited. He’s done well to make the bench, to be fair.”

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Liam Delap has suffered a rib injury - Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough

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01:12 PM BST​

The Wolves and Spurs XIs in black and white​

WOLVES XI TO FACE SPURS: Sa, Doherty, Semedo, Toti, Agbadou, Ait-Nouri, Andre, Joao Gomes, Bellegarde, Munetsi, Strand Larsen.

Matheus Cunha begins the afternoon on the bench for the hosts after returning from his four-match ban.

SPURS XI TO FACE WOLVES: Vicario, Spence, Romero, Gray, Davies, Bissouma, Maddison, Sarr, Tel, Johnson, Solanke.

Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall and Son Heung-min all drop out of the Spurs starting line-up Djed Spence, Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr and Mathys Tel come in.

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01:09 PM BST​

The Chelsea and Ipswich XIs in black and white​

CHELSEA XI TO FACE IPSWICH: Sanchez, Chalobah, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo, Madueke, Palmer, Neto, Jackson Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Badiashile, James, Gusto, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Sancho, Nkunku

Reece James starts on the bench for the hosts, while Jadon Sancho drops to the bench following his two assists in a 3-0 win against Legia Warsaw on Thursday.

IPSWICH XI TO FACE CHELSEA: Palmer, Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis, Morsy, Cajuste, Johnson, Enciso, Clarke, Hirst Subs: Walton, Woolfenden, Townsend, Luongo, Taylor, Philogene, Chaplin, Broadhead, Delap

The big news is that Liam Delap drops to the bench, not sure why that is - more news as it comes in.

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01:06 PM BST​

The Liverpool and West Ham teams in black and white​

LIVERPOOL XI TO FACE WEST HAM: Alisson; Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Jota, Diaz Subs: Jaros, Kelleher, Endo, Szoboszlai, Chiesa, Gakpo, Elliott, Robertson, Quansah

There are four changes to the side beaten at Fulham last week. Alisson has passed concussion protocols and returns in goal. Conor Bradley comes in at right-back, Curtis Jones moves into midfield, while Andy Robertson makes way for Kostas Tsimikas at left back.

WEST HAM XI TO FACE LIVERPOOL: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Mavropanos, Todibo, Scarles; Ward-Prowse, Soler; Paqueta, Bowen, Kudus Subs: Fabianski, Coufal, Fullkrug, Guilherme, Alvarez, Rodriguez, Soucek, Emerson, Ferguson

Graham Potter makes two changes from the West Ham side which started the draw against Bournemouth last Saturday. Konstantinos Mavropanos replaces Edson Alvarez in midfield, while Carlos Soler comes in for Tomas Soucek.

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12:53 PM BST​

The Wolves and Spurs XIs​

Five games unchanged

How we line-up to take on @SpursOfficial.

pic.twitter.com/ZWxY8T4dgO

— Wolves (@Wolves) April 13, 2025

Your Spurs side to face Wolves

@krakenfxpic.twitter.com/4pMfcX4VfV

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 13, 2025

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12:52 PM BST​

The Chelsea and Ipswich XIs​

Our Chelsea! #CFC | #CHEIPSpic.twitter.com/uDlmKZQTjn

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 13, 2025

Your Town for #CHEIPS. pic.twitter.com/kb3KpE6e1a

— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) April 13, 2025

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12:51 PM BST​

The Liverpool and West Ham XIs​

Your Reds this afternoon #LIVWHU

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 13, 2025

Your lineup to take on Liverpool at Anfield ⚒ pic.twitter.com/xXfUpp7wBG

— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 13, 2025

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12:47 PM BST​

Football takes a back seat for an important minute​

Barring a set of results that are extremely unlikely to happen, the title race is already run. Liverpool have won the Premier League, the open-top bus parade is doubtless already being planned, and the trophy cabinet is being rearranged to make room for yet another shiny new prize. So, all in all today’s match against West Ham carries little importance?

Well, no.

Today’s clash at Anfield will once again illustrate that for all the bluster, hype and importance placed on matches, tactical switches, VAR decisions, last-minute defeats and the like, football is just a game (albeit one we love). Today will make Bill Shankly’s famous saying that ‘football isn’t matter of life and death... it’s much more serious than that’ seem at best glib and at worst delusional.

That’s because today Liverpool will pay their respects to the 97 fans who died at the Hillsborough disaster 36 years ago.

And while three points and the Premier League title is firmly still on the mind of Arne Slot, the Dutchman was keen to emphasise that the tragedy that unfolded on April 15, 1989, and the many lives affected by the events of that day, will never be fair away from the thoughts of those at Liverpool Football Club.

“Today we will pay our respects to the men, women and children who died in the Hillsborough disaster ahead of Tuesday’s 36th anniversary,” the Liverpool manager said.

“This is a responsibility that everyone at the club takes extremely seriously and, despite still being relatively new to Liverpool FC, l am very much aware of the toll that the tragedy took on our supporters both in terms of the disaster itself and the injustices that followed.

“We also recognise that there will be many amongst us today who are survivors of Hillsborough or who lost loved ones on that day.

“Again, I want you to know that we will always stand with you and we will never forget the 97 victims who were unlawfully killed.

“Not just this week as we commemorate the anniversary, but every single day. This is our duty to you as representatives of Liverpool Football Club.”

We will bring you all the action and build-up from Anfield and give you the latest news from the other two 2pm kick-offs – Chelsea vs Ipswich and Woves vs Spurs – so please stay here for all the team news and action.

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Liverpool FC will pay its respects to those killed at Hillsborough in 1989 - Getty Images/Justin Setterfield
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