The captain scored a late winner against West Ham but the expected announcement of his new contract could have even greater significance

For over an hour, he was shaping up as the match-winner. Instead, Van Dijk was. “A big relief,” sighed Slot. Liverpool’s corners had been unimpressive, both over the afternoon and much of the campaign. But he was able to add: “We saved a big set-piece for a very important moment.”

Virgil van Dijk has opened up on his on-field bust-up with Andy Robertson during victory over West Ham at the weekend.