Sadio Mane’s late second-half strike helped Liverpool overcome West Ham.

The Premier League leaders broke the deadlock in the 10th minute of the game when Gini Wijnaldum rose to meet a Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery.

But the lead proved short-lived as the visitors struck back three minutes later as Issa Diop beat Joe Gomez to head home a Robert Snodgrass corner.

After the break, the Hammers stunned Anfield when substitute Pablo Fornals converted a Declan Rice cross to give David Moyes’ side hopes of a rare win.

However Mohamed Salah pulled the Reds level when his low effort squirmed through the legs of Lukasz Fabianski to draw the hosts level on 69 minutes.

Mane clinched a record-equalling victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side after turning the ball in from Alexander-Arnold’s hooked ball over an advancing Fabianski.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Anfield again leads the way

 

History is coming full-circle for Liverpool in more ways than one this season.

The Premier League’s champions-elect continue to close in on a first title since 1990, but they are not simply leading from the front; they are redefining it.

Jurgen Klopp’s side had to work hard to maintain their remarkable unbeaten record as a doomed West Ham refused to wave through their title procession.

Nothing worth having, however, is meant to come easily.

Four more victories will end a 30-year domestic drought yet the Reds’ continued success is promising to set a new standard in the English top flight.

Their 21st consecutive home victory is a new record for the Premier League while an 18th straight win equalled the feat of Manchester City’s ‘Centurions’.

A further six without defeat is set to see Arsenal’s 49-game haul decimated.

Often it was claimed where Anfield led, others had no choice but to follow. Liverpool’s rivals had best get used to dancing to this particular tune again.

TAA ready to outshine KDB

 

A normal lad from Liverpool continues to make countless dreams come true.

Unless your name is Kevin de Bruyne.

City’s playmaker extraordinaire lost further ground for the Premier League’s most assists as Trent Alexander-Arnold racked up another two in this game.

The England international has already recorded 12 in the league, just four away from a player who is still seven years older than him, this season alone.

Taking into account the previous campaign, that tally would be double; six clear of both De Bruyne and his Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson.

Fans continue to hail the West Derby-born defender as ‘a Scouser in our team’, but he is far more to Klopp’s side than just a beating local heart.

The Liverpool manager has fashioned a team that is a genuine force of nature, with Alexander-Arnold its havoc-wreaking tornado in attack.

Keita fluffs his lines again

 

Midfielders taking time to bed into life at Anfield is par for the course.

But Naby Keita cannot ride that wave of goodwill for much longer, particularly after fluffing his lines when handed a rare starting spot against the Hammers.

Neatly exchanging passes with Mohamed Salah in the build-up to Gini Wijnaldum’s opener provided early glimpses of promise but little else.

Unlike Fabinho, his direct competitor for the holding position, the Guinean enforcer has often appeared far too ponderous in his overall approach.

A difficult evening against David Moyes’ relegation strugglers dictated that Liverpool needed players capable of adding a spark to proceedings.

Keita remains a frustratingly slow burner and the stark contrast with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, his second-half replacement, was most telling of all.

With Jordan Henderson and James Milner sidelined by injuries, it was the perfect opportunity for him to shift that current unflattering perceptions.

Instead, he merely reaffirmed them and highlighted why he remains no higher up the pecking order after more than 18 months on Merseyside.

Gomez feels the heat

 

Rarely has Joe Gomez put a foot wrong in Liverpool’s defence this season.

The versatile centre-back’s partnership with Virgil van Dijk remains a cornerstone of the runaway leaders’ continued march to the title.

But even Gomez is prone to rare off-days as West Ham’s visit proved.

On a bracingly cold evening, the former Charlton man felt the heat with Michail Antonio causing problems for him throughout this game.

He also lost both men when the visitors scored in each half, with Issa Diop getting the better of him to comfortably head home from a corner.

Still only 22, mistakes at this stage of Gomez’s career come with the territory. Make no mistake, though, this game was an exception rather than the rule.