Mohamed Salah jokingly put pressure on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk to join him in signing a new contract with the club, having further underlined his importance to the team on Sunday.

Van Dijk scored Liverpool’s late winner against West Ham United at Anfield, bringing the Premier League title another step closer – the Reds need just two more victories from six remaining games to secure only a second such triumph in 35 years.

During the 89th-minute celebrations, Van Dijk was seen kissing the Liverpool badge.

Following months of speculation about his uncertain future and numerous public comments fuelling it, Salah signed a new two-year contract last week. Van Dijk is still on course to become a free agent at the end of the season, although there is an expectation he will also pen fresh Liverpool terms.

Salah is likely already well aware what will happen and poked fun at his colleague in front of the Sky Sports cameras after the West Ham game was over.

“I am glad that we managed to do that early, before the end of the season and hopefully Virgil will also be next,” he said with a knowing smile. “I’m just saying hopefully! Look he can do whatever he wants but I would love to see him here again next year.”

The comments prompted a laugh from Van Dijk, who was stood beside him as he spoke.

Liverpool started this season with three of the squad’s most important players – Salah, Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold – entering the final year of their respective contracts. But it very much looks as though only Alexander-Arnold will actually walk through the open door.

The right-back is at a very different stage of his career to Salah and Van Dijk, either of whom could feasibly retire once they reach the end of these next deals in 2027. Alexander-Arnold, widely expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, is only 26 and eyeing a new challenge to further his own personal ambitions while still having his peak years ahead of him.