Liverpool handed second boost ahead of West Ham as Fabrizio Romano teases 'official statement'

West Ham make the trip up to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon to take on the Premier League Champions elect with the hosts set to be in jubilant mood following a big week of positive news on Merseyside.

The Hammers take on Arne Slot’s side for the third time this season, having already lost 5-1 at Anfield in the Carabao Cup in September, and Graham Potter is looking to build on a point against AFC Bournemouth at the London Stadium last time out. West Ham will go into the match as the underdogs given Liverpool’s strong league position, and the hosts will also be spurred on by contract news this week.

Liverpool confirmed on Friday that star man Mohamed Salah had signed a new contract with the club which will keep him at Anfield past the 2024/25 season. The Egyptian put pen to paper on a new two year deal, which will go a long way to quieting transfer links with Saudi Arabian sides.

Liverpool boosted by contract breakthroughs ahead of West Ham

Al Ittihad were reported to have bid a staggering £150 million for Salah in September 2023 but that was rejected by Liverpool. The forward has scored 243 goals and picked up 111 assists in 394 appearances for the club.

All eyes will be on Salah this weekend, who has 13 goals in 17 outings against the Hammers, at what will be an Anfield crowd in a celebratory mood. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has now teased an imminent announcement of another big contract deal for Liverpool as the West Ham match edges ever closer.

Taking to social media platform X on Saturday morning, Romano wrote: “All details of Virgil van Dijk’s new deal are agreed and documents have been approved by lawyers. Next step: official statement.”

Van Dijk’s contract is also set to expire this summer but his seven year stay on Merseyside will be extended into the future. The Netherlands international has played 313 times for Liverpool.

Graham Potter relishing Liverpool test for West Ham

Speaking about Salah ahead of the Liverpool game, West Ham boss Potter said: “He’s a fantastic player, who’s always a threat in the game. You always have to be on your guard against him, and it’s (his new contract) good news for him and Liverpool, so congratulations to them. It’s great for the Premier League, in terms of it’s another fantastic player who’s going to stay here entertaining people.”

On the Liverpool test in general, Potter added: “They lost their last game, but they won their previous four in the Premier League. They also got knocked out [of the UEFA Champions League] by Paris Saint-Germain, which is no disgrace at all because they’re an absolutely fantastic team.

“Liverpool have had a fantastic season, and big congratulations to Arne Slot. Of course, they still have work to do, but they’ve had a great season and are rightly at the top of the league, so we understand the challenges that await us.

“We have to go and be the best versions of ourselves to give ourselves any chance. We know recent results at Anfield haven’t been good, but we have to adjust and make sure that fragility isn’t there. If we do that, we will be competitive, which is the most important thing. Then it’s about whether we can play well, and ultimately pick up points.”

In other news, West Ham are to 'begin' groundwork on a £5.1m defender as £40m striker seen as ideal replacement.