Sadio Mane’s goal nine minutes from the end ensured Liverpool equalled the English league record of 18 successive wins as the league leaders survived a scare to beat West Ham at Anfield on Monday.

The hard-fought 3-2 win brings the Reds to within four wins of the Premier League title as the equalled the record for successive wins set by Manchester City from August to December 2017.

Jurgen Klopp’s side last dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in October and have West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski’s howler to thank for notching up their 26th win of the season.

Gini Wijnaldum put Liverpool ahead from a header that Fabianski should have done better with but David Moyes’ side showed great character to hit back through Issa Diop’s header, which should also have been kept out by Alisson.

Hammers substitute Pablo Fornals then swept West Ham into the lead nine minutes after the break leaving Liverpool with the prospect of a first defeat in 27 games.

But Fabianski who had a nightmare at Anfield let Liverpool in again when he inexplicably allowed Mo Salah’s shot to squirm through his legs in the 68th minute.

From then on, a Liverpool winner seemed inevitable as the Reds piled on the pressure and they got their reward with nine minutes left on the clock when Sadio Mane turned in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s lofted cross.

Liverpool have restored their 22-point lead at the top and a first league title in 30 years is only a matter of time while West Ham are left in the bottom three.