Alexander Isak scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool since his record £125 million move from Newcastle United, and Arne Slot’s team secured a much-needed victory over West Ham United.
On a day of great emotion following the death of iconic former Hammers captain and manager Billy Bonds, the Reds stopped a dreadful run of nine defeats in 12 games—their worst since 1954—with a well-earned victory.
Head coach Slot pulled Mohamed Salah from a league starting lineup for the first time since April 2024, also at West Ham (a 53-game streak) under his predecessor Jurgen Klopp, and was rewarded with a much-improved performance.
Liverpool dominated a sluggish West Ham, with Florian Wirtz dominating behind the forwards, before Isak ended his personal woes with a beautiful half-volley from Cody Gakpo’s cross on the hour mark.
The home squad’s agony was compounded six minutes from time when referee Darren England awarded Lucas Paqueta two yellow cards for dissent in short succession for protesting over a foul call against his team.
Liverpool then added a second goal to cement their lead when Gakpo finished effectively in stoppage time, propelling them to eighth place in the table, three points behind the top four.
Liverpool head coach Slot responded to mounting concerns about Salah’s poor form by removing the Egyptian and reshaping his attacking options.
Isak started as a striker instead of Hugo Ekitike, while Dominik Szoboszlai played on the right and Gakpo on the left.
It enabled German playmaker Wirtz to have one of his best games for Liverpool since his summer arrival, integrating play and intelligence between attack and midfield while Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis MacAllister supplied a solid foundation.
Slot also strengthened his defense by starting Joe Gomez at right-back for the first time in 11 months, allowing Szoboszlai to exert his impact further forward.
Swedish forward Isak, whose only other Liverpool goal this season came in a Carabao Cup game against Southampton in September, had chances before his instinctive finish, with Alphonse Areola saving a close-range hooked shot.
But the relief was palpable as he scored his sixth goal in seven league games against the Hammers.
Wirtz was also denied his first goal since his £116 million move from Bayer Leverkusen, a feeble low finish stopped by Areola after being set up by Gakpo.
Liverpool appeared more structured and composed in this shape, with greater menace farther forward, and this is the type of performance and outcome that will boost confidence, particularly that of Isak and Wirtz following past poor performances.
