Liverpool halted their alarming slump with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium, a match marked by Alexander Isak finally breaking his Premier League duck for the Reds.
A Much-Needed Victory
After suffering six defeats in their previous seven league outings, any win would have been welcome for Arne Slot's side. This victory, only their second in the league in 71 days, was secured by goals from Alexander Isak on the hour mark and a late clincher from Cody Gakpo in stoppage time.
For long periods, the game was a turgid affair, with the cavernous London Stadium amplifying the lack of quality on show. However, the three points were all that mattered for a Liverpool team desperate to stop the rot.
Tactical Shake-Up Pays Off
The team sheets revealed a major talking point before a ball was even kicked. In response to the team's poor defensive record – having conceded three or more goals in three consecutive games for the first time in 75 years – manager Arne Slot dropped star forward Mohamed Salah.
The shape shifted to a 4-2-3-1, with the industrious Dominik Szoboszlai taking Salah's place on the right flank. This move offered more defensive protection for Joe Gomez, who was making his first league start of the season at right-back despite requiring a knee injection just last week.
Florian Wirtz operated as the central creator, the role he was signed for in his £100m+ move from Bayer Leverkusen. While Wirtz is yet to register a goal or assist in the league, he worked diligently and came close to scoring six minutes before half-time, only to be denied by a fine save from West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Isak's Moment Arrives
The club's record £135m signing, Alexander Isak, was handed his fifth start of the season as Slot persisted with trying to play him into form. The Swedish striker had come close earlier with a spectacular falling volley, again thwarted by Areola.
The breakthrough finally came on the 60-minute mark. After a corner was partially cleared, Wirtz showed composure to find Alexis Mac Allister, whose cutback was fired home first-time by Isak. It was the clinical finish of a top-class player, offering a glimpse of the quality Liverpool invested in.
The home side's task was made even harder when Lucas Paquetá was sent off after picking up two quick yellow cards for dissent. Liverpool sealed the win in added time when Cody Gakpo smartly swivelled to score the second, putting the result beyond doubt.
Looking Ahead
While the performance was far from fluid, the result provides a vital platform for Liverpool. Confidence should now begin to return, and the new signings will have more time to adapt to the manager's preferred system. For West Ham, the performance highlighted their ongoing struggles, leaving them as a distinctly ordinary side despite their mid-table position.
Liverpool will take the points and the clean sheet, but significant improvement is still required if they are to climb the Premier League table consistently.
