Arne Slot’s Liverpool finally halted their alarming run of form on Sunday, securing a vital 2-0 victory away at West Ham United. The win offers a significant confidence boost for the Reds, who arrived at the London Stadium looking to snap a streak of three consecutive losses in all competitions.
Isak Off the Mark
The afternoon belonged to record-signing Alexander Isak, who finally ended his goal drought. The striker, yet to score in the league since his high-profile move from Newcastle United, broke the deadlock in the 60th minute.
Isak converted a precise cutback from Cody Gakpo, providing a moment of immense relief for Britain’s most expensive player and giving Liverpool the advantage.
Late Drama in London
Cody Gakpo capped a stellar performance by adding a goal to his earlier assist. Deep in stoppage time, the Dutch forward struck to double the lead and guarantee the three points.
The goal compounded a miserable finish for the hosts, who had been reduced to ten men moments earlier when Lucas Paqueta was shown a red card for dissent.
Slot Explains Salah Omission
Despite the win, post-match questions centered on Arne Slot’s decision to bench Mohamed Salah. The manager was quick to dismiss concerns over form, attributing the decision entirely to squad management during a congested fixture list.
Slot highlighted that with players like Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Isak competing for spots, rotation is necessary. He stressed that Salah remains a “special player” for the club but noted the physical toll of the current schedule.
“Four games in 10 days with only 14 to 15 outfield players available for us, then you have to decide once in a while to make a certain line-up,” Slot stated. “You try to pick the best line-up for every single game.”
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