Liverpool’s record signing Alexander Isak scored his first Premier League goal for the Reds as the under-pressure champions snapped a woeful run of form with a win at West Ham United.
Liverpool had endured their worst spell in over 70 years, losing nine of their previous 12 games.
Manager Arne Slot took drastic measures, leaving Mohamed Salah out of his starting line-up for the first time in the Premier League.
Salah’s replacement, Florian Wirtz, looked sharp, though he squandered Liverpool’s best chance of the first half with his tame effort from close range allowing Alphonse Areola to save.
Isak, who had looked short of form and fitness, spurned two opportunities before the break, drawing a fine reaction stop from Areola midway through the half.
But the Sweden striker slotted home a Cody Gakpo pull-back on the hour mark to give the Reds the lead they marginally deserved and rarely looked like giving up.
Liverpool’s cause was helped by Lucas Paqueta.
Paqueta was bizarrely booked twice for dissent within 60 seconds with less than 10 minutes to play, before Gakpo added a second in the 92nd minute to seal the three points.
Liverpool’s victory, only their second in eight league games, moved them up to eighth with 21 points from 13 matches, while West Ham are 17th with 11 points, level with 18th-placed Leeds United.
West Ham, whose players and fans paid tribute to former captain, coach and manager, Billy Bonds, who died aged 79 on Sunday, came into the match after back-to-back home victories and had seemingly turned the corner.
But Liverpool ultimately had too much quality and, crucially for Slot, managed to keep their fifth clean sheet of the season after shipping 10 goals in their last three games.
Isak could have put Liverpool in front inside four minutes but spooned his effort well over the bar, with his protracted move from Newcastle United still seemingly affecting him.
West Ham looked sharper after the break, with Paqueta sending an audacious half-volley from 30 yards narrowly wide as the home fans believed Liverpool were there for the taking.
In the 60th minute, however, Isak was left unmarked in the box as Liverpool recycled possession from a throw-in and the striker coolly side-footed into the bottom corner.
Paqueta saw red in the 83rd minute to make West Ham’s task all the harder before Gakpo sent the home fans streaming for the exits with a clinical finish.
Source: Reuters/NAN
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