Liverpool earned a crucial 2–0 victory over West Ham on Sunday, with long-awaited standout performances from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz lifting the Reds just when they needed it most. In a surprising call, Mohamed Salah remained on the bench for the entire match, as Isak netted his first Premier League goal since his high-profile arrival, while Wirtz orchestrated Liverpool’s attack with maturity and quality.
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Both sides entered the contest lacking momentum, and the opening passages reflected their inconsistent form. West Ham, drilled by Nuno Espirito Santo to sit deep and pounce on turnovers, spent the majority of the first half pinned in their own half. Liverpool saw plenty of the ball but lacked an incisive edge in the final third, failing to convert possession into genuinely dangerous chances.
Alphonse Areola was called upon twice—first to palm away an acrobatic effort from Isak, and later to intercept a driven cross from Joe Gomez—yet the Hammers goalkeeper was rarely stretched beyond that. Liverpool’s attacking play was technically clean but short on urgency, with the final pass often missing.
Wirtz, however, looked the most threatening figure in red from the opening whistle. His clever movement and one-touch combinations set him apart, and early in the second half he delivered the game’s decisive moment. Picking up possession centrally, the 21-year-old drifted inside onto his left foot, then slid a delightful outside-of-the-boot pass between three West Ham defenders. The ball landed perfectly for Cody Gakpo, who calmly squared for Isak to sweep a first-time effort into the far corner—a composed finish that ended the striker’s frustrating 381-minute league drought.
From that point on, Liverpool dictated the flow of the match with confidence. They retained possession, hunted aggressively off the ball, and limited West Ham to hopeful counters that never fully materialised. With Salah still watching from the bench, Slot’s side continued to control territory and rhythm without ever appearing in danger of surrendering the lead.
West Ham’s hopes of mounting a late push were extinguished when Lucas Paquetá produced a reckless moment, earning himself a senseless red card. Down to ten men, the hosts lost any lingering momentum, allowing Liverpool to tighten their grip on the contest.
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Deep into stoppage time, the Reds struck again. Gomez, who had been sharp all evening, surged forward and delivered a low ball into the area. Gakpo anticipated it brilliantly, stepping inside his marker before drilling a precise finish into the bottom corner to secure the victory.
Goalkeeper & Defence
Alisson Becker (6/10)
A quiet afternoon for the Brazilian, who handled the few routine tasks that came his way and walked away with a deserved clean sheet.
Joe Gomez (7/10)
Starting on the right of the defence, Gomez impressed with his forward surges and distribution. His energy down the flank contributed directly to the second goal.
Ibrahima Konaté (6/10)
Stayed composed and avoided the costly errors that had plagued him recently. A steady, uncomplicated outing.
Virgil van Dijk (6/10)
Commanding in the air and calm on the deck, the captain helped secure the back line as West Ham faded.
Milos Kerkez (6/10)
Still finding top form after arriving from Bournemouth, but delivered a disciplined and dependable display.
Midfield
Ryan Gravenberch (7/10)
Provided a stable base in midfield, recycling possession and keeping Liverpool in control for long stretches.
Alexis Mac Allister (7/10)
Dictated tempo and provided calmness in central areas, contributing to Liverpool’s dominance of the ball.
Attack
Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10)
Covered huge distances as always. Linked well with Gomez and constantly pressed West Ham’s full-backs.
Florian Wirtz (8/10)
His most convincing display in a Liverpool shirt. Created the opening goal with a moment of brilliance and influenced every second-half attack.
Cody Gakpo (8/10)
Worked tirelessly and supplied the key assist for Isak before sealing the game with a composed late finish.
Alexander Isak (7/10)
Missed chances early on but finally found his scoring touch with a clinical strike that gave Liverpool lift-off.
Subs & Manager
Hugo Ekitike (5/10)
Entered for Isak but never truly stretched the West Ham defence.
Curtis Jones (6/10)
Made a brief cameo and helped Liverpool maintain control in midfield.
Andy Robertson (N/A)
Came on late to help see out the match.
Arne Slot (6/10)
His choice to keep Salah sidelined was a major talking point, yet the team justified it with a composed, professional victory.
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