Alexander Isak finally appeared to be in good form as Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over West Ham in the Premier League.
The Swedish forward had previously managed just one goal in the Carabao Cup after his £125 million ($165.6 million) transfer from Newcastle.
A spectacular strike in the second half, combined with a stoppage-time goal from Kodi Gakpo, gave the champions Liverpool—who had struggled with nine losses in their last 12 competitive matches—a much-needed win.
West Ham, as is often the case, helped Liverpool’s cause, especially with Lucas Paqueta receiving a foolish red card.
The Brazilian was dismissed by referee Darren England after a second yellow card.
Faced with mounting pressure, Reds manager Arne Slott made a bold decision to drop Mohamed Salah in favor of Isak.
This was a significant move, given that Salah hasn’t been in the Premier League starting XI since a tumultuous game against West Ham in April 2024, where he had a clash with manager Jurgen Klopp.
This time, however, there was no improvement, and Slott substituted Isak for Hugo Ekitike immediately after the goal.
It was an emotionally charged afternoon at the London Stadium as former West Ham captain and manager honored West Ham legend Billy Bonds, who recently passed away at the age of 79.
Following a moment of applause, current captain Jarrod Bowen emotionally laid Bonds’ No. 4 jersey in front of his commemorative stand.
Isak had the clearest chance of the first half but made no notable errors.
Gakpo connected with a cross from Joe Gomez, and Isak’s attempt was saved by Alphonse Areola from close range.
Florian Wirtz, yet to find the net since his summer transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, also missed an opportunity to score a header from Gakpo just before halftime, with his effort going too close to Areola.
The breakthrough for Liverpool came an hour in when Wirtz assisted Gakpo on the left flank of West Ham’s penalty area.
Gakpo delivered a cut-back from the byline, and Isak calmly slotted it in from 12 yards.
He was soon replaced by Ekitike, who nearly scored with a curling shot that drifted wide of Areola’s far post.
West Ham, despite Paqueta’s reckless red card, nearly equalized late on when Bowen’s attempt went just wide.
In stoppage time, Areola misjudged a play, allowing Gomez to set up Gakpo, who sealed the win for the visitors.
The importance of this match extends beyond the scoreline; it signifies Liverpool’s potential resurgence in a season marred by inconsistency. For soccer fans, this victory is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sport and the excitement it brings as teams strive for redemption and glory.
