Liverpool ended a historic run of poor form with a commanding 2-0 victory over West Ham United on Sunday, as head coach Arne Slot’s decision to drop Mohamed Salah was vindicated by goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo.
On an afternoon of raw emotion at the London Stadium following the passing of West Ham legend Billy Bonds, the Reds arrested a slide of nine defeats in 12 games—their worst sequence since 1954. Slot made the bold call to omit Salah from a Premier League starting XI for the first time since April 2024, ending a streak of 53 consecutive starts dating back to the Jurgen Klopp era.
The gamble paid dividends as Liverpool produced a fluid, energetic display. Club-record signing Alexander Isak broke the deadlock on the hour mark, volleying home his first Premier League goal since his £125m move from Newcastle United. Cody Gakpo, who provided the assist for the opener, added a second in stoppage time to move the Reds up to eighth in the table, three points outside the top four.
Slot’s Selection Reshuffle
Facing mounting scrutiny, Slot reshaped his attack, deploying Isak centrally with Gakpo on the left and Dominik Szoboszlai on the right. The changes allowed summer arrival Florian Wirtz to flourish in a central playmaking role. The £116m signing from Bayer Leverkusen dictated the tempo, linking effectively with a midfield anchored by Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister.
Isak, who had previously scored only in the Carabao Cup, looked revitalised. After seeing a close-range hook shot saved by Alphonse Areola, the Swede made no mistake with a clinical half-volley from Gakpo’s cross.
West Ham’s misery was compounded six minutes from time when Lucas Paqueta was sent off. The Brazilian midfielder received two yellow cards in quick succession for dissent after arguing with referee Darren England. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side offered little resistance, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker largely untroubled as the Hammers remain precariously close to the relegation zone on 11 points.
A Sombre Occasion
The match was played in a subdued atmosphere as West Ham paid tribute to Billy Bonds, the club’s former captain and manager, whose death was announced prior to kick-off. Bonds, a symbol of the club’s spirit who had a stand named in his honour in 2019, was remembered with a minute’s silence.
However, the hosts failed to channel the emotion of the day into their performance. While Jarrod Bowen fired a late chance wide, West Ham were outplayed by a Liverpool side that looked defensively more robust, aided by the return of Joe Gomez at right-back for his first league start in 11 months.
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