Isak Finally Scores as Liverpool Beat West Ham 2-0
Arne Slot hugged Alexander Isak on the touchline while Liverpool fans sang his name. The Swedish striker sat down on the bench looking relieved. After weeks of pressure and criticism, he finally scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool.
His second-half finish helped Liverpool grab a huge 2-0 win at West Ham. The champions move up to eighth place, and even though the club expected much more from their £125 million signing, this moment could be the start of a turnaround.
When the schedule came out back in June, nobody thought a November trip to West Ham would feel like a must-win game. But Liverpool arrived in London with nine losses in their previous twelve matches. Another defeat could have put Arne Slot’s job in real danger.
Despite a 4-1 humiliation against PSV in midweek, the board still supported Slot. They accepted that the team needed time after a huge summer rebuild that cost over £450 million. But patience wouldn’t last forever. Slot needed a result.
Maybe that’s why he made four changes, including dropping Mohamed Salah. The decision paid off. Two of the starters he brought in — Isak and Florian Wirtz — combined for the opening goal, and both played key roles in the win.
Wirtz Shows His Quality at Last
Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for £100 million and was described as one of Europe’s top young players. But he had struggled with the physical side of the Premier League. Against West Ham, he finally looked like the star Liverpool paid for.
His clever pass to Cody Gakpo created the chance, and Isak reacted quickly to score. Slot praised him after the match, saying Wirtz was a big part of Liverpool’s improved team performance.
Gomez Returns and Helps Seal the Win
Joe Gomez also made his first league start in almost a year. Injuries to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong forced Slot to use him at right back. Gomez delivered — strong in defence, confident going forward, and he assisted Gakpo’s late goal for 2-0.
Liverpool will hope he stays fit, because the team badly needs stability at the back.
Isak’s Big Moment
Isak has had a rough start: fitness problems, limited minutes, and the pressure of a record transfer fee. Before this game, his only Liverpool goal was in the Carabao Cup in September.
His finish against West Ham wasn’t perfect, but it was important. Slot said it was unfair to judge him only on goals since he hasn’t played many full games. The manager added that Isak had about ten minutes of energy left, so scoring before being subbed off meant a lot.
Liverpool now face Sunderland and Leeds next. They are still far from their best, but with only three points separating them from fourth-place Aston Villa, the season isn’t lost yet.
Slot admitted last week he hadn’t been sleeping well during the team’s bad run. He probably still won’t sleep much in the coming weeks — but after beating West Ham, he can finally breathe a little easier.
