Slot's Bold Selection Rewarded as Liverpool Halt Slide
Liverpool manager Arne Slot oversaw a desperately needed 2-0 victory away at West Ham United, a result punctuated by a major team selection call and a long-awaited moment for a club-record signing.
The Reds, reeling from a dismal run of nine defeats in their last 12 matches across all competitions, secured all three points at the London Stadium thanks to a second-half strike from Alexander Isak and a stoppage-time goal from Cody Gakpo.
Isak's Pivotal Moment Arrives
The breakthrough came from the boot of Swedish international Isak, who finally opened his Premier League account for Liverpool following his £125 million summer transfer from Newcastle United. Prior to this match, the striker had only managed a single goal in the Carabao Cup.
Slot hailed the goal as a critical moment for both the player and the team. “It’s very important for us as a team that we went 1-0 up, but I think it was also important for him,” the Dutch coach stated. He noted that Isak had several chances in the game and scored just before he was due to be substituted, marking a significant personal milestone.
Salah Omission Explained
The most dramatic pre-match news was Slot's decision to drop star forward Mohamed Salah to the bench. This marked the first time the Egyptian had been left out of a Premier League starting line-up since April 2024, which was also in a match at West Ham.
On that previous occasion, Salah was involved in a public touchline argument with then-manager Jurgen Klopp. This time, he remained an unused substitute as Slot brought on Hugo Ekitike to replace the goalscorer Isak.
Slot was quick to affirm Salah's status, saying, “Mo has had an unbelievable career here at this club and will have a very good future at this club because he’s such a special player.” He explained the decision was a necessary rotation, citing four games in 10 days with a limited squad.
West Ham's afternoon was further complicated by a red card for Lucas Paqueta, who was dismissed after receiving two yellow cards for dissent in quick succession directed at referee Darren England.
The defeat for West Ham came on a sombre day for the club, following the announcement of the death of their legendary former player, Billy Bonds. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo expressed his disappointment that the team could not secure a result to honour Bonds's memory.
For Liverpool and Arne Slot, however, this victory provides a vital boost and a potential turning point after a period of intense pressure.
