Alexander Isak’s protracted wait for his first Liverpool league goal finally ended at the London Stadium, providing the catalyst for a 2-0 victory that halted the club’s alarming decline. The Swedish striker, who joined in a British record transfer from Newcastle amid considerable acrimony, had endured a difficult adaptation period that mirrored his team’s broader struggles. His composed first-time finish on the hour mark will hopefully mark a turning point for both player and club.
Liverpool arrived in East London having lost six of their previous seven league matches, a run of form utterly unacceptable for a club of their ambitions. Manager Arne Slot faced mounting pressure to arrest the slide, leading to significant tactical changes for this fixture. Most notably, Mohamed Salah was relegated to the bench, a decision that reflected the team’s defensive vulnerabilities rather than any perceived decline in the Egyptian’s individual quality.
The match itself offered little entertainment value, particularly during a tedious first half where genuine goalscoring opportunities proved scarce. The expansive London Stadium seemed to magnify the mediocrity, with the sparse action allowing ambient noise from passing aircraft to be clearly audible. For West Ham, currently enduring their own struggles, this represented yet another disappointing home performance despite a recent minor upturn in results.
Isak had shown glimpses of his quality earlier in the match, producing a spectacular falling volley that West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola superbly saved. When the goal finally arrived, it came from patient build-up play. Florian Wirtz refused to rush his decision after a corner was partially cleared, instead finding Gakpo whose cutback was perfect for Isak’s clinical finish. The relief was palpable.
The hosts’ task became significantly more difficult when Lucas Paquetá received two bookings for dissent in rapid succession, reducing them to ten men. Cody Gakpo capitalized late on with a well-taken second goal, but Liverpool’s performance overall suggested significant work remains. The new 4-2-3-1 formation provides better defensive structure, yet the attacking fluency is still developing. At least Liverpool are winning again, however ungainly the process.