Liverpool finally remembered who they are as Arne Slot’s side brought their misery to a halt with a strong and confident win over a flat West Ham at the London Stadium. On a day wrapped in emotion after the passing of the beloved former Hammers captain and manager Billy Bonds the visitors rose to the occasion and produced the kind of performance their fans have been begging to see.
The big headline arrived just before kick off. Mohamed Salah was dropped from a league starting eleven for the first time since April of last year. A run of 53 games wiped away in one bold move from Slot. The decision raised eyebrows but the response on the pitch justified every ounce of the gamble. Liverpool looked sharper quicker braver and finally alive again.
Florian Wirtz was the one who instantly thrived. The German playmaker floated behind the forwards and set the rhythm with clever pockets of movement and silky touches. With Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister forming a reliable platform Wirtz was given license to roam and West Ham never found an answer.
Alexander Isak certainly will not forget this evening either. The striker who arrived for a jaw dropping £125 million and had yet to score a league goal in red finally broke his drought right on the hour. Cody Gakpo delivered a teasing cross from the left and Isak pounced with a crisp half volley that fizzed past Alphonse Areola. Relief poured out of him and from the travelling fans behind the goal.
West Ham who had offered almost nothing all afternoon saw their hopes crumble completely when Lucas Paqueta produced a moment of pure self destruction. Booked for a foul he immediately talked himself into a second yellow card from referee Darren England and trudged off while David Moyes stared into the distance.
Liverpool pressed home their authority in stoppage time as Gakpo raced through and tucked away a calm finish to seal the points. It was no less than they deserved after a display full of intent organisation and purpose.
Slot also tightened the back line with Joe Gomez at right back which allowed Dominik Szoboszlai to push higher on the right while Gakpo worked the left flank. The balance looked cleaner the structure stronger and the threat far greater than anything seen in recent weeks.
Isak should have scored earlier when Areola denied him from close range and Wirtz also missed a chance to register his first Liverpool goal since his mammoth summer switch from Bayer Leverkusen. Yet the pair were central to everything good about Liverpool here.
After nine defeats in twelve matches this was the night Liverpool finally stepped out of their fog. Confidence has been in short supply but this focused and fearless performance could be the moment that flips their season.