Alexander Isak finally opened his Premier League account for Liverpool as the champions produced a composed 2-0 win over West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday.
The Swedish forward, who had threatened throughout the first half, struck just after the hour mark, finishing off a slick move involving Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo. It was a moment Liverpool desperately needed after a run of poor away results and a mounting pressure on Arne Slot.
Before the breakthrough, Liverpool had dominated possession but wasted several openings ; Isak going close twice, while Wirtz saw a clear chance smothered by Alphonse Areola.
West Ham responded strongly and enjoyed their best spell just before the opener, with Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquetá testing Liverpool’s defensive shape. But their hopes collapsed in the 84th minute when Paquetá, already on a yellow, lost his discipline and talked himself into a red card after repeatedly confronting the referee.
With the Hammers down to ten, Liverpool sealed the points in stoppage time. Joe Gomez’s precise cross found Gakpo, who chested the ball down and smashed it past Areola to secure a much-needed away victory.
The result lifts Liverpool to eighth ; just two points off the Champions League places ending a three-game losing streak and easing the tension around Slot. West Ham, meanwhile, slip to 17th and remain dangerously close to the relegation zone.
