Isak’s first Premier League goal against West Ham fires Liverpool back | OneFootball

Liverpool finally returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over West Ham United that ended their damaging slump and delivered the breakthrough Alexander Isak had been waiting for since his record move.

The match drifted through long stretches without incident, yet Liverpool will feel no concern about the lack of spectacle after securing their first league win in almost a month.

Arne Slot’s side had arrived in London with six defeats in their last seven Premier League games and with pressure mounting, but they produced a more stable performance that slowly wore West Ham down.

Isak started again as Slot continued to back him despite his difficult introduction to the club, and the forward showed early signs of hunger even as chances were scarce in a slow first half.

Alphonse Areola denied him with a sharp block midway through the opening period, and Liverpool otherwise found it difficult to generate clear openings against a disciplined West Ham shape.

Liverpool looked more balanced without Mohamed Salah in the starting lineup, with Dominik Szoboszlai providing greater defensive cover on the right and allowing Joe Gomez to settle on his first league start of the season.

Florian Wirtz operated centrally and linked play neatly even though his final actions continued to elude him, and a sliced save from Areola denied him just before the break.

The contest shifted on the hour when a corner was half cleared and Liverpool recycled the ball calmly before Alexis Mac Allister cut a pass back into the area.

Isak met it first time and drove a composed finish beyond Areola to claim his first Premier League goal for Liverpool and lift the tension that had followed him for weeks.

The goal forced West Ham to chase the game and their task became harder when Lucas Paqueta was sent off for two quick bookings for dissent after disputing an earlier foul.

Liverpool controlled the closing stages with greater authority and avoided the late lapses that have cost them so often this season.

Gakpo added the second deep into stoppage time when he collected a loose ball on the edge of the box and smashed a half-volley past Areola to secure the result.

The win brought an end to Liverpool’s slide and offered the clearest sign yet that their attacking structure is beginning to settle under Slot.

It also provided a badly needed lift for Isak, who now hopes his first league goal will spark the momentum that has eluded him so far.

For Liverpool, the performance was far from fluent, but the outcome mattered far more than the aesthetics after such a damaging run.