Isak and Wirtz Click as Liverpool End Slump – Is the Title Charge Back On?

Liverpool breathed life back into their season with a much-needed 2–0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium, ending a miserable run of nine defeats in 12 games and hinting that Arne Slot’s side might finally be rediscovering their rhythm.

It was a night of relief and reassurance for the Reds — and perhaps a turning point for Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, two of the club’s marquee signings who have struggled to find their spark in recent weeks. Both delivered the kind of performances Liverpool have been crying out for, combining class, energy, and precision to lift Slot’s men to their first league win in over a month.

The evening began on an emotional note as the stadium paid tribute to the late Billy Bonds, the legendary former West Ham captain and manager whose passing at the age of 79 was announced earlier in the day. Yet once the game began, Liverpool quickly took control of proceedings, dictating tempo and territory with a composure that’s been absent in their recent slide.

Salah Dropped, Shape Restored

In a bold but telling move, Arne Slot dropped Mohamed Salah from his Premier League starting XI for the first time since April 2024 — also away at West Ham, under Jürgen Klopp. The decision, brave as it was, seemed to re-energise Liverpool’s attack.

Slot reshuffled his front line, with Isak leading the line, Dominik Szoboszlai deployed wide right, and Cody Gakpo operating from the left. That setup gave Florian Wirtz the freedom to drift between the lines — and it worked to perfection. The German playmaker was the heartbeat of Liverpool’s performance, knitting moves together, pressing intelligently, and linking midfield to attack with confidence and clarity.

Behind him, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister provided balance and control, while Joe Gomez, making his first league start in nearly a year, brought stability at right-back, allowing Szoboszlai to attack without fear of exposure.

Isak Breaks His Drought

Liverpool’s dominance was total — West Ham offered little resistance — but the breakthrough came only after the hour. Cody Gakpo’s clever cross found Isak, who adjusted superbly to strike a crisp half-volley beyond Alphonse Areola. It was Isak’s first Premier League goal for Liverpool since his record £125 million move from Newcastle United, ending a 310-minute league drought and releasing weeks of frustration in one emphatic moment.

The Swede’s finish was his sixth in seven league appearances against the Hammers — a record that will delight Slot, but more importantly, it was a finish that carried composure and conviction. For a player whose confidence had been under scrutiny, this was a timely reminder of his quality.

Wirtz Runs the Show

Wirtz might not have scored, but he was central to everything Liverpool did well. He created three big chances, completed more passes in the final third than any other player, and constantly found pockets of space between West Ham’s disjointed lines. His interplay with Isak and Gakpo offered a glimpse of what Slot’s attacking blueprint could look like once fully realised.

When Lucas Paquetá lost his composure late on — earning two yellow cards in quick succession for dissent — the contest was effectively over. Gakpo then capped Liverpool’s best performance in weeks with a stoppage-time strike, finishing neatly after another smart breakaway.

Slot’s Selection Pays Off

For Slot, this was a vindicating night. His decision to rest Salah and reconfigure Liverpool’s shape was both tactical and psychological — a statement that nobody is undroppable, and that the system must come before sentiment. Liverpool’s press was sharper, their build-up calmer, and their body language notably improved.

Defensively, too, they were solid. Alisson was rarely troubled, and Van Dijk marshalled the backline with assurance. The clean sheet — just their second in seven league games — will be almost as satisfying as the result.

The Bigger Picture

Liverpool’s win moves them up to eighth, just nine points off the top, and — crucially — three from the Champions League spots. It’s far from a title charge yet, but momentum is everything in football, and this felt like the first step back towards belief.

For Isak and Wirtz, the night could prove pivotal. The club’s two record signings have taken time to settle under Slot, but their chemistry here was clear — Wirtz finding space, Isak finishing with authority. It was the kind of partnership Liverpool envisioned when they spent nearly £250 million assembling it.

West Ham, subdued on an emotional evening, barely laid a glove on the visitors. Their late flurry, including a half-chance for Jarrod Bowen, came to nothing, and the second goal flattened any sense of resistance.

For Liverpool, though, this felt like more than three points. After weeks of stagnation, they finally found fluency and purpose. Whether this marks the beginning of a sustained revival remains to be seen — but with Isak scoring, Wirtz shining, and Slot’s decisions paying off, the belief that Liverpool’s season can still turn around is very much alive.

Player of the Match: Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)
Key Stats:

• Possession: Liverpool 62% – West Ham 38%
• Shots: Liverpool 15 – West Ham 6
• xG: Liverpool 1.94 – West Ham 0.42
• Fouls: West Ham 11 (Paquetá sent off 84’)
• Goals: Isak (60’), Gakpo (90+2’)