Alexander Isak finally ends goal drought in Liverpool win vs West Hameuro

West Ham 0-2 Liverpool 

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The relief on his face was palpable and his jubilant celebration spoke volumes. Three months after completing his €145million transfer from Newcastle United, Alexander Isak finally has his first Premier League goal for Liverpool. He was made to wait for it after injury halted his momentum several weeks after scoring in the Carabao Cup against Southampton. But maybe, just maybe, this moment could be a turning point for the striker and his new club following a disastrous opening to their respective campaigns.

Arne Slot made some bold decisions for the game, dropping Mohamed Salah to the bench and throwing Florian Wirtz back into the starting XI despite his recent absence with injury. But the Dutchman couldn’t afford to wait any longer for his signings to start clicking, with six defeats from their last seven. Another loss in east London and the scrutiny on Slot’s future would’ve grown even more intense. Fortunately, one of his summer signings delivered just when he needed them most.

Some questioned if Liverpool even had room for Isak in the summer after signing Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké. But they certainly needed him at the London Stadium. The game was deadlocked at 0-0, with neither side taking the initiative to try and go for the winner. But cometh the hour, cometh the man. Without a goal in his first five Premier League games, with a few missed through a lack of fitness and little niggles, Isak was looking for something, anything, to kickstart his Anfield career.

But when you consider the casual manner in which he caressed the ball into the corner from Cody Gakpo’s cross, it didn’t tell the story of a striker desperate for a goal. It was indicative of the Swede’s belief that he would find the net once again, and of course, he was right. When he left the pitch in the 68th minute, the Reds star shared a brief embrace with Slot with an appreciative pat on the back for the 26-year-old. A small gesture, but one that showed just how much it meant to the under-fire Reds boss. Isak’s goal might well have saved him from the axe.

This wasn’t a vintage performance by any means from Liverpool, and certainly not one that will sound alarm bells at Arsenal. But rather like Mikel Arteta’s side, they were efficient in defending their goal, limiting West Ham to zero shots on target in the first half. Considering they shipped four goals to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League only four days ago, that was undoubtedly a positive. The decision to move Dominik Szoboszlai back into midfield and deploy Joe Gomez at right-back was an obvious but correct choice, giving Liverpool more balance when in possession. But the champions didn’t spend the best part of €480million to bolster their backline – they wanted some results from Wirtz and Isak. The former showed some bright sparks, embarking on one run down the right hand side before crossing for Isak, but West Ham cleared the danger.

Wirtz was also replaced towards the end and remains without a goal or assist in 11 league appearances, yet there was some encouragement about how he performed and the synergy he displayed with his team-mates. Isak’s overall performance was quieter, but the goal will keep his critics quiet for now. The fact that Gakpo was able to round off the victory with a goal in stoppage time, shortly after Lucas Paquetá’s incomprehensible red card for two lots of dissent, suggested Liverpool’s crisis may be over.

A clean sheet, three points and their struggling No.9 ending his goal drought seems like a cause for celebration for Slot’s men. But with their title hopes almost dead in the water after their dismal losing streak, the pressure will be back on Liverpool next week if they suffer another setback against Sunderland on Wednesday.