Salah’s absence the key? Liverpool’s horror period ended by Isak and Gakpo

It was anything but a beautiful match between West Ham and Liverpool — tension, fear, panic. Arne Slot’s team is in dreadful form, and he even chose to start the game without Mohamed Salah. In the end, Alexander Isak finally came to life, and Cody Gakpo put the match to bed.

Liverpool and West Ham went into the break locked at 0–0 after a first half that offered only flickers of excitement, with neither side able to turn half-chances into a breakthrough. What stood out most was Arne Slot’s bold decision to start a match for the first time under his tenure without Mohamed Salah, a choice that inevitably influenced Liverpool’s attacking rhythm in the opening 45 minutes.

The early stages hinted at a cagey affair. In the 4th minute, Florian Wirtz registered the first attempt of the match, carrying the ball down the left before unleashing a shot from around 20 metres out — an effort that flew harmlessly over the West Ham goal.

Liverpool grew slightly more threatening as the half progressed. In the 16th minute, Virgil van Dijk rose highest in the home penalty area, but his header also sailed over the bar. The first real moment of danger came in the 21st minute: after a promising move, Cody Gakpo cushioned the ball toward Isak, who struck from five metres out, only for Alphonse Areola to produce a brilliant one-handed save to keep West Ham level.

The biggest chance before the interval arrived in the 39th minute. Gakpo and Wirtz combined neatly at the edge of the box, with the German midfielder firing towards the bottom corner — but once again Areola reacted superbly, springing like a cat to turn the ball away.

Aside from these isolated opportunities, the match lacked sustained tempo or creativity, reflecting Liverpool’s adjustment to a rare Salah-less starting XI. With the score still goalless, both teams headed down the tunnel knowing the second half would require more urgency if either of them were to claim all three points.

The second half began in much the same tone as the first, with little to separate the two sides until the hour mark. The first notable moment came in the 58th minute when Lucas Paqueta attempted to spark West Ham into life. A loose ball sat up invitingly for him around 25 metres out, and he struck it on the volley, but his effort drifted wide — a reminder of how little the hosts had created up to that point.

Just two minutes later, Liverpool made them pay. In the 60th minute, Alexander Isak scored his first Premier League goal for the club, finishing off a wonderfully constructed move. Florian Wirtz initiated the attack with a well-timed pass into Cody Gakpo, who laid the ball off perfectly for Isak. The Swedish striker didn’t hesitate, guiding a clinically placed shot past Areola to give Liverpool a 1–0 lead.

West Ham struggled to respond meaningfully. Their best look came in the 76th minute when Hugo Ekitike tried his luck from the edge of the box, striking from a standing position — but the attempt slid wide, failing to trouble Alisson.

Frustration then boiled over for the home side. In the 83rd minute, Lucas Paqueta committed an astonishing lapse in judgement, receiving two yellow cards within seconds of each other for dissent. His needless outburst left West Ham down to ten men and effectively ended any realistic chance of a late comeback.

The icing on the cake came in the second minute of stoppage time, when Cody Gakpo took advantage of the extra space in the box and scored to make it 2–0 for Liverpool.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 13

Saturday

Brentford - Burnley 3-1 (0-0)

/Thiago 81(p), 86, Quattara 90 - Flemming 85(p)/

Manchester City - Leeds 3-2 (2-0)

/Foden 1, 90+1 Gvardiol 25 - Calvert-Lewin 49, Nmecha 68/

Sunderland - Bournemouth 3-2 (1-2)

/Le Fee 30(p) Traore 46, Brobbley 69 - Adli 7, Adams 15/

Everton - Newcastle 1-4 (0-3)

/Dewsbury-Hall 69 - Thiaw 1, 58, Miley 25, Woltemade 45/

Tottenham - Fulham 1-2 (0-2)

/Kudus 59 - Tete 4, Wilson 6/

Sunday

Crystal Palace - Manchester Utd. 1-2 (1-0)

/Mateta (p) 36 - Zirkzee 54, Mount 63/

Aston Villa - Wolverhampton 1-0 (0-0)

/Kamara 67/

Nottingham Forest - Brighton 0-2 (0-1)

/De Cuyper 45+1, Tzimas 88/

West Ham - Liverpool 0-2 (0-0)

/Isak 60, Gakpo 90+2/

19.30: (3.35) Chelsea (3.45) Arsenal (2.25)

***odds are subject to change***