Liverpool secured a much-needed 2-0 victory against West Ham United on Sunday, a crucial result for manager Arne Slot whose side had been struggling with a dismal run of form. Prior to this match, Liverpool had lost six of their last seven league games and nine of their previous 12 across all competitions, including a disappointing 4-1 defeat in the UEFA Champions League. This poor performance had placed Slot's position under considerable pressure, making the win at the London Stadium particularly significant for the beleaguered Premier League champions.

In a bold move that raised eyebrows, Arne Slot notably dropped star player Mohamed Salah from the starting lineup for the first time in a league game since April 2024, a decision previously made by former manager Jurgen Klopp. Slot justified this as a routine squad rotation, citing four games in 10 days and the availability of many good players. He explained, "We have more players on the bench than just Mo... We have played four games in 10 days, and I have many good players, as you know. For today, I chose a different lineup." This tactical decision, along with four other changes from the Champions League match, was ultimately vindicated by the comfortable victory.

The breakthrough came in the 60th minute when Alexander Isak swept home his first Premier League goal for Liverpool, ending a goal drought since his British-record £125 million transfer from Newcastle United. This moment was crucial for the Sweden international, who had struggled with form and fitness. Slot acknowledged the importance of the goal for both the team and Isak, especially after his recent struggles. Another summer signing, Florian Wirtz, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100 million, was also instrumental. Wirtz, making his return from a brief injury, impressed in East London, with his incisive pass contributing to the build-up for Isak's strike. Joe Gomez, making his first league start in 11 months at right-back, also played a vital role, teeing up Cody Gakpo for Liverpool's second goal in stoppage time, which sealed the 2-0 win.

The match also saw significant controversy surrounding West Ham's Lucas Paquetá, who received a red card for dissent. Paquetá was issued two quick yellow cards by referee Darren England after arguing over a foul decision with six minutes left to play. Following the match, Paquetá took to social media to express his frustration, calling his behavior a "reflection of everything I've had to endure" over the past two years. He accused the Football Association (FA) of a lack of psychological support during a lengthy spot-fixing investigation. Earlier in the year, Paquetá had been cleared of four spot-fixing charges by the FA, following allegations that he deliberately received four yellow cards in Premier League matches between November 2022 and August 2023. While cleared of the charges, he was reprimanded and warned for failing to cooperate with the investigation. In his social media outburst, Paquetá stated, "It's ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation." He added in Portuguese, "I understand that now I have to look like the villain; it's difficult to live with everything that has been caused in my life and in my mental health!" He concluded by apologizing to fans and teammates for his expulsion. West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo deferred comment on the red card until he could speak with Paquetá directly.

This victory, powered by Isak's maiden league goal and Gakpo's late strike, allowed Liverpool to end their losing streak and move up to eighth in the Premier League table. While the title may still be out of reach, these "green shoots of recovery" offer hope for Slot's side, who face tough assignments against Sunderland and Leeds United in the coming week. The win provided Slot, who admitted to not sleeping well recently due to the team's struggles, with a moment of relief and a potential turning point in Liverpool's challenging season.