Liverpool's record signing Alexander Isak scored his first Premier League goal for the Reds as the under-pressure champions snapped a woeful run of form with a much-needed 2-0 win at West Ham United yesterday.
Liverpool had endured their worst spell in over 70 years, losing nine of their previous 12 games, and manager Arne Slot took drastic measures, leaving Mohamed Salah out of his starting line-up for the first time in the Premier League.
Salah's replacement Florian Wirtz looked sharp, though he squandered Liverpool's best chance of the first half with his tame effort from close range allowing Alphonse Areola to save.
Isak, who had looked short of form and fitness, spurned two opportunities before the break, drawing a fine reaction stop from Areola midway through the half.
But the Sweden striker slotted home a Cody Gakpo pull-back on the hour mark to give the Reds the lead they marginally deserved and rarely looked like giving up.
Liverpool's cause was helped by Lucas Paqueta who was bizarrely booked twice for dissent within 60 seconds with less than 10 minutes to play, before Gakpo added a second in the 92nd minute to seal the three points.
Liverpool's victory, only their second in eight league games, moved them up to eighth with 21 points from 13 matches, while West Ham are 17th with 11 points, level with 18th-placed Leeds United.
