Arne Slot's Bold Move Pays Off as Isak, Gakpo Lead Reds to Victory

Arne Slot

Arne Slot's decision to bench Mohamed Salah paid off, as Florian Wirtz impressed in midfield. Alexander Isak scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool, and Cody Gakpo added a late strike.

 “The good thing was that today, for the first time in many, many, many games, the first chance of the opponent didn't go in as well...”

Arne Slot is breathing a sigh of relief after Liverpool finally snapped their nine-game losing streak in all competitions, beating West Ham United 2-0 on Sunday. The Reds' poor form had been a major concern, with nine losses in their last 12 games, their worst run since 1954.

Alexander Isak's first Premier League goal for Liverpool and Cody Gakpo's late strike secured the win, ending a dreadful run that had put pressure on Slot, who delivered Liverpool's 20th English league title last season. Slot praised Isak's performance, saying the focus on his lack of goals is “a bit unfair” given his limited playing time.

Liverpool's recent victory is a welcome respite for Arne Slot, who has been under intense pressure following a string of poor results. The Dutch manager led Liverpool to their 20th English league title last season, but the team's current form has been disappointing, with nine defeats in 12 games.

Slot has acknowledged that his team's struggles are largely due to their own failings, including missed opportunities by key players like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. The team's inability to capitalize on scoring chances has been a major concern, and Slot has warned that they need to improve their finishing if they want to turn their season around.

“There were also a few things similar to other games of ours and a few things that were different,” he told reporters. “The things that were similar were that, again, we couldn't score our first chances.

“The good thing was that today, for the first time in many, many, many games, the first chance of the opponent didn't go in as well.”

Florian Wirtz Impresses in Salah's Absence

Florian Wirtz had a standout performance, starting in place of Mohamed Salah, who was benched for the first time under Arne Slot. Wirtz's impressive display helped Liverpool secure a 2-0 win over West Ham United.

Arne Slot has expressed his support for Alexander Isak, who scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool. Isak's disrupted pre-season had left him short of match fitness, but Slot believes he will bounce back stronger. “He is a top striker,” Slot said, praising Isak's finish.

The focus on Isak's lack of goals is “a bit unfair to him because ... in general, a number 9 plays more minutes than I've played Alex until now because of the obvious reasons,” Slot said.

 

A win on the road! 💪 #WHULIV pic.twitter.com/9KjdWPOuzo

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 30, 2025

Mohamed Salah had been a consistent starter for Liverpool, despite struggling for confidence, but Arne Slot's decision to bench him marks a shift in approach. Salah's benching is notable, as he hadn't started a Premier League game on the bench since April 2024, when he had a touchline row with then-boss Jurgen Klopp in a 2-2 draw at West Ham.

Florian Wirtz started in Salah's place and impressed, helping Liverpool secure a 2-0 win over West Ham United. This change might be a sign of things to come for Salah, as Slot looks to shake up his team and turn their season around.

But Slot played down the significance of his decision, saying: “Mo has had an unbelievable career at this club and will have a very good future at this club because he's such a special player.

“(We have) four games in 10 days with only 14 to 15 outfield players available for us, then you have to decide once in a while to make a certain line-up.”