LONDON – Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted he was simply relieved his side ended their shocking run of poor form with a 2-0 win at West Ham United, though he was thankful their ongoing habit of missing chances did not cost them.
After losing nine of their last 12 games in all competitions for the first time since 1954, Liverpool stopped the rot thanks to record signing Alexander Isak’s first Premier League goal and Cody Gakpo’s late finish.
The victory follows a dreadful run which piled pressure on Slot, who delivered Liverpool’s 20th English league title last season.
But the Dutchman also warned that he saw similar failings from his side which contributed to their recent results, with Isak and fellow summer signing Florian Wirtz both guilty of missing good opportunities with the score at 0-0.
“There were also a few things similar to other games of ours and a few things that were different,” he said according to AFP.
“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.”
Wirtz has endured a difficult start to life at Liverpool, but was impressive starting in place of unused substitute Mohamed Salah, who began a Premier League game on the bench for the first time under Slot.
Slot also gave his backing to Isak, whose disrupted pre-season due to his drawn-out move from Newcastle United has left him short of match fitness.
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.
While Wirtz and Isak have come under fire during Liverpool’s torrid spell, Salah had seemingly remained a guaranteed starter even as he visibly struggled for confidence.
Salah had not started a Premier League game on the bench since April 2024, when he and then-boss Jurgen Klopp had a touchline row in a 2-2 draw at West Ham.
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.”
“We knew it was going to be difficult to get back to winning ways after our recent form,” Isak told Sky Sports. “Happy that we won and happy to be on the scoresheet as well.”
Isak had failed to score in five previous top-flight appearances since making a British record £125-million move from top-flight rivals Newcastle in September.
“I’m aware that it has been a long time coming and I have been trying to get back to my best form,” he said.
The 26-year-old Sweden forward ended his barren spell at the London Stadium with only his second goal in 11 games in all competitions for the Reds, following his maiden strike in a League Cup win against second-tier Southampton.
“I’m still on the way but I am happy to get that goal,” he said. “The best feeling today is that we win the game and that is the best way to get a good spirit in the group.
“But of course I am a striker, so scoring goals will always help me. We have to use this win in a good way but also be humble. We have to stay focused and keep working hard to keep this momentum.”
