Liverpool secured a valuable 2-0 victory away to West Ham on Sunday, on an afternoon that saw Mohamed Salah not only dropped, but left on the bench for the whole 90 minutes.
West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
Premier League (13) | London Stadium
November 30, 2025
Goals: Isak 60′, Gakpo 90+2′
1. Arne Slot got exactly what he needed
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 30, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot embraces Ryan Gravenberch after the FA Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Liverpool FC at the London Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Facing huge pressure coming into this fixture, Arne Slot could not have written a better script for the 90 minutes.
Two goals scored, no shots on target faced, and the sort of controlled, error-free performance that hasn’t been seen since last season.
Yes, West Ham were poor, but Liverpool have been so easy to beat this year that, in previous weeks, that would not have mattered.
Of course, the key now will be whether the Reds can build on this and ensure it is not a false dawn in the mould of those wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid.
However, this was an encouraging start to a potentially season-saving run.
2. Florian Wirtz put in his best performance yet
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 30, 2025: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz during the FA Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Liverpool FC at the London Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
On the surface, Florian Wirtz‘s numbers from this game do not make particularly impressive reading.
One shot, one chance created, one successful dribble – these figures hardly scream incredible performance.
Yet anyone who watched the game knows that this was the German’s best showing in a Liverpool shirt, as he dictated the game from his advanced midfield position.
West Ham could not get near Wirtz and every promising Reds move seemed to go through him, not least the Alexander Isak goal that he played a huge role in.
The hope now will be that he can build on this and start to show the best of himself after a quiet start to life at the club.
3. Call to drop Mo Salah rewarded
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 30, 2025: Liverpool's substitute Mohamed Salah on the bench before the FA Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Liverpool FC at the London Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Slot may have tried to play down the significance of leaving Salah on the bench in his pre-match interview, but make no mistake this was a big call.
At no point in the last nine seasons have you felt like Liverpool would be a better team without the Egyptian in it, yet clearly that is how the manager saw it for this one.
And that logic is hard to argue given Salah’s negligible defensive contributions are no longer being masked by goals and assists.
It won’t help the forward’s case for a swift return that the Reds looked more balanced and solid than they have all season in winning here.
With the Africa Cup of Nations coming up, is it possible that he could even end up struggling to get back into the side over the second half of the season?
4. A big moment for Alexander Isak
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 30, 2025: Liverpool's Alexander Isak is substituted during the FA Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Liverpool FC at the London Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
When Liverpool completed the £125 million signing of Isak from Newcastle over the summer, no one expected to be waiting until the final day of November for his first Premier League goal.
But the Swede’s inauspicious start will be forgotten about if he starts to score goals of this quality on a regular basis.
This was an expert finish of a far-from-easy chance, the sort that Isak made his trademark across his first three years in England.
If Liverpool can get more of that, then it won’t half help to mask some of the tactical issues that have plagued them throughout this season.
5. Top four is still possible!
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 30, 2025: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker acknowledges the travelling supporters after the FA Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Liverpool FC at the London Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
As bad as Liverpool have been this season, it is remarkable to see that victory here left them just three points behind third-placed Aston Villa.
The title is long gone, but the minimum aim for Slot between now and May will to be ensure his side qualify for the Champions League.
And you suspect that a couple more wins would put them firmly in control of their own destiny in that regard.