Alexander Isak finally scored his first Premier League goal for troubled Liverpool to inspire a much-needed 2-0 win at West Ham on Sunday.
Isak had failed to score in his five top-flight appearances since making a British record £125 million ($165 million) move from Newcastle in September.
The Sweden forward banished that drought at the London Stadium, although 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.
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Cody Gakpo bagged Liverpool’s second goal in stoppage time to secure their first win in four games in all competitions.
“There’s definitely a feeling of relief because if you have lost so many times, then winning is important. We hardly conceded a chance and we were able to create chances ourselves,” Reds boss Arne Slot said.
“It helps if you don’t go 1-0 down after five minutes because then you are more open. We played the game I wanted us to play. What I saw meant a lot to our players and our fans.
“This is a good first step for us. We won and had a clean sheet.”
Hampered by injuries and a lack of match fitness after missing pre-season due to his protracted transfer saga, Isak was on target in the league for the first time since netting for Newcastleagainst Brighton in May.
The end of the 26-year-old’s 10-match goal drought for club and country was a ray of hope for Liverpool amid a dismal campaign.
“I think it does feel significant,” Slot said.
A 4-1 humiliation against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in midweek was Liverpool’s third successive defeat by three goals or more following 3-0 league losses against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool had lost nine of their previous 12 games -- their worst run since 1953-54 -- including six defeats from seven league matches.
With pressure beginning to mount on Slot, this scrappy victory was a welcome tonic as Liverpool climbed to eighth place.
Slot is adamant that he has not lost the backing of his players, but he has struggled to get the best out of Mohamed Salah since the closing months of last season.
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot embraces Ryan Gravenberch after the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Liverpool.
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot embraces Ryan Gravenberch after the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Liverpool.Source: AP
Salah has scored just five times in all competitions this season and Slot responded by dropping the Egypt forward to the bench for the third time this season.
West Ham paid an emotional tribute to Billy Bonds with a minute’s applause in memory of their legendary former captain andmanager, who died on Sunday aged 79.
The tough-tackling Bonds would have appreciated struggling West Ham’s spirited start, but Liverpool eventually took charge.
Isak looked set for another frustrating afternoon when he blazed woefully over from the edge of the area in the opening minutes.
He was then foiled by a superb save from Alphonse Areola, who kept out his close-range bicycle kick.
It was only Isak’s second attempt on target in the league this season. Isak finally delivered his long-awaited goal on the hour mark. Gakpo cut the ball back to Isak just inside the West Ham area and he guided a low shot past Areola before sliding to his knees in celebration.
Isak’s day was done moments later when he was substituted, with Slot greeting him with a handshake on the touchline.
West Ham’s frustration was compounded in the 84th minute when Lucas Paqueta was needlessly sent off.
Paqueta was booked for dissent after arguing with referee Darren England following Niclas Fullkrug’s foul on Dominik Szoboszlai, then talked his way into a second yellow card after refusing to walk away from the official.
Gakpo put the result beyond doubt in the closing moments when he swivelled to smash the ball past Areola from 12 yards after West Ham made a hash of clearing it.
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ARSENAL GET OUT OF JAIL
Mikel Merino rescued Arsenal as the Premier League leaders battled to a 1-1 draw against 10-man Chelsea in a bad-tempered London derby on Sunday.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off for a crude foul on Merino late in the first half at Stamford Bridge.
Despite Caicedo’s dismissal, Trevoh Chalobah headed Chelsea into a second half lead, but Merino’s leveller ensured Arsenal emerged unscathed from a bruising encounter between the title rivals.
Arsenal are five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who beat Newcastle on Saturday, and sit six points above third-placed Chelsea.
When the dust had settled on a contest of relentless intensity, Arsenal were left to rue a missed opportunity to extend their lead over Chelsea in the title race, while the Blues were relieved to avoid a damaging defeat.
“I think we showed we are heading in the right direction. We were a much better team than them 11 v 11 but with 10 players, it is difficult. But we dealt with it outstandingly,” Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said.
From left, Arsenal's Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino, Myles Lewis-Skelly.
From left, Arsenal's Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino, Myles Lewis-Skelly.Source: AP
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta added: “Two teams that play with a lot of intensity and aggression, you could sense it in every tackle.
“We scored a brilliant goal. We had two or three big chances. It’s been a massive week emotionally and physically.”
Arsenal remain the favourites to win their first Premier League crown since 2004, but Chelsea’s combative display suggested that they could emerge as the biggest threat to the Gunners’ title aspirations.
Arsenal are unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions, winning 14 of those matches, while Chelsea have gone seven matches without losing in all competitions.
Chelsea swept to a 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Arsenal enjoyed a 3-1 victory over BayernMunich 24 hours later.
The positivity from those results was quickly forgotten as a bitter battle broke out at the Bridge.
Maresca had played down his young side’s title hopes, but they went toe-to-toe with Arsenal, who were without injured centre-back William Saliba.
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UNITED’S PLOY PAYS OFF
Ruben Amorim said stealing set-piece routines played a key role in Manchester United’s fightback to win 2-1 at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Amorim has spent much of this United reign under fire and the pressure was mounting again after a limp 1-0 home defeat against 10-man Everton on Monday.
When Jean-Philippe Mateta broke the deadlock for Palace in the 36th-minute with a retaken penalty, Amorim was on the rocks again.
But Joshua Zirkzee levelled nine minutes into second half after he seized on Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick.
United captain Fernandes then teed up Mason Mount to drill home the winner after 63 minutes from a quickly-taken free kick.
It was another away match with a set-piece goal for United following efforts from corners at Nottingham Forest and Tottenham earlier in November.
Amorim said United had spent time finding ways to use the set-piece routines that have become so popular in the Premier League this season.
“We have more time to work and we work a lot and we are learning,” he said. “We learn a lot in England. You are used to do that with set pieces, but when you come to the Premier League, you learn a lot about how other the teams do it.
“And we are stealing a lot of things to score goals.”
Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United.Source: Getty Images
Amorim warned his players that fatigue would set in for Palace after Thursday’s trip to France to face Strasbourg in Conference League.
And United took advantage with their second half escape act.
“I said to the players we need to be more alive and you could feel that. If you are more alive, you are in more places, near the ball more often and everyone did that, but we also need to understand that the opponent is tired,” he said.
“If you see the last plays of the game, they were struggling so much to take the ball out of the box and you could feel it in the way they move that they were getting tired for the second half and we talked about that.
“I had the feeling that if we scored one goal, this would change completely.”
Zirkzee’s first league goal in 25 matches was a welcome boost for the much-maligned Dutch striker, who lashed home from an almost impossible angle.
“He was really important but again was not just the goal,” Amorim said.
“Even the runs behind, in the first half he struggled on the duels and won some duels in the second half.
“We improve a lot because of the quality of Josh in the second half and that’s important for him to understand that it is not just the goal.”