Mohamed Salah of Liverpool applauds from the bench during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium on November 30, 2025 in London, England.placeholder image
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool applauds from the bench during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium on November 30, 2025 in London, England. | Getty Images
Two Liverpool players enjoyed much-improved performances on Sunday afternoon without Mohamed Salah in the side
There is absolutely no doubt or question about it - Mohamed Salah is a Liverpool legend but there comes a time when every great player must call it a day.
It is not yet at that point for the Egyptian winger who has delivered time and time again for the Reds - especially last season as his goals and assists fired Arne Slot’s side to the Premier League title.
Salah has struggled somewhat this campaign but he is not the only Liverpool player to have had patches of poor form.
Slot made the decision to drop Salah to give the Reds’ attack a different look against the Hammers. Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak both arguably enjoyed their best games since their mega-money moves to Anfield in the summer.
Wirtz was handed an 8/10 for his display by Liverpool World, as Lead Everton and Liverpool writer Will Rooney wrote: “Absolutely ran the show in the first half having been given freedom to roam - although had to take his opportunity and should have put his laces through effort rather than trying to find the corner. Put in a teasing delivery that got cut out after the break before showing composure to keep the ball and find Gakpo, who assisted Isak's opener.”
Wirtz created a handful of chances with some great deliveries into the box and looked much more like the player the Reds were willing to spend £116m on during the summer.
Isak, meanwhile, netted his first Premier League goal and delivered his best performance. The Swedish international blazed an early chance way over the bar but did well to get a shot on goal with an acrobatic effort from close range in the first half which was well saved by Alphonse Areola.
He got his goal in the second half with a decisive first-time finish at the near post, with the pace of the shot beating the West Ham goalkeeper. It was the type of goal he is renowned for, showing his instinct for goal and highlighting why Liverpool were willing to spend £125m on him.
Both Wirtz and Isak delivered without Salah on the pitch and it could give a glimpse into the team’s future as Salah has 18 months to run on his contract at the club. Salah still has a role to play but Isak and Wirtz looked happier to shoulder the attacking burden. Tougher tests will come as West Ham will have been disappointed by their own performance but it leaves Slot with a decision to make moving forward.
Will we see less of Salah in the starting XI? If Isak and Wirtz continue in the manner they left off at the London Stadium then that question will answer itself.
"Every time I don't play Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitke or Mohamed Salah, it's about that which is understandable was they are all outstanding players," Slot said.
"Mo has had an unbelievable career at this club and will have a very good future at this club because he is such a special player.
"Four games in 10 days with only 14-15 outfield players available for us, then you have to decide once in a while to make a certain line-up and you try to pick the best line-up for every single game.
"Today, with the way West Ham set-up with a full-back that is constantly high and a winger who is constantly inside, I thought that this could help the team. But Mo has been so important for this club and will be important for this club in the future."
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