Premier League legend Alan Shearer believes that Liverpool's players need to look to find Alexander Isak with earlier crosses into the box.
Isak opened his Premier League account for Liverpool on Sunday as he expertly guided a first-time finish into the corner of the West Ham goal from a Cody Gakpo cutback.
Isak's only previous goal for his new club came in a Carabao Cup win over Southampton in September, with injuries and a lack of match sharpness having hindered his start to life at his new club.
Arne Slot will be hoping Sunday's goal against the Hammers can act as a catalyst for Isak's season, and former Newcastle striker Shearer thinks his teammates' on-field decisions will be key to the Sweden international's quest for more goals.
"They were crying out for a piece of quality and Isak produced that in terms of his finish," Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast.
"I do think there were just little signs, that they [Liverpool's players] are going to have to get used to him. They're going to have to play earlier balls into him, because a lot of what Alex does is off the cuff.
"It's not just for him, but for any striker you've got to get the ball into the box early when you've got the opportunity to do it.
"They gave one or two chances up to do that, when I was thinking, 'oh, come on!' – to get the best out of him and any forward you've got to do that."
"It was a fantastic finish, and that was the bit of quality that Liverpool needed."
Alexander Isak celebrates scoring his first Premier League goal for Liverpool.
Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring against West Ham (Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool's win came without star player Mohamed Salah, who was left out of a Premier League starting XI for the first time since May 2024 — coincidentally in a game that also came away to West Ham.
Despite Hugo Ekitike being the only player to have scored more goals for Liverpool than Salah this season, the Egyptian's overall level of play has been disappointing, and Shearer believes the victory proved Slot right with his decision to drop his star player.
"I don't think the performance mattered today," Shearer said. "Arne Slot made a a couple of big decisions. He left Mo Salah out, and he had to win the game. With him winning it, and Isak scoring, you would think it would give them a little belief and confidence."