The atmosphere at the London Stadium was somber following the news of Billy Bonds’ passing, but after paying respects before the game, focus quickly shifted to the match.
A difficult few weeks for Liverpool showed no signs of decline recently, having endured three heavy defeats consecutively.
This fixture, at least on paper, offered a chance to recover, and they began sharply, with their expensive signing Alexander Isak’s acrobatic attempt forcing an impressive save from Alphonse Areola.
With key player Mohamed Salah starting on the bench, the Reds looked somewhat lacking in attack, but they did create a clear opportunity just before halftime.
Virgil van Dijk’s hopeful pass forward caused confusion in the West Ham defense, and when the ball fell kindly to Florian Wirtz, it seemed certain he would score his first Premier League goal, but his weak shot was comfortably saved by Areola.
Isak, who had struggled like Wirtz since joining Merseyside, finally broke his duck just before the hour mark by creating space in the box and finishing after Cody Gakpo found him inside the penalty area.
West Ham never seriously threatened in the attacking third, and Nuno Espírito Santo made the unusual choice to replace striker with striker, disappointing the London Stadium fans who believed a second forward should have been brought on.
Any hope they had of mounting a comeback ended six minutes before full time when Lucas Paquetá, who had already received a yellow card for dissent, was astonishingly given a second for the same reason just a minute later.
This was a welcome lift for Arne Slot, whose team secured a relieving win to climb back into the top half of the table, with the victory sealed in stoppage time when Cody Gakpo struck from close range to finish the contest.
Due to the weaknesses of nearby teams, West Ham remain outside the relegation zone, but they will surely be nervously watching the upcoming midweek fixtures.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Joe Gomez (Liverpool)
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