<figure id="attachment_3224232" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3224232" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3224232 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/cf0ca79e-13545857_cropped_1.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3224232" class="wp-caption-text">Liverpool&#8217;s Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between West Ham and Liverpool in London. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
LONDON: Arne Slot agreed Alexander Isak&#8217;s first Premier League goal for Liverpool was important for both the striker and the reigning English champions as they stopped the rot with a 2-0 win away to West Ham on Sunday.
Isak had failed to score in five previous top-flight appearances since making a British record £125 million (US$165 million) move from top-flight rivals Newcastle in September, with his only other goal for the Reds coming in the League Cup.
But the Sweden forward&#8217;s fine strike at the London Stadium and Cody Gakpo&#8217;s stoppage-time goal, gave Liverpool &#8211; on a run of nine defeats in 12 matches in all competitions &#8211; a badly-needed victory.
&#8220;It&#8217;s very important for us as a team that we went 1-0 up, but I think it was also important for him because I think it was his third or fourth chance of this game,&#8221; said Liverpool manager Slot.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think there was much more than 10 minutes in him to go, so then to score just before you come off was important for us, but also for him.&#8221;
Isak took dramatic action in a bid to stop Liverpool&#8217;s alarming slump by dropping Mohamed Salah for Isak.
It was the first time the Egypt striker had been left out of a Premier League starting line-up since April 2024, also at West Ham in a 2-2 draw.
That day Salah came on as a late substitute but on Sunday he did not take the field at all, with Hugo Ekitike replacing shortly after his goal.
&#8220;Mo has had an unbelievable career here at this club and will have a very good future at this club because he&#8217;s such a special player,&#8221; Slot added.
&#8220;We have four games in 10 days with only 14 to 15 outfield players available for us.
&#8220;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,&#8221; he added.

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Slot hails ‘important’ Isak goal as Liverpool beat West Ham

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