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It was down in the depths of this maze-like stadium in 2023 that Mohamed Salah told reporters ‘if I speak today, there will be fire’ after being dropped to the bench by Jurgen Klopp.
Two years later, there was indeed fire — just from his team-mates on the pitch while the Egyptian again found himself having to enjoy a watching brief from the left dugout.
As he craned his neck across the athletics track towards the pitch, Salah saw a team that looked a considerable deal more balanced than in recent weeks.
Were they perfect, or did they reach the levels set in their glorious title-winning campaign last year? No on both counts, absolutely not. But this was much more like it.
No Mo but Joe makes Reds more balanced
Salah is undoubtedly one of the very greatest players to ever don the Liverpool shirt, so this is absolutely no slight on him – but it might just be no coincidence that all of a sudden they looked much more solid at the back.
Dominik Szoboszlai, a man who always puts a shift in off the ball, was on the right wing (Salah is a supreme attacker but is allowed to do limited defensive duties). Behind him, the lesser-spotted Joe Gomez made sure West Ham did not have a sniff down that flank.
Mo Salah was an unused substitute as Liverpool beat West Ham 2-0 at the London Stadium
The Egyptian was dropped by Arne Slot after a series of poor performances - and the boss's call paid off
Cody Gakpo sealed the three points for Liverpool with a driven effort late on
Gomez at right back meant the opposite full-back, Milos Kerkez, was given more of a licence to bomb down the left – and the Hungarian put in one of his best displays since a summer move from Bournemouth.
This was Gomez’s first league start since this fixture last season, way back in late December. Most of that has been down to injury but in recent weeks Reds fans have called for him to get back in the XI given Liverpool’s leaky defence.
He is the longest-serving player at the club and is a fan favourite due to his commitment.
Another attribute he gives the team is his height. Liverpool have conceded nine set-piece goals this season (more than all but two teams in the league) but Gomez, Konate and Van Dijk headed away everything that was thrown at them today.
As for Salah, this will please Arne Slot who knows the man who fired them to the title last season with 57 goal involvements across competitions will soon be jetting off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah now has a point to prove when he returns to the team – and usually he plays well when he is fired up – but Liverpool also now know they can win without him.
Wirtz runs the show
Florian Wirtz enjoyed his finest league game in a Liverpool shirt.
Those who sat through footage of the midfielder playing for Bayer Leverkusen saw a special footballer with magic feet. Liverpool fans, however, may have been wondering whether an imposter had been shipped from Germany as he has not reproduced that level at all yet.
Florian Wirtz enjoyed by far his best performance in a Liverpool shirt so far this season
The German was receiving the ball on the half-turn, popping up in all sorts of dangerous positions and making things happen with punchy passes through the lines
But this was much better. He was receiving the ball on the half-turn, popping up in all sorts of dangerous positions and making things happen with punchy passes through the lines.
He still waits for his first Premier League goal or assist but he was involved in everything good about Liverpool here until he perhaps tired slightly after the break after a recent injury.
If for better finishing from Isak, Gakpo and Co in the first half, he could have certainly changed that assist drought – and he should have scored himself with a good chance in the penalty area.
This was much better overall, though, and now Liverpool’s man-of-the-match must back it up by dictating more games for the Reds.
Isak proves his worth (finally)
For 59 minutes, the verdict on Isak was similar to the rest of his outings this season: ineffective, poor first touch, lacking a yard of pace in off-the-ball sprints.
But then on the hour mark came the moment that changed the whole narrative about him and his Liverpool career.
Alexander Isak at last bagged his first Premier League goal for Liverpool after 59 minutes
Goals are priceless in this sport and it was Isak’s strike, at a time when West Ham were starting to grapple some sort of control, that tipped this game in his team’s favour
Goals are priceless in this sport and it was Isak’s strike, at a time when West Ham were starting to grapple some sort of control, that tipped this game in his team’s favour.
When you cost £125million, you know every move is microanalysed – but all the less good moments were forgotten when that instinctive finish went in and sent the away end into bedlam.
Slot was just about to take Isak off, as well. He said: ‘It’s very important for us as a team that we went 1-0 and important for him because it was his third chance of this game and I don’t think there was much more than 10 minutes left in him.’
Slot gets the backing
‘Arne Slot, na na na na na,’ was the chant from the away end. It was getting louder and louder as the game went on and ramped up even further when Cody Gakpo made this match 2-0.
You are a long way from the pitch at the London Stadium but Slot heard that chant and it must have meant the world to him.
Arne Slot's name was ringing around the away end before, and after, Gakpo scored Liverpool's second
Hearing the away end sing his name would have given Slot confidence. He did not need it, though, as his bold changes won this game for Liverpool already
This last fortnight has been tough for him and Liverpool and many fans – whether right or wrong – have criticised the head coach, some even called for his head.
Hearing the away end sing his name would have given Slot confidence. He did not need it, though, as his bold changes won this game for Liverpool already.
After all the negativity, this was one of the most important wins of his tenure. Now he must back it up with two potential banana skin games this week against promoted duo Sunderland and Leeds.
