Key Takeaways:
- Liverpool ended a sequence of three straight 3-goal defeats with a 2-0 away victory over West Ham in the 13th round of the Premier League.
- Record signing Alexander Isak scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool on 60 minutes, with Cody Gakpo adding a stoppage-time second.
- West Ham finished with ten men after Lucas Paqueta’s two yellow cards in the 84th minute and did not register a single shot on target.
Match Context and Line-ups
Liverpool brought a dismal run of three consecutive losses by three-goal margins to an end with a 2-0 win away to West Ham in Premier League round 13. The result delivered the champions their first league away success since September and lifted them up to eighth place, leaving them just two points adrift of fourth position. West Ham, whose three-match unbeaten streak came to a halt, now sit above the relegation zone solely on goal difference.
Nuno Espírito Santo made three alterations to his West Ham starting XI. Konstantinos Mavropanos, Sungutu Magassa and Lucas Paqueta all came into the side, replacing Max Kilman, Luis Guilherme and Igor.
Defeat to Liverpool. pic.twitter.com/GPMRZlMZiA
— West Ham United (@WestHam) November 30, 2025
Under intense scrutiny following Liverpool’s worst run in 71 years, Arne Slot opted for a significant reshuffle. He made the high-profile decision to leave Mohamed Salah among the substitutes – a move that had been widely discussed since the beginning of the campaign. Florian Wirtz was restored to the starting line-up, deployed centrally as a playmaker, while Dominik Szoboszlai operated from the right wing. Alisson Becker returned in goal, and Joe Gomez started at right back. Hugo Ekitike was declared fit but began on the bench, with record signing Alexander Isak leading the line.
First Half – Liverpool on Top but Areola Stands Firm
Liverpool fashioned the opening clear chance in the 4th minute. Wirtz slipped a pass into Isak just outside the penalty area, only for the Swedish striker to lean back and send his effort high over the crossbar.
On 21 minutes, the visitors created an even better opportunity. Gomez surged forward on the right and delivered a cross which Gakpo nodded down into the box. Isak showed excellent control and attempted an acrobatic finish from close range, but Alphonse Areola produced an outstanding save to keep the scores level.
Slot’s side controlled possession and territory, although the overall tempo of the contest remained relatively low. In the 39th minute, Gakpo brought down a long pass inside the area and laid the ball off to Wirtz, who had found space around ten metres from goal. The German international, however, failed to generate power and Areola comfortably gathered his weak shot.
West Ham’s goalkeeper was called into action again in the 43rd minute, reacting sharply to intercept a dangerous low cross from Gomez on the right flank.
Second Half – Isak Opens Account as Liverpool Take Charge
West Ham began the second half with a brighter spell, forcing a handful of corners, but they were unable to trouble Alisson as Liverpool defended the set pieces without alarm.
The breakthrough arrived for Liverpool in the 60th minute. Gomez launched a long throw-in, which was initially cleared back in his direction. He then recycled possession by playing the ball back to Wirtz. The German midfielder dissected the home defence with a precise low pass into Gakpo inside the penalty area. The Dutchman swiftly laid the ball off for Isak, who finished neatly at the near post, registering his first Premier League goal for Liverpool and his second overall for the club since his move to Anfield.
Seven minutes after finding the net, in the 67th minute, Isak made way for Ekitike as Slot freshened up his attack.
Discipline Costs West Ham as Liverpool Seal the Points
West Ham’s task became significantly harder in the 84th minute. Lucas Paqueta was dismissed after receiving two yellow cards for persistent dissent towards the referee, leaving the hosts to finish with ten men.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, West Ham went close to creating a late lifeline in the 88th minute. Füllkrug battled against several Liverpool players on the edge of the area, and the ball broke for Jarrod Bowen, who struck a decent effort, but his shot drifted wide of the target.
In stoppage time, Liverpool wrapped up the victory and improved their overall goal difference in the league, which had been negative before kick-off. Gomez, capping a strong performance, delivered another cross into the box. Gakpo controlled the ball expertly on his chest before drilling a finish beyond Areola to make it 2-0.
The London side completed the match without registering a single shot on target, underlining Liverpool’s defensive solidity on the night as they secured a valuable clean sheet and their first away league win since September.
