Isak and Gakpo score to end Liverpool's losing run

Liverpool's Alexander Isak (right) celebrates scoring and helping his side to a much needed win.

Premier League: West Ham 0 Liverpool 2 (Isak 60, Gakpo 90+2)

In the funeral march to mediocrity, Alexander Isak finally broke his Premier League duck for Liverpool and Arne Slot’s date with the firing squad was postponed.

Thirteen weeks after he became British football’s record signing, Isak’s instinctive finish provided head coach Slot with timely breathing space after nine defeats in his previous 12 games.

Apart from one close-range effort beaten away by West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola in the first half, Isak had remained a €142 million rumour in a sluggish contest more forgettable than amnesia itself.

But when the Hammers could only half-clear Joe Gomez’s long throw and Cody Gakpo’s low cross reached Isak 14 yards out, the Swede’s first-time finish was crisp, low and whistled past the unsighted Areola at his near post.

Although the win lifted Liverpool back into the top eight, don’t be fooled by a performance which was mainly stodgier than a steam pudding.

West Ham unfurled a dismal tribute to 799-game record appearance-maker Billy Bonds, whose death was announced hours before kick-off.

And midfielder Lucas Paqueta’s dismissal six minutes from time - for two yellow cards, barely 60 seconds apart, both for dissent - was unsolicited nonsense from a player who should know better.

Slot dropped Egyptian king Mo Salah to the bench for the first time in 18 months in the Premier League, but the Reds were still unconvincing as an attacking force.

Florian Wirtz continues to be a light that flickers when his price tag says he should be blinding us at full beam, and Liverpool were holding on until Gakpo settled all arguments in stoppage time with an emphatic finish for his fifth goal of the season.

West Ham United and Liverpool players play tribute to former West Ham United player and manager Billy Bonds before the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Billy Bonds has died at the age of 79, West Ham have announced. 

To an extent, West Ham could be forgiven their negligible goal threat and distracted air after the death of all-time East end hero Bonds aged 79.

Before kick-off, skipper Bowen laid a No.4 shirt bearing Bonds’ name in front of the legend’s eponymous stand, but the Hammers’ football was an impoverished memorial to the best player never to win an England cap.

Bowen said of the two-time FA Cup winner: “He’s probably going to go down as West Ham's biggest legend and the best club captain they've had as well. He achieved so much here and I’ll never emulate that success, but to put on the captain’s armband like he did is a big thing for me.” 

WEST HAM (3-4-3): Areola 7; Wan-Bissaka 7, Mavropanos 6, Todibo, Diouf; Potts 6 (Soucek, 88), Magassa 6 (Guilherme, 68), Fernandes 5; Bowen 6, Paqueta; Wilson (Fullkrug, 78). Subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Julio, Rodriguez, Irving.

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Alisson 6; Gomez 7, Van Dijk 7, Konate 6, Kerkez 6 (Robertson, 85); Gravenberch 8, Mac Allister 7, Szoboszlai 6; Wirtz 5 (Jones, 75); Isak 6 (Ekitike, 68), Gakpo 6. Subs: Marmardashvili, Endo, Salah, Chiesa, Nyoni, Ngumoha.

Referee: Darren England