Liverpool supporters were heard singing Arne Slot’s name as the match drew to a close, making it clear they backed the Dutch manager after Cody Gakpo sealed a 2-0 win over West Ham. The result lifts the Reds back into the top half of the Premier League and gives them their first victory since November 1.
Fans voice their support for Slot
BBC Sport’s coverage picked up the travelling crowd rallying behind Slot before the final whistle – understandable given his brave decision to bench Mo Salah. Gakpo moved to the right to allow Florian Wirtz to operate on the left, while Alexander Isak kept his starting spot. Both choices were justified by the outcome.
Wirtz impresses, Isak finally breaks through
Alexander Isak will be hugely relieved to score his first Premier League goal for Liverpool after enduring heavy pressure since leaving Newcastle. Slot will be equally pleased with Wirtz, who delivered arguably his strongest performance yet in a Liverpool shirt, especially in the first half.
A crucial win for Slot’s future
There’s no doubt Slot entered the game under serious scrutiny. With three straight losses behind him, another defeat at West Ham could have pushed Liverpool’s hierarchy to consider drastic action.
Liverpool’s last 10 games:
4 wins
6 defeats
14 goals scored
19 conceded
A loss would have left Liverpool 11 points behind Arsenal before their game in hand – potentially 14 points off the top at this stage of the 2025/26 campaign.
This win doesn’t fix everything, but it does give Slot some breathing room heading into next week’s clash with Sunderland and a platform to rebuild the season.
