Coach Arne Slot hugged Alexander Isak on the sidelines while Liverpool fans cheered him on. The Swedish international sat on the bench, looking as if the £125 million burden - at least temporarily - had been lifted.
Isak's second-half goal against West Ham United became an important stepping stone for the 2-0 victory, helping the reigning Premier League champions rise to eighth place in the rankings. This was also Isak's first Premier League goal for Liverpool, marking a potential turning point in the season.
The away trip to London Stadium at the end of November is especially meaningful, especially when Liverpool have just suffered 9 losses in the last 12 matches. However, Arne Slot has still received support from the board, who see the summer transfer window of The Kop, with more than £450 million spent on seven new players, as a part of easing the current difficult situation.
Arne Slot made four changes to his starting lineup against PSV, including keeping Mohamed Salah on the bench. This decision was proven bold and effective, when Isak and rookie Florian Wirtz collaborated to create a breakthrough in the match against West Ham.
This victory not only helped Liverpool improve their position in the rankings but also reignited the hope for Arne Slot and the players in the important period before Christmas.
Wirtz, a rookie who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £100 million in June, is considered one of the brightest stars in Europe. However, he has not been able to shine in the Premier League so far.
In the match against West Ham, the German international proved his worth by becoming the best player on the pitch, with a sharp pass to Cody Gakpo before Alexander Isak finished instinctively.
"The team played a very good match. Recently, I have been asked about the form of individuals, but I always emphasize that the main issue is the team. Florian Wirtz had a positive performance, but the whole team also played much better.
We created many attacking moments, and he was an important part of that. He dribbles well, passes well and creates chances for Cody Gakpo, not every time he does it, it leads to a goal" - said the Liverpool captain.
Arne Slot was also right to start Joe Gomez at right-back. The England international assisted Gakpo to score the second goal for Liverpool in extra time.
This position was a difficult problem for Slot when Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong were both injured. However, Gomez not only brought solidity to the already fragile defense but also created a significant threat to the attack.
Isak also received a positive signal. The 26-year-old striker, who has struggled with form and fitness since moving to Liverpool from Newcastle, scored a key goal against West Ham. Previously, his only goal was in the win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup in September. This performance could be a catalyst for Isak to regain his best form in the Premier League.
Liverpool have not completely escaped the difficulties, but with a gap of only 3 points compared to Aston Villa - the team currently in fourth place, recent signs of recovery bring hope that their season can still be successful.
