Alexander Isak finally scored his first Premier League goal for troubled Liverpool to inspire a much-needed 2-0 win at West Ham on Sunday.
Isak had failed to score in his five top-flight appearances since making a British record £125 million ($165 million) move from Newcastle in September.
The Sweden forward banished that drought at the London Stadium, although with only his second goal in 11 games in all competitions for the Reds, following his maiden strike in a League Cup win against second-tier Southampton.
Cody Gakpo bagged Liverpool’s second goal in stoppage time to secure their first win in four games in all competitions.
“There’s definitely a feeling of relief because if you have lost so many times, then winning is important. We hardly conceded a chance and we were able to create chances ourselves,” Reds boss Arne Slot said.
“It helps if you don’t go 1-0 down after five minutes because then you are more open. We played the game I wanted us to play. What I saw meant a lot to our players and our fans.
“This is a good first step for us. We won and had a clean sheet.”
Hampered by injuries and a lack of match fitness after missing pre-season due to his protracted transfer saga, Isak was on target in the league for the first time since netting for Newcastle against Brighton in May.
The end of the 26-year-old’s 10-match goal drought for club and country was a ray of hope for Liverpool amid a dismal campaign.
“I think it does feel significant,” Slot said.
A 4-1 humiliation against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in midweek was Liverpool’s third successive defeat by three goals or more following 3-0 league losses against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool had lost nine of their previous 12 games — their worst run since 1953-54 — including six defeats from seven league matches.
With pressure beginning to mount on Slot, this scrappy victory was a welcome tonic as Liverpool climbed to eighth place.
Slot is adamant that he has not lost the backing of his players, but he has struggled to get the best out of Mohamed Salah since the closing months of last season.
Salah has scored just five times in all competitions this season and Slot responded by dropping the Egypt forward to the bench for the third time this season.
– Isak delivers –
West Ham paid an emotional tribute to Billy Bonds with a minute’s applause in memory of their legendary former captain and manager, who died on Sunday aged 79.
The tough-tackling Bonds would have appreciated struggling West Ham’s spirited start, but Liverpool eventually took charge.
Isak looked set for another frustrating afternoon when he blazed woefully over from the edge of the area in the opening minutes.
He was then foiled by a superb save from Alphonse Areola, who kept out his close-range bicycle kick.
It was only Isak’s second attempt on target in the league this season.
Isak finally delivered his long-awaited goal on the hour mark.
Gakpo cut the ball back to Isak just inside the West Ham area and he guided a low shot past Areola before sliding to his knees in celebration.
Isak’s day was done moments later when he was substituted, with Slot greeting him with a handshake on the touchline.
West Ham’s frustration was compounded in the 84th minute when Lucas Paqueta was needlessly sent off.
Paqueta was booked for dissent after arguing with referee Darren England following Niclas Fullkrug’s foul on Dominik Szoboszlai, then talked his way into a second yellow card after refusing to walk away from the official.
Gakpo put the result beyond doubt in the closing moments when he swivelled to smash the ball past Areola from 12 yards after West Ham made a hash of clearing it.
– Man Utd victory at Palace –
Joshua Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal for nearly a year before Mason Mount grabbed the winner as Manchester United came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim’s side trailed to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first half penalty at Selhurst Park, but Zirkzee and Mount netted after the interval to secure United’s first win in four games.
United recovered from their lacklustre start thanks to Zirkzee’s first goal in the Premier League since he netted against Everton in December 2024.
The much-maligned Dutch striker had gone 24 league games without a goal, adding to perception that his £36 million ($47.7million) move from Bologna in 2024 was a bad investment.
Zirkzee, 24, had failed to score in his eight previous appearances dating back to April.
Plagued by injuries, Mount has also struggled since joining United from Chelsea and this was just his second goal this season.
“I could see that Palace were getting tired at the end of the first half and knew they would suffer if we scored,” Amorim said.
“The pace and intensity was better in the second half. We controlled the game. We took advantage of a tired opponent.”
Beaten by Everton’s 10 men at Old Trafford on Monday, United’s first victory since October was a much-needed boost for Amorim.
The fact that is was Palace’s first defeat at Selhurst Park in the Premier League since February 15 underlined the challenge of United’s gritty fightback in freezing south London.
Amorim had said this week that there were “no excuses” for United’s sputtering start to the season after last term’s troubles.
He was relieved to see United dig deep to subdue the FA Cup holders, who have proved a thorn in the side of the Premier League elite since Oliver Glasner took charge.
“Joshua has improved a lot in how he holds the ball. That should give him a lot of confidence. He influences the game. He needs to maintain that level in training,” Amorim said.
“In this moment I just want to evaluate our team. We need to evolve and create variety in how we build-up, that’s the most important thing.”
Casemiro should have given United the lead inside the first 60 seconds after a long-throw caused chaos in the Palace defence, but the Brazilian’s close-range effort was parried by Dean Henderson.
– United revival –
Mateta was equally culpable at the other end, the France striker holding off Leny Yoro before dragging his shot wide with just United keeper Senne Lammens to beat.
Lammens was called into action to save Daichi Kamada’s low drive from the edge of the area before Yoro blocked Yeremy Pino’s goal-bound strike.
United were on the ropes and it was little surprise when Palace took the lead in the 36th minute.
Yoro conceded the penalty with a crude lunge on Mateta, who scored from the spot only to have his goal disallowed for a double-touch as he kicked the ball.
Due to a new rule implemented this season, accidental double-touch penalties are now taken again if the initial kick was successful.
Granted a reprieve, Mateta confidently fired past Lammens again.
Completely anonymous in the first half, Zirkzee was Amorim’s unlikely saviour with the 54th minute equaliser.
Running onto Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick, Zirkzee controlled on his chest and smashed a brilliant strike across Henderson into the far corner from an almost impossible angle.
United finally had some momentum and Mount put them ahead in the 63rd minute.
Fernandes tapped a free-kick to Mount and the former Chelsea midfielder lashed a low drive under the Palace wall and past Henderson from 20 yards.
