Liverpool may have uncovered a more balanced and fluid attacking structure in Mohamed Salah’s absence, with Alexander Isak’s standout display against West Ham offering a glimpse of a refreshed offensive approach.
For the visit to the London Stadium, Salah was left on the bench as Arne Slot opted to start Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo and Isak as his front three. The decision paid dividends, particularly for Isak, who has endured a difficult spell since arriving from Newcastle. The Swedish striker finally delivered a moment of real significance, netting his first Premier League goal for Liverpool—and just his second across all competitions—to hand his side the advantage.
Isak’s goal served as a reminder of his technical pedigree and the potential Liverpool saw when they committed to signing him last September. Although his first half was largely subdued, he came alive with a superbly taken finish, meeting Gakpo’s crisp cutback with a first-time strike that left Alphonse Areola beaten.
Salah’s absence also created a different dynamic across Liverpool’s front line. Gakpo assumed greater responsibility in wide areas, stretching West Ham’s defence, while Isak offered a central focal point that improved the team’s structure in transition. As a unit, Liverpool appeared more cohesive—displaying sharper movement, greater patience in possession, and a more efficient end product.
A major factor in that improvement was Florian Wirtz, who produced one of his most influential performances since joining the club. The German playmaker linked intelligently with both Isak and Gakpo, consistently driving Liverpool’s attacks and adding a level of creativity that has been lacking for much of the season. When matches favour technical ability over physical battles, Wirtz’s qualities become particularly evident, and his influence is likely to grow as teammates adjust to his rhythm and vision.
The combined performance of the trio highlighted a more interconnected and dynamic system—one less dependent on Salah’s individual brilliance and more focused on collective movement and interplay.
Nevertheless, Salah remains Liverpool’s second-highest scorer this season, behind Hugo Ekitiké, and his omission from the starting XI introduces a potential selection dilemma for Slot. With Wirtz and Isak now hitting their stride and producing arguably their best displays for the club, the manager has new tactical pathways to explore and more flexibility in shaping his attacking setup.
Slot’s challenge moving forward will be ensuring results remain consistent while managing the expectations and role of his star forward, who could now face increased competition for his place.
The performance at the London Stadium may represent the early stages of a more balanced Liverpool attack—one capable of functioning effectively without over-reliance on Salah, and one that creates the space for rising talents such as Isak and Wirtz to thrive. For the moment, Isak’s long-awaited breakthrough has given Slot and Liverpool supporters renewed optimism and plenty to contemplate.
Significantly, the display also provides Slot with a reliable attacking formula ahead of Salah’s impending departure for the Africa Cup of Nations later this month. With the Egyptian poised to miss several matches, Liverpool appear to have found a configuration that can sustain momentum and maintain their cutting edge during his absence.
