![\"Liverpool's](\"https:\/\/images.www.teamtalk.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/23073544\/Florian-Wirtz-right-produced-a-top-class-display-for-Liverpool-in-the-Champions-League.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAfter a poor run of results, Liverpool returned to winning ways against West Ham United to help ease the pressure on manager Arne Slot.<\/p>\n
Slot made four changes to his team following the humiliating 4-1 defeat in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven at Anfield and the changes were vindicated by the performance.<\/p>\n
Alexander Isak swept home the opener in the 60th minute to get his first Premier League goal for the club and Cody Gakpo\u00a0added a second in stoppage time to finish off the game.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve taken a look at three selection lessons the Liverpool manager would\u2019ve learned following the win against the Hammers.<\/p>\n
Florian Wirtz must start when fit<\/p>\n
Wirtz has experienced a difficult start to his Liverpool career since making a \u00a3116million move from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer\u00a0transfer window.<\/p>\n
The Germany international has shown glimpses of his undoubted talent and\u00a0contributed\u00a0three\u00a0assists\u00a0\u2013 two in the\u00a0Champions League\u00a0and one in the Community Shield.<\/p>\n
But it has been his performances in the Premier League that have come under fire, with the midfielder yet to register a direct goal contribution in the competition.<\/p>\n
He missed the games against Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven after picking up a muscle injury on international duty but was recalled to the starting line-up for the trip to West Ham.<\/p>\n
While it was initially expected that Wirtz would play off the right,\u00a0he operated as Liverpool\u2019s no.10 and Dominik Szoboszlai moved out to the wing.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old missed a good chance to break the deadlock in the first half but brilliantly found pockets of space and was Liverpool\u2019s\u00a0most creative player throughout the game.<\/p>\n
Speaking during Sky Sports\u2019 half-time coverage, Carragher praised his impact and said: \u201c[Wirtz] has been the best player on the pitch. It\u2019s his best 45 minutes in a Liverpool shirt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought initially he\u2019d be on the right, but he\u2019s been in his favoured position, tucked in on the left between the lines. He should do better with his chance, but he\u2019s been head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
The midfielder was involved in the build-up to Isak\u2019s opener and their blossoming relationship could be key as Liverpool try and get their season back on track.<\/p>\n
His performance against West Ham also proved that he can play alongside\u00a0Szoboszlai and it doesn\u2019t have to be one or the other.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Florian Wirtz (right) produced a top-class display for Liverpool in the Champions League<\/p>\n
Mo Salah is no longer a guaranteed starter<\/p>\n
Salah produced\u00a0arguably the best season of his career in the 2024\/25 campaign, registering 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions.<\/p>\n
But his performances in the opening weeks of the 2025\/26 campaign have dipped way below the standards he has set over the previous eight years at Anfield.<\/p>\n
The Egpyt international has\u00a0only scored twice in his last 12 appearances for the Reds and has\u00a0also been criticised for his lack of defensive contributions.<\/p>\n
Slot decided to put him on the bench against West Ham,\u00a0marking the first time the winger hasn\u2019t started a Premier League game since a 2-2 draw against the same opponents in April 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have more players on the bench than just Mo, but I understand why you ask the question,\u201d the manager said when asked about the decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re playing four games in 10 days. I have many good players, so today I chose this line-up. Sometimes Isak has been on the bench, sometimes Wirtz, so I understand why it\u2019s about the players on the bench, but it\u2019s also about those that start.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not an easy decision, as I have many more than 11 good players \u2013 it\u2019s not the first time I haven\u2019t played Mo, just like I\u2019ve decided not to play Isak, Wirtz and Etikite.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Slot tried to downplay it, Salah\u2019s omission was undoubtedly a big call and critics would\u2019ve questioned the manager if Liverpool hadn\u2019t picked up all three points.<\/p>\n
But the attacking set-up looked a lot more balanced and cohesive without the 33-year-old and the summer signings stepped up in his absence,\u00a0with Wirtz taking on greater responsibility and\u00a0Isak\u00a0providing a focal point in attack.<\/p>\n
Salah remained on the bench as an unused substitute throughout the match, which hasn\u2019t happened in a Premier League game\u00a0since a 5-2 win against Everton in December 2019.<\/p>\n
While an in-form Salah is still a top player, this performance proved that Liverpool\u00a0can operate effectively without their talisman and he doesn\u2019t have to be the first name on the team sheet.<\/p>\n
Joe Gomez at right-back<\/p>\n
Following Trent Alexander-Arnold\u2019s move to Real Madrid in the summer, right-back has become a problem position for Liverpool.<\/p>\n
Jeremie Frimpong was signed from Bayer Leverkusen to compete with Conor Bradley, but the two right-backs have struggled with injury problems this season.<\/p>\n
Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones \u2013 who are both central midfielders by trade \u2013 have played as\u00a0makeshift right-backs for Liverpool in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
Gomez was an unused substitute in the defeats to Nottingham Forest and PSV but came in at right-back against West Ham for his first Premier League start of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have conceded far too many goals,\u201d Slot said before the match. \u201cThat isn\u2019t about the right-back position, everyone is involved, but with Joe we bring in a full-back who is normally a centre-back.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter conceding 10 goals, I have decided to play with four real defenders, where in the past we have played with midfielders.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurtis and Dom have done a more than acceptable job in that position, but Joe is someone who has played that position many times during his career.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old justified his selection with a defensively solid performance, making\u00a0three interceptions, three recoveries, two cleanrances and one block.<\/p>\n
His performance at the London Stadium also helped Liverpool keep their first clean sheet away from home since the 1-0 win over Burnley in September.<\/p>\n
While the centre-back isn\u2019t renowned for his attacking qualities, he got an assist against West Ham after picking out Gakpo with an impressive cross in injury time.<\/p>\n
Liverpool signed two attacking full-backs in the summer but picking one defensive-minded right-back provided more stability against the Hammers, and Gomez should now keep his place in the team for the next few weeks.<\/p>\n