First step out of the crisis?
Ex-Bundesliga star saves Liverpool
November 30, 2025 – 5:49 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Liverpool FC is taking a small step out of the crisis. A top star remains on the bench, a German makes his comeback.
The weak English soccer champions FC Liverpool have stopped their negative series for the time being. After three defeats in a row, the team led by German national soccer player Florian Wirtz won 2-0 (0-0) at West Ham United, who were also in crisis. Former Dortmund player Alexander Isak (60th minute) scored his first competitive goal for the “Reds”. Cody Gakpo also scored (90+2).
It was a Premier League duel between two teams whose crisis was clearly evident. There were hardly any good chances on either side. Liverpool FC was the dominant team for long stretches, but overall played harmlessly. Coach Arne Slot left star striker Mohamed Salah on the bench. Record newcomer Alexander Isak, who had been disappointing so far this season, started in attack, but justified his inclusion in the starting line-up with the goal.
After an hour, the ball came to Wirtz after a long throw-in, who played from the start after an injury break and showed a solid performance. The national player served Cody Gakpo, who replaced the goalscorer Isak. In stoppage time, Gakpo made the decision himself. West Ham, with Niclas Füllkrug from the 78th minute onwards, were completely disappointing offensively and had to play outnumbered from the 84th onwards after a strange situation. Lucas Paqueta complained to the referee after a yellow card until the referee showed yellow-red.
Liverpool, who lost nine of the previous twelve competitive games and had clearly lost the last three games, can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being and climbed from twelfth to eighth place in the table. Table 17. Only the goal difference separates West Ham from a relegation place.
Before the game, both clubs remembered West Ham club legend Billy Bonds. Bonds, who played 799 games for the Hammers in 21 years and later returned as coach, died on Sunday at the age of 79. West Ham ran with mourning ribbons, captain Jarrod Bowen placed a jersey with Bonds’ number 4 in front of the fan curve before kick-off.