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Arne Slot reacts to Alexander Isak’s first Premier League goal for Liverpool and explains Mohamed Salah benching against West Ham


Salah still has ‘very good future’ at Liverpool – Slot

Video credit: SNTV

Arne Slot insisted that Alexander Isak is still a “top striker” after he scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool in a 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened West Ham United.

The Reds came into the fixture on a run of six losses in seven Premier League games, but goals from Isak and Dutch forward Cody Gakpo helped them secure all three points at the London Stadium.

Prior to the clash, Isak had failed to find the back of the net in any of his five Premier League appearances for Liverpool, having completed his move from Newcastle United for a reported British record transfer fee of £125 million in the summer.

However, Slot was impressed by the Swedish star’s finish and admitted that he kept him on the pitch in the hope that he would score.

“He is a top striker,” he told BBC Match of the Day. “This finish was very good.

“I kept him in just long enough for him to get a goal for the team and himself.”

The win means the defending Premier League champions are now eighth in the table, while The Hammers are languishing in 17th place.

Isak is not the only player to have struggled in a Liverpool shirt so far this season.

Mohamed Salah produced 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions last term, but was left out of the starting XI for the clash with West Ham after a string of underwhelming performances.

Salah may have only scored five goals in 18 appearances this time around, but Slot says there will be plenty more opportunities for the forward to impress.

“We play a lot of games,” he said. “In 10 days, we played four. These players are such quality players.

“Mo has been so important for the club and will be so important for the club, so let’s see what happens on Wednesday (against Sunderland).”

Liverpool can now look ahead to a home game against Sunderland in their next Premier League fixture on Wednesday.

West Ham will look to get their campaign back on track when they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Thursday.

Isak’s only other Liverpool goal came in a 2-1 win against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, and he admitted that his first in the Premier League was a long time coming.

“I’m aware that it has been a long time coming, and I have been trying to get back to my best form,” he said.

“I’m still on the way, but I am happy to get that goal.

“The best feeling today is that we win the game and that is the best way to get a good spirit in the group, but of course, I am a striker so scoring goals will always help me.

“We have to use this win in a good way but also be humble. We have to stay focused and keep working hard to keep this momentum.”

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