Liverpool 2-0 West Ham: Wirtz, Szoboszlai replace Salah

Liverpool beat West Ham 2-0 on a day Mohamed Salah was on the bench, and the tactical picture for the period without the Egyptian star became clear: Florian Wirtz played the number 10 role, Dominik Szoboszlai filled in on the right flank to reinforce defensive discipline, and Alexander Isak made his mark at the right time with his first league goal.

Manager Arne Slot called it a rotation after a run of four matches in 10 days, but the personnel arrangement and operational model suggest more than just a short-term personnel decision. This resembles the blueprint Liverpool will use while Salah is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, and beyond, in the post-Salah era.

Solution without Salah

Salah isn't the type of player who's "lazy" when it comes to defending; seven years as a starter under Jurgen Klopp is proof of that. But he's often prioritized to conserve his energy in the opponent's half. With the team's structure shifting, Liverpool no longer have much room to reserve that privilege.

Against West Ham, Slot deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation when in possession. The attacking quartet rotated flexibly, but the core was Wirtz in the number 10 role. On the right – Salah's familiar area – was assigned to Szoboszlai, behind which Joe Gomez played as right-back to provide defensive support.

Wirtz in the role of number 10: the central coordinator.

Wirtz had a great game against West Ham. He touched the ball in every attacking move, controlled the tempo and accelerated at the right moments – exactly as Slot envisioned when he signed him. This is considered Wirtz's most complete performance in a Liverpool shirt to date.

Isak – the other high-profile signing in the attacking duo worth over £141 million – was sometimes isolated and lacked sharpness, but he scored at the right moment to unlock the deadlock and ultimately determine the outcome.

Szoboszlai on the right wing: a shield in front of the goal.

The most valuable adjustment was on the right wing. Szoboszlai not only filled the creative role but also added a defensive shield. Compared to Salah's data against PSV (dribbled past twice, tackled once), Szoboszlai against West Ham made two tackles and wasn't dribbled past at all. With Gomez anchored behind, the right flank became significantly harder to penetrate.

The ripple effect was evident on the opposite flank: Cody Gakpo covered the constant up-and-down runs, providing defensive depth. In the center, Ibrahima Konate's solidity contributed to Liverpool keeping clean sheets.

The pivotal moment and the pace of the game.

This was Salah's first Premier League match since April 2024 on the bench. Looking at the scoreline, 2-0 seems like a simple victory. But the key was how Liverpool controlled the transitions using their 4-2-3-1 formation, with Wirtz as a central anchor between the lines and Szoboszlai balancing on the right wing.

Significance for the season plan

This victory reinforces the idea that Slot inherited Klopp's pressing legacy and personnel structure, then reinforced it with a more pronounced defensive discipline. Liverpool accepted sacrificing some wing firepower in exchange for solidity – a pragmatic but necessary move at a time when Salah was absent due to AFCON.

What else needs to be done? Wirtz still needs more time to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League; Isak needs to be more integrated into the link-up play. But the core formula – Wirtz central, Szoboszlai on the right, Gomez covering behind – has shown a solid foundation.

Selective statistics

With a packed fixture list and Salah absent, Liverpool opted for a risk-taking approach: adding a defensive layer on the right flank, positioning a playmaker between the lines, and seeking goals from moments of quality. Against West Ham, they did just that.