Gakpo Seals Liverpool Victory in Dramatic London Stadium Finish
Puntos Clave
- Liverpool secured a crucial 0-2 victory over relegation-threatened West Ham
- Alexander Isak broke the deadlock on the hour mark
- Lucas Paquetá's red card shifted momentum decisively toward Liverpool
- Cody Gakpo's stoppage-time strike sealed the three points
West Ham United desperately needed points to climb away from the relegation zone, sitting 17th with just 11 points, while Liverpool arrived at London Stadium seeking consistency from their 13th-place position. The Reds delivered when it mattered most, securing a vital 0-2 victory that lifted them further from the bottom half.
The breakthrough finally arrived on the hour mark when Alexander Isak found space in the centre of the box, drilling a precise right-footed shot into the bottom left corner after excellent work from Cody Gakpo. The Swedish striker's clinical finish rewarded Liverpool's patient build-up play and silenced the home crowd who had been urging their team forward throughout a tense opening period.
West Ham's hopes crumbled in the 84th minute when Lucas Paquetá received his second yellow card, leaving the Hammers to battle with ten men during the crucial final stages. Cody Gakpo capitalized on the numerical advantage deep into stoppage time, converting from close range after Joe Gomez's assist to seal the victory with a composed finish into the centre of the goal.
The tactical battle saw Liverpool gradually assert control through midfield, with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister dictating tempo against West Ham's industrious pairing of Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa. Virgil van Dijk marshalled Liverpool's defence superbly, while Jarrod Bowen posed West Ham's greatest threat down the right flank, testing Milos Kerkez repeatedly.
Liverpool dominated possession at 56.3% and registered five shots on target compared to West Ham's zero, with Alphonse Areola producing crucial saves to keep the hosts in contention. The visitors earned nine corners to West Ham's seven, reflecting their territorial advantage, though the Hammers battled valiantly until Paquetá's dismissal shifted the momentum decisively.
The turning point arrived with Paquetá's red card in the 84th minute, his second bookable offence leaving West Ham exposed during the nervy final stages. Despite late pressure from Niclas Füllkrug and substitute efforts, the ten men couldn't find an equalizer as Liverpool's experience showed in managing the closing minutes.
Liverpool travel to face Sunderland on December 3rd, seeking to build momentum from this hard-fought victory. West Ham host Manchester United on December 4th, desperately needing points against another top-flight opponent to ease their relegation fears and climb away from the bottom three.