Joe glad to get back to the basics

Shift of emphasis suits Gomez

- By IAN DOYLE Chief LFC Writer

THERE'S always a Bill Shankly quote. And to paraphrase the Liverpool managerial great, football is a simple game that can on occasion become far more complicated than is necessary.

Most head coaches are guilty of such over-elaboration. So when matters go awry, a return to the fundamentals very often becomes both the default setting and the foundation to rebuild confidence and belief.

Such was the case for Arne Slot at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon when, after back-to-back dire home defeats to Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven sent Liverpool tumbling to their worst run in 72 years, the Reds boss began a week that could have major ramifications for both the immediate and long-term future.

After nine losses in 12 games, Slot’s side simply dare not fail against a West Ham United side that, while improving under new coach Nuno Espirito Santo, did not represent the same threat as recent opponents.

The focus after a deserved 2-0 victory was undoubtedly on the big calls that all paid off for Slot - dropping Mohamed Salah to the bench, showing faith in the impressive Florian Wirtz as number 10 and giving Alexander Isak the start to score his first Premier League goal since his British record £125million arrival from Newcastle United in September.