Slot survives another week as Reds' £100m stars shine

Arne Slot was facing a doomsday scenario had he left London with a 10th loss in 13 games.

- WILL CASTLE

Inspired in different ways by his £100m entities, his fight to survive at Liverpool will go on at least another gameweek.

With every game at the moment comes the risk of a new low for the reigning Premier League champions. The Reds came to the London Stadium on their worst run since 1952/53 and had also lost each of their last five away league games in the capital. Slot needed a change of fortunes on almost every front, and he received just that reprieve against a West Ham side mourning the death of club icon Billy Bonds.

A full recovery is not guaranteed for the current Liverpool manager - but this is proof that Slot's reign isn't yet untenable.

"Relief," Slot said, asked on his prevailing emotion when Cody Gakpo fired in Liverpool's second in stoppage-time to make their lead unassailable.

The Dutchman has to be bold to lead such a seismic turnaround.

Decisions like benching Mohamed Salah for the first time in the Premier League since April 2024 could be the making of his second coming, but may spark his demise if they backfire.

Fortunately for Slot, his big call to drop the club's deified but offthe-pace talisman aged well.