Mohamed Salah has history at London Stadium. This may have been a day when Liverpool began to write a new chapter of their own by moving towards the next generation without him in a 2-0 win at West Ham.

Head coach Arne Slot dropped the 33 year old to the bench for a Premier League game for the first time since April 2024, also at West Ham. That decision had been taken then by Slot’s predecessor, Jurgen Klopp.

That day ended with Salah firmly in the headlines. First he was involved in a touchline spat with Klopp as West Ham scored while he waited to come on as a substitute during a 2-2 draw. Then he walked past reporters afterwards and said: “If I speak there will be fire.”

Here, Slot’s selection carried broader significance. It was not about drawing Salah’s career at Anfield to a close. Instead, it hinted at how the manager’s £450m summer rebuild may eventually take shape without the great Egyptian.

Slot has been publicly encouraged to drop Salah after a series of below par displays this season. Wayne Rooney was among those urging the decision. Dropping him was the easy part. The difficult one is replacing a world class talent who is third on the club’s all time scoring list behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.

Here, Slot offered a possible answer.

The first sight of a reshaped Liverpool delivered the result he and his team desperately needed. They secured a victory after a run of nine defeats in their past 12 games, including six in seven in the league.

Slot also had reason to celebrate Alexander Isak scoring his first league goal since his British record £125m move from Newcastle United. £116m Florian Wirtz pulled many of the strings that led to the victory.

Slot’s decisions paid off. Dominik Szoboszlai was moved away from right back, where he had been wasted, and allowed to patrol the right flank in attack. Cody Gakpo played on the left, with Isak as the main striker.

Gakpo supplied the cross for Isak’s goal, then scored a thumping finish in stoppage time for Liverpool’s second.

Slot also brought in Joe Gomez at right back for his first league start in 11 months. That freed Szoboszlai and strengthened Liverpool defensively, helping them record a clean sheet after conceding 10 goals in three games.

As for Salah, who will soon leave for the Africa Cup of Nations, he watched from the bench.

Slot insisted the forward, who signed a new two year contract in the summer, “will have a very good future at this club because he’s such a special player.”

But based on his form this season, Salah has risked being left out.

Alan Shearer told BBC Sport: “It was a big call by Slot, but Liverpool’s results made it easier. When things aren’t going your way, you must make big decisions. That was a big one because of what Salah has done for Liverpool.

“But he can’t complain. He hasn’t been playing well. When that happens, you accept the decision. It has worked for Liverpool and for Isak because he was the difference.”

Salah should not be written off. That would be dangerous. He had started 53 Premier League matches in a row before this one. Last season he often appeared to be on a mission to bring the title back to Liverpool, which eventually happened.

Salah has made 419 Liverpool appearances, with 383 starts, scoring 250 goals. In the league he has made 300 appearances with 288 starts, scoring 188 goals and recording a 64% win rate.

In all competitions, Liverpool have won 263 games when Salah has played, a win ratio of 63%.

His talent cannot be dismissed. But Slot would not be doing his job if he ignored Liverpool’s future beyond Salah. Sunday’s victory offered early clues.

It will be interesting to see if Slot brings him back against Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday.

Isak had only scored once, in the Carabao Cup against Southampton in September. His snap half volley ended a 310 minute league goal drought, achieved on his sixth appearance. The strike will do his confidence a world of good.

Wirtz also showed signs of his quality. The 22 year old German playmaker produced several moments of intelligence while roaming between the lines.

“I’ve been waiting for it and chasing this goal. Sometimes it takes longer than you expect, but I’m happy to score and help towards the win,” Isak told Match of the Day.

“It’s never easy. As a striker you need momentum. Sometimes you go through patches, but hopefully this helps build good form. We defended really well and scored twice, so happy days.”

For Liverpool and Slot, this was all about the win. It was only their second in the league since beating Everton 2-1 on 20 September.

The fact they did it with their expensive summer signings showing improved form is an added boost and will ease pressure on the Dutchman’s future.