2 weeks ago
11
Arne Slot will have to manage Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike carefully this season, with both players keen to establish themselves in the Liverpool starting XI.
Signed for a combined sum of around $260 million (£194 million) from Newcastle United and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively, Slot hasn't used them together much so far. Liverpool, though, does have the option of moving to playing with the two forwards at once as it looks to find its form again.
"From the outside, it’s easy for us to ask which one out of Isak and Ekitike should start at the moment," ex-Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke told Escapist Magazine.
"They brought in two big-money strikers because they wanted competition up front, and maybe for them to play together occasionally.
"When you spend that much money on two strikers, you expect regular goals, and when that isn’t happening, then people begin to ask questions.
"I don’t think there will be any animosity between Isak and Ekitike, but they’ll both want to start.
"At Manchester United, we had four strikers who all wanted to play, but we found a way to make it work. When you get your chance, you have to show why you’re worth £125 million, or £69 million in Ekitike’s case.
"When you have two big names fighting for the same position, the most important thing is to create a competitive situation that is healthy."
In addition to finding a winning formula with Isak and Ekitike, Slot also needs to get more from Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah.
"Salah is a worry because there is such a dramatic difference to what we're used to with him," former Reds striker Emile Heskey told Liverpool.com this week.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
"But even last season, I don't think he particularly played well. He scored a lot of goals but I don't think he played well.
"With Mo, he is not a Sadio Mane where if you don't get the goals then you get the tenacity and the fight and the other things. With Mo, you get the goals; with Mane, you got everything.
"At this moment in time, when he isn't scoring, what is he giving you? That's the problem. With Mo and certain forwards, they always have a tendency to score at a critical point, so how long do you leave him on?
"I think the whole squad is missing Trent Alexander-Arnold. You have got to look at what he brought and his ability to create a chance as well. When it comes to that, yes they're missing him — but you can't rely on one player to bring a performance out of you."
English (US) ·