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Arne Slot has given a first indication of how his new-look Liverpool attack could function following the deadline-day arrival of Alexander Isak.
The striker signed for a record-breaking $169million (£125M) fee at the start of the month and, after missing the weekend win over Burnley, was handed a debut on Wednesday against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
That meant Hugo Ekitike dropped to the bench, ending his five-match starting run at the beginning of the season. Where exactly the Frenchman fits into Slot's plans following Isak's arrival has been a major talking point in the last few weeks - no one expects the Premier League's record signing to play a back-up role.
Ekitike's ability to play in a wide area is understood to be a major reason Liverpool opted to sign the 23-year-old over the summer, although Slot has revealed he primarily sees the summer signing from Eintracht Frankfurt playing as a no.9.
"Hugo could be a player that plays off the left side, not like the way Cody [Gakpo] or Mo [Salah] is playing with holding the width and taking on the one vs ones, but he could become a second striker," the Liverpool head coach told TNT Sports ahead of the Atletico game.
"But in general, I think both of them [Isak and Ekitike] are more No.9s than any other position."
That Slot views Ekitike primarily as a center forward may suggest he will have to plenty of time on the bench this season, just a few months on from signing in a deal worth up to £79M ($108M).
It would represent a major blow for a player who has made an impressive start to life at Liverpool and netted in all of his first three matches. That form also saw Ekitike earn a maiden France call-up.
Liverpool's new no.22 came off the bench for just over half an hour at Anfield on Wednesday, with Isak managing 58 minutes on his debut.
The Swede looked sharp, linked well with Florian Wirtz and had some impressive moments.
"I think in the 60 minutes he played he seemed to be quite fit," Slot told TNT Sports after the game.
"It wasn't as if after 10 minutes he was already very tired. He could just play at this level quite well after only one or two weeks of team sessions so that was the most positive thing and that he can play football and that is a joy to watch.
"He was good today and when Hugo came in he was a big threat also, so we have two great no.9s and we're going to use them both of them throughout the whole period that they were here but definitely now in the start."
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