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Arne Slot has been urged to leave Alexander Isak out of his side following the international break, with the Liverpool boss told that Hugo Ekitike should be the “only one” playing up front.
Isak made his return from injury when he came off the bench during Sweden’s defeat to Switzerland on Saturday. The striker hasn’t featured for his club since being forced off with a groin problem against Eintracht Frankfurt last month, but was named on the bench against Manchester City just before the international break.
The 26-year-old could be in line to start his nation’s final qualifier against Slovenia on Tuesday, and thereafter will be eyeing up a return to the Liverpool side as he aims to put the frustrations of his early months with the Reds behind him.
Isak has struggled for fitness after missing out on a true pre-season, having effectively gone on strike back at Newcastle before securing his record transfer to Liverpool.
But even with Isak now seemingly back fit, former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf has insisted that Hugo Ekitike - who scored his first international goal for France last week - should get the nod ahead of him.
“It’s going to be tricky because right now the only one who should play is Hugo Ekitike,” he told OLBG.
“Hugo should play every game because Alexander Isak didn't train for a while, was fighting against Newcastle in order to come to Liverpool, but right now Isak is not the Isak we have known from years playing for Newcastle.
“But he put a lot of pressure on Hugo. Hugo started very well, scoring every game in the team which is a shadow of itself.
“But right now, Hugo is doing great and Arne Slot should only play him. And it doesn't matter if the other guy costs 130 or 150 million. If he's not ready enough, you should play Hugo.”
Slot did play Ekitike and Isak together against Frankfurt before the latter’s injury, although Leboeuf is not convinced that is a plan that will work, feeling that it may create more problems for Liverpool’s other players.
“There is a possibility for Hugo also to play on the left side. It's also possible for Isak to do so. He has the choice of a king as we say in France, Arne Slot,” Leboeuf added.
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“We have to talk about Mohamed Salah as well, he is not the Salah we have seen. So you have Salah, Cody Gakpo, Ekiteke and Isak.
“But what do you do with Florian Wirtz. So it's complicated but they've decided to go there. Personally, when I saw Ekitike starting with Liverpool I said well they don't need Isak.
“I thought they should’ve given up and said no on the signing because it's going to create more problems than bring results.
“Arne Slot needs to make choices and you have to make sure that the dressing room is okay with that and they live together in a good way with a good vibe – he will have to be psychologically very good.”
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