Kylian Mbappe tipped to help Liverpool solve Alexander Isak conundrum

Liverpool has a few problems to solve at the moment with its attack faltering without Florian Wirtz, but Kylian Mbappe has been tipped to help provide a longer-term solution

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe.(Image: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Even after beating Nottingham Forest and gaining ground on Chelsea in the race for the Champions League spots, Liverpool still has a few areas that need to be improved across the pitch.

Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch struggled at the City Ground, though the former ended up scoring the winner, and Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike were anonymous, unable to get involved without Florian Wirtz there to provide for them.

With Wirtz fit and Alexander Isak to fit in, Arne Slot will have options when everyone is there to select. And though that feels like it is some way off — and there are more immediate issues to solve — it is something to consider.

Isak, in particular, though he is still a few weeks off a comeback and might not hit the ground running when he does return, will inject some fresh quality in the final third.

And while Ekitike was poor at Nottingham Forest, the Frenchman has been a strong performer in general in his first few months at Anfield. Fitting both players in feels crucial to the next step for Slot at Liverpool.

"Can Kylian Mbappe show Hugo Ekitike how he can work with Alexander Isak in the same attack? Well, the thing is you learn to play off different players like you learn to play different formations and different systems," former Reds striker Emile Heskey told OLBG.

Liverpool forwards Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"I think Arne Slot has tried to tinker with it a little bit to see what it looks like with two up front or one up front, playing high and wide or having your wingers come and play a bit more inside to have the full backs making those high and wide runs.

"I think Ekitike’s got to try and mix it up a little bit just to give the manager a little bit of a headache, that truly he cannot drop this player because he gives everything to the team.

"He understands it. He understands the different ways I wish to play."

For now, the immediate priority is finding a way that Liverpool can create when Wirtz isn't there. Whether he returns from injury against West Ham or not, the German is not going to be able to play every minute — and the Reds need to be able to cope when he doesn't.

In the summer, Ekitike could represent France at the World Cup, where, as Heskey says, he will be expected to fit around Mbappe, in addition to learning from the Real Madrid man.

He has previously played well for France down the left flank and could do something similar to that for Liverpool once Isak returns, not least with Cody Gakpo struggling at the moment.

In the more immediate term, though, with Isak still making his way back from a broken leg and Liverpool needing goals from its number nine in an important string of fixtures, a return to form down the middle would be a huge boost.