2 hours ago
2
Liverpool spent a combined $277 million (£204 million) on bringing in Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike from Newcastle United and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively.
And though Isak is still to work his way back to full fitness after missing most of the summer, Arne Slot will soon get to answer the question of how he intends to use all of the attacking talent at his disposal. It goes without saying that Liverpool would not have sanctioned such moves without having a clear plan.
Slot has five senior forward options: Isak, Ekitike, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa. Rio Ngumoha is likely to have a role to play as well, while Florian Wirtz, another big-money addition in the window just gone, can also play as a false nine.
But what are the options available to Liverpool when it comes to fitting the exciting jigsaw together? It might not be too long until we get to see the answer for ourselves.
Given he is the British record signing, playing Isak in his favored central berth seems most likely as often as possible. The Swede does drift out to the left side, but he likes to start in the middle.
That could mean that Ekitike is rotated into the side and they don't play together much, but without much senior cover for Gakpo, there is also the option of the French international being shifted out wide.
Ekitike is a number nine, but he has a skillset that means he could, in theory, start from the left wing. And with an attacking left-back in Milos Kerkez behind him, it isn't too hard to see how the mechanics of that might unfold.
Isak and Ekitike playing together could see them link up in a front two but Ekitike can play as a number 10 as well. Wirtz will play most of his minutes there, but he will need to take a break at some point.
Wirtz can also play as a false nine, and did that for Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield last season when Xabi Alonso's side visited in the Champions League. With Isak and Ekitike in, however, that plan looks less likely than before.
Chiesa, who scored the late winner against Bournemouth on the opening day of the campaign, could still have a substantial role to play as well. The Italian has talent, though relying too heavily on him after a season where he barely featured would be a risk.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Fortunately, Jeremie Frimpong, who returned from injury this week, is a genuine option down the right flank. We may well see that frequently when Salah heads for AFCON.
Liverpool was at pains to avoid limiting the chances that Ngumoha will get this season too after a breakout summer. His late goal at Newcastle, taken with such confidence despite the pressure, will do nothing to dampen the expectations.
There is a balance to be struck between playing him too much and not fully utilizing his talents, but Ngumoha appears to be heading on the right path. This week, he impressed for England's U19s.
Isak does, in some ways, complicate things for Slot. His Liverpool attack, so far this season, has essentially picked itself. With a two-games-a-week schedule set to begin, though, that was always going to change.
Isak isn't up to speed yet. But when he is, he will quickly become another luxury piece of the puzzle for Slot to fit in.
English (US) ·