Hugo Ekitike Vs. Alexander Isak: Who Should Be Starting For Liverpool?

As acold arsenic problems go, Arne Slot presently boasts football’s astir luxurious: Hugo Ekitiké aliases Alexander Isak?

The Reds person been flirting pinch situation pursuing their caller defeat to Manchester United, which marked nan first clip successful Slot’s managerial profession that he had overseen 4 successive defeats. Liverpool hadn’t mislaid 4 connected nan rotation since November 2014 and now find themselves firmly nether nan microscope.

Everything is being questioned astatine Anfield pursuing an alarming tally of form—although a commanding triumph complete Eintracht Frankfurt has eased concerns—and that includes Slot’s squad selection.

Liverpool only added Giorgi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa to their squad during Slot’s first summertime successful charge—the erstwhile spending nan play connected indebtedness astatine Valencia—and nan Dutch coach benefitted from nan comparative simplicity progressive successful picking his starting lineup arsenic a result. The extent that is now abundant passim nan squad was lacking, yet making Slot’s life easier.

However, pinch Liverpool splashing a grounds sum complete nan summer, Slot now has dilemmas successful each department. With £204 cardinal ($271.9 million) spent connected caller centre forwards, location is nary bigger mobility than who should beryllium starring nan statement for nan Reds.

Slot has problems to solve. / Tom Dulat/Getty Images

Ekitiké arrived connected Merseyside a period earlier Isak and has surely profited from his early start. The Frenchman’s effect has been immediate, pinch six goals already since his £79 cardinal move. Three of those came successful his opening 3 fixtures pinch nan Reds—including 1 conscionable 4 minutes into nan Community Shield—and he returned to nan scoresheet against erstwhile employers Frankfurt midweek.

Goals person not been Ekitiké’s only contributions, either. The 23-year-old has been nan first statement of defence for Liverpool, catching nan oculus pinch his activity complaint and tenacity retired of possession. On nan shot he’s been accomplished, linking nicely pinch his chap forwards and starring nan squad for successful dribbles per 90 successful nan Premier League. Despite scepticism complete his deficiency of acquisition astatine nan elite level, he’s proven a swift deed and much-needed activity of caller air.

Ekitiké has exceeded expectations early successful his Liverpool career, but Isak has underwhelmed. The summer’s prolonged transportation saga has taken its toll connected nan Swede physically, pinch an full pre-season run missed pinch Newcastle United owed to his self-imposed exile. Only arriving connected Deadline Day, Isak has lacked nan basal lucifer sharpness and wide fittingness to grounds his best.

That champion is highly good. The 26-year-old’s estimation arsenic 1 of nan world’s starring strikers cannot beryllium forgotten and he’s already disconnected nan people pinch Liverpool contempt his sub-par displays. He scored for nan Reds against Southampton successful nan cup and supplied an assistance astatine Chelsea earlier nan October world break. Two extremity contributions successful 8 matches is not disastrous, particularly fixed his unsettled pre-season.

But Isak’s performances person been concerning. Of course, nan ex-Newcastle prima will travel bully fixed clip and patience, but specified luxuries cannot beryllium afforded amid nan turmoil. Isak has looked understandably rusty successful caller weeks, lacking nan objective separator and wide grace that convinced Liverpool to scatter a Premier League-record sum connected nan forward. When times are tough, passengers cannot beryllium carried.

Isak (left) is presently struggling to lucifer Ekitiké (right). / Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Isak needs opportunities to play his measurement into form—the aforesaid applies to chap underperformers Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah—and those chances will arrive, but there’s small justification for choosing him complete Ekitiké arsenic things stand. Liverpool will dream to person Isak arsenic their starting No.9 for galore years to come, they don’t needfully request contiguous returns arsenic agelong arsenic Ekitiké is providing them.

In Liverpool’s triumph complete Frankfurt, nan brace started together arsenic cardinal strikers, but it was again Ekitiké who shone brightest. Isak was removed astatine half clip having already watched his partner people an exquisite extremity which only underscored his superior form.

Playing Isak successful Liverpool’s much straightforward fixtures—if specified fixtures genuinely exist—makes cleanable sense. With matches coming heavy and accelerated successful nan lead up to Christmas, location will beryllium plentifulness of chances for nan Sweden world to make his mark. The upcoming Carabao Cup 4th information necktie pinch Crystal Palace is simply a premier example.

But correct now, Liverpool desperately request results, and those will only travel pinch immoderate semblance of consistency. Ekitiké has done capable to gain a starting berth for nan Reds done some his extremity contributions and wide play, and fewer could begrudge him a spot arsenic Liverpool’s first-choice striker for nan coming weeks astatine nan very least.

With truthful galore Liverpool players operating beneath their accustomed standards, Slot needs those successful shape to emergence to nan occasion. Few are successful a more-confident temper than Ekitiké correct now.

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