Alexander Isak made it five games without a goal for Liverpool after drawing a blank against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday evening.
The Swede has struggled to get properly going after his record summer arrival from Newcastle, and lasted only 45 minutes in Germany.
Isak looked relatively sharp during his time on the pitch, seeing two efforts saved by Eintracht goalkeeper Michael Zetterer.
After a promising showing there was a surprise at half-time, with Arne Slot choosing to take his No. 9 off for Federico Chiesa.
Slot confirmed Isak’s substitution was injury related after the game, revealing that the 26-year-old had been struggling with a groin issue.
With Isak now looking likely to miss at least one Liverpool game, and with Hugo Ekitike continuing to score goals and impress, there is a danger the £120m man may find himself being left behind.
Liverpool may find their attacking solution without Alexander Isak
The wisdom of Liverpool signing both Ekitike and Isak this summer is not a topic that really needs revisiting.
Pundit after pundit has questioned why Slot decided he needed two superstar number nine signings in the same window.
READ MORE: Hugo Ekitike makes Alexander Isak claim after outshining Liverpool’s No. 9 yet again
Ultimately, there is definitely a way for the Liverpool head coach to get both players in the same team and firing together. It will happen sooner or later.
For now, though, Isak could really do with finding the net a couple of times in quick succession. Now out injured for an indeterminate amount of time, he may not be able to do that.
In the meantime, Ekitike will surely lead the line for Liverpool. If the Frenchman can continue to score goals and play well, Isak may not be guaranteed his spot back when he returns.
In reality, Liverpool cannot really afford for that to happen. They have spent a British record fee on Isak for him to be in the side whenever possible. It simply has to work.
But the former Newcastle man has been unfortunate to be in the starting XI during a run of really poor results. None have been anything much to do with him it must be said, but if form picks up with him out of the team, he may struggle to find his way back in.
More patience is required with Isak
Rival supporters have taken plenty of glee in the perceived failure of both Florian Wirtz and Isak at Liverpool this season.
Wirtz looked better against Eintracht on Wednesday, even claiming a couple of assists to quieten chatter over his output.
But as Newcastle fans continue to tear chunks out of Isak online, the striker is not doing a great deal to silence his own critics.
Liverpool fans are a patient bunch, and there should be understanding for why it is taking their new No. 9 some time to get up to speed. As Jurgen Klopp said only last week, Isak is an ‘incredible’ striker. He should come good.
An injury is another bump in the road to that happening, but the Reds have signed him for six years not six weeks or six months. Patience is required and will be granted, but sometimes things just don’t work.
If Isak misses a chunk of matches and slithers out of the reckoning, there will be some beginning to wonder if it was simply never meant to be.
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