Arne Slot is trying to revamp his team to prepare them for another challenging run of Premier League games.
The Reds have got over their nightmare run of four straight losses in all competitions after beating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Champions League; however, their game against Brentford poses a threat.
Keith Andrews’ side will be ready to try and exploit the long ball, which has haunted Liverpool this season, as Slot tries to find a way to counteract teams using it in each game.
One area where the manager will have to change from Wednesday’s game for the league match is up front, with Alexander Isak going off with a groin injury, meaning Hugo Ekitike will start as a lone striker rather than in a pair.
The Frenchman in the most recent set of fixtures has been used sparingly, especially in the big games against Chelsea and Manchester United, where he was left on the bench despite his six goal contributions so far.
Arne Slot told Hugo Ekitike will be annoyed about his position behind Alexander Isak
Ekitike has been a real breath of fresh air in the more central area of attack with his movement and finishing ability up to a world-class standard.
However, it is difficult to tell whether the 23-year-old will be happy with his place in the side, given he has not started ahead of Isak on at least two occasions.
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ESPN pundit Craig Burley believes that it will become an issue if it is not already for the Dutch manager because of how the French forward has started his career at Liverpool compared to the Swede.
Speaking on a broadcast, Burley explained that Slot’s decisions have become a problem for the team, and the Ekitike situation seems to be the most baffling to him.
Burley said: “Why is Ekitike on the bench when he’s been your best player and Alexander Isak plays? Now that may change at the weekend because Alexander Isak came off in the Champions League game with a groin injury. So that decision may have been made for him, but he’s got that wrong. He didn’t introduce Florian Wirtz in the Manchester Derby when that was where the space was. I think he got that wrong.
“So maybe Mo Salah isn’t playing well. This is all Liverpool’s problems. Once he’s back scoring goals, everything will be hunky dory. It’s not quite the case because the manager has struggled, I think, to put Liverpool’s best team on the pitch to get the results.
“Now, he thinks he’s putting the best team on. Clearly, every manager does, but I don’t think he has. And if I was Hugo Ekitike, having started the way I have for Liverpool at a new club from the Community Shield onwards, I would be peeved.
“What did Alexander Isak cost? £100 million £150 million? I don’t care, he was the guy with the jersey, he was the guy scoring goals, he was the guy who was the biggest threat, and then two of their biggest games, Chelsea away and Manchester United at home, he left him out, so it’s not just Mo Salah. I think here it’s the problem with the manager.”
Hugo Ekitike’s start against Brentford is exactly what Liverpool need
As Burley explained, the decision between Ekitike and Isak is much easier for this game, considering the injury to the Swedish striker.
It is exactly what the Reds will need in this match, given that they have struggled with going behind early in the past five games.
The Frenchman provides an opportunity to either grab a quick equaliser or score early.
He will be a nightmare for the Bees defenders in this game and will hopefully end the poor run in the league of three games lost consecutively.
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