The international break will hopefully allow all of Liverpool’s attackers ample time to recover for the final stretch of the season, and a battle could ensue between Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
When both players arrived at Anfield last summer, the hierarchy seemed clearly defined. Isak was the marquee acquisition, thought to be the focal point of a new-look Reds attack.
However, a nasty injury has seen him sidelined for the vast majority of the campaign. In his absence, Hugo Ekitike was thrust into the spotlight. To his credit, the Frenchman initially seized the opportunity, showing flashes of brilliance and carrying the scoring burden during a crucial winter period.
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But as the season has progressed into its most high-stakes months, Ekitike’s clinical edge has begun to dull, and his influence on matches has faded.
Hugo Ekitike often goes missing in the biggest games, Alexander Isak doesn’t
The primary concern surrounding Ekitike isn’t a lack of talent, but rather a lack of impact when the level of opposition rises.
While he has been more than capable of padding his stats against the Premier League’s lower half, his big game record this season makes for grim reading. When the pressure is dialed up and the spaces in the final third disappear, Ekitike has a worrying tendency to drift to the periphery.
The numbers don’t lie. In Liverpool’s most pivotal fixtures this term, the Frenchman’s output has been nonexistent: 0 G/A vs Inter Milan, Manchester City, Chelsea Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.
In these contests, Ekitike often looked isolated, struggling to impose his physicality on world-class centre-backs or find the clever movement necessary to break down the best low blocks.
This is exactly why the door is wide open for Isak. While he hasn’t had the chance to show it in a Liverpool shirt, he earned a reputation for causing the best defences nightmares during his time at St James’ Park.
His old manager at Newcastle, Eddie Howe, often referred to the Swede as a ‘ruthless’ centre-forward (via Independent).
I would love to see both strikers start when they’re fully fit, but if Arne Slot is going to stick with one number nine, it will be a tight contest. Isak could be back for PSG, and while he will take time to get back up to speed, there’s every chance he reasserts himself as the first option to lead the line.
Alexander Isak is set to surpass Hugo Ekitike as Liverpool’s main man. Who’s ready? 🔥
For Liverpool to navigate their remaining fixtures successfully, they need consistent goals from their main attacker. If Ekitike can’t prove he can hurt the biggest teams, Isak’s return to the starting XI could be on the cards.
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