Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United on Sunday and Jamie Carragher has been left unimpressed by the impact of Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak is replaced by Hugo Ekitike for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid
Liverpol's Alexander Isak is replaced by Hugo Ekitike
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Jamie Carragher has reiterated his stance that he "wasn't big on Alexander Isak coming in" as it has relegated Hugo Ekitike - their "best signing" - to the substitutes' bench.
Liverpool recorded a fourth consecutive defeat on Sunday as Manchester United secured a remarkable 2-1 win at Anfield. The result has intensified the 'crisis' on Merseyside with the reigning champions in chaos despite investing over £400million during the summer transfer window.
The largest portion, a British-record fee, was spent securing Isak from Newcastle for £130m. He joined a title-winning squad that had already acquired Ekitike from Frankfurt.
The Frenchman commanded £79m and made a spectacular start by finding the net in his opening three appearances for the Reds.
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Nevertheless, Isak's arrival has ultimately pushed him down the hierarchy and he has started the last two fixtures among the substitutes. Carragher maintains this arrangement doesn't benefit the side and continues to puzzle over how Arne Slot can devise a successful formula from his squad, reports the Mirror.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: "Every Liverpool supporter has been having sleepless nights trying to work out what system they should play and players they should use. Liverpool's business didn't feel Liverpool-like, it felt Real Madrid-like in terms of buying the most expensive players.
"Ekitike has been Liverpool's best signing, on the bench. And Wirtz, on the bench. When you spend that type of money, the people who spent it want to see them on the pitch. I was one of the few who wasn't big on Isak coming in. It is not good for Isak having Ekitike on the bench - he knows if he doesn't do something in the first 60 minutes then he could be off."
Ekitike tops the scoring charts, finding the net five times across all competitions. Meanwhile, Isak has managed just one goal, which came against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
His goalscoring record has come under fire, but Carragher believes both strikers must feature together.
"I think Slot has to find a way of getting both of them on the pitch," he said.
"I am trying to wrack my brain. At some stage he has to try and make that work. It was a Real Madrid summer - I think he now has to be a Madrid manager."
Carragher has previously drawn comparisons to how Carlo Ancelotti, during his stint at the Bernabeu, would accommodate new arrivals that didn't necessarily fit his tactical approach, before devising methods to include all his top talents on the field.
Slot experienced a summer of upheaval but kept hold of Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo whilst bringing in Ekitike, Isak and German playmaker Florian Wirtz, with expectations mounting on the manager to get them delivering in attack.