Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been told how he could use Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the same starting line-up
Alexander Isak during a Liverpool match
Alexander Isak is struggling at Liverpool(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
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Ally McCoist and Frank Leboeuf have told Liverpool head coach Arne Slot how Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak can succeed in the same team. The Reds signed both strikers during the summer transfer window as part of a £400 million spending spree.
Liverpool agreed to sign Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal worth up to £79m. Isak then moved to Anfield on transfer deadline day in a club and British transfer record fee worth £125million.
Ekitike has scored six goals for Liverpool since his move, while Isak has found the back of the net just once after arriving from Newcastle United.
One question posed to Slot since the summer transfer window closed has been about whether or not Liverpool can have both Ekitike and Isak in the same starting line-up.
McCoist has explained why it's possible for Slot to include both strikers in the same team, including where Ekitike would play if that were to happen.
“One dilemma that Arne Slot has got, is if they [Isak and Ekitike] could play together? Of course they could play together," McCoist told talkSPORT Bet.
"Could they play together in a 4-4-2? I don't think they will because I don't think that's the favoured formation. Could they do it? Of course they could do it because they're good players.
“A 4-3-3? I don't have any doubt Hugo Ekitike would be the one coming off one of the sides."
Leboeuf was also asked the same question, and explained which striker Slot should choose to start if the Liverpool boss was to only pick one.
“It’s going to be tricky because right now the only one who should play is Hugo Ekitike," Leboeuf said in an interview with OLBG. "Hugo should play every game because Alexander Isak didn't train for a while, was fighting against Newcastle in order to come to Liverpool, but right now Isak is not the Isak we have known from years playing for Newcastle.
“But he put a lot of pressure on Hugo. Hugo started very well, scoring every game in the team which is a shadow of itself.
“But right now, Hugo is doing great and Arne Slot should only play him. And it doesn't matter if the other guy costs 130 or 150 million. If he's not ready enough, you should play Hugo.
“There is a possibility for Hugo also to play on the left side. It's also possible for Isak to do so. He has the choice of a king as we say in France, Arne Slot."
McCoist and Leboeuf were also asked about Mohamed Salah's form at Liverpool this season. The Egyptian has scored just five times across all competitions this term, something which has concerned both pundits.
"Another big problem I've got is that Mohamed Salah is still not firing," said McCoist.
“I don't care what anybody says, he's not firing. If there's anybody that we should give a bit of slack to, it is without doubt Mo Salah because he's been absolutely unbelievable. But you cannot deny that there has been a little bit of a loss in form.
“So the whole forward line is, I think, struggling a little bit as well."
Leboeuf went on to say: “We have to talk about Mohamed Salah as well, he is not the Salah we have seen. So you have Salah, Cody Gakpo, Ekitike and Isak."
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