Steven Gerrard has backed Alexander Isak to become a 'very important' player for Liverpool, with the striker potentially set to be given a free run in the starting lineup
Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike was forced off against PSV with a back complaint
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Steven Gerrard has backed Alexander Isak to become a 'very important' player for Liverpool. The 26-year-old striker, whom the Reds signed from Newcastle United for £125m in the summer, has struggled to establish himself as a key player in Arne Slot's side.
Isak has appeared 10 times across all competitions this season, with his solitary strike coming against Southampton in the third round of the Carabao Cup two months ago. The Sweden international hasn't scored since, but Gerrard has tipped him to end his barren run in the coming weeks.
Speaking on TNT Sports following a humiliating defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League, the Liverpool legend claimed that Isak looks 'rusty.' Gerrard said: "We have to get Isak up to speed, he's going to be a very important player this season.
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"They need to get minutes into him. Nottingham Forest, there was no space for Isak; he was thriving on no service, so I felt sorry for him. He worked his socks off. You can see clearly that he needs game time; he looks rusty compared to his Newcastle form."
Hugo Ekitike, who Liverpool also signed in the summer, was forced to come off during the defeat to PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on Wednesday night. The 23-year-old striker appeared to have picked up an injury, and he was substituted by Isak on the hour mark.
The extent of Ekitike's injury is yet to be determined, with further tests and examinations on the horizon. In his potential absence, Isak could have a clear path to the starting lineup - something Gerrard believes he needs to regain his form.
Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike came off during Liverpool's defeat to PSV
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"If you have an injury or miss a period, you can't switch it on like a light," Gerrard added. "He's going to be doing extra work. He needs game time, minutes. Isak will produce for this club in the medium and long term; we have to be patient.
"There will be a moment, game, time, where he'll feel better, score a worldie, solo goal – something will click and fall into place, he'll arrive to Liverpool, I'm very confident."
Sadly for the Reds and Isak, that wasn't the case on Wednesday as the Swede was largely invisible when he came on after half-time as Liverpool were defeated by PSV. Gerrard also hinted that Liverpool may need to bring in a few more players in the January transfer window to help the most expensive signing in British history settle in.
The Reds, who splashed out nearly half a billion pounds in the summer, were also told by the club legend that Marc Guehi would 'walk' into Slot's team and would have been a 'great' signing.
He continued: "It might take tweaking in January to get more balance in the squad, but they need to be manned an extra 10 or 15 per cent to get the consistency.
"There's been three international breaks, it breaks up the rhythm, he's had a niggle as well so he needs a little bit more time."
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