Arne Slot spoke about making the most of his attacking options.
After bagging a brace against Leeds United in a 3-3 draw last weekend, Hugo Ekitike earned another chance to start as a striker for Liverpool, playing in a front two with Alexander Isak for the second time in continental competition. The pair played together at Eintracht Frankfurt back in October in a 5-1 win, and they helped the team earn three more points in the Champions League at San Siro.
“I think what we all saw – and which is completely normal – the more they will play together, the more they will adapt to each other and the better they will co-operate
“The other two that were on the pitch, the two No.9s – Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez – were more used to playing with each other. But I also saw promising things from the both of them.
“It's been the second time they've played together for obvious reasons, because match fitness is the obvious reason for that. And I think we will see more of this in the future of them playing together.
“Alex also got a knock in the first half, so let's see how he has recovered from that– if he's able to start and, if he's able, I make the decision to start them again together or we do it in a different way.
“I don't think height always tells you if a player is perfectly equipped for that style. Sometimes players are really tall but they struggle to win their duels, and sometimes they are less tall but they are really strong when you play the long ball towards them.
*“I think both Alex and Hugo at this moment of time, you can better use them with balls in behind than long balls into their body. Where I can see especially Hugo trying to improve, so if I compare him with was it two months ago when we played Brentford? Where he probably got the first taste of what it means to have a game where you really have to fight for your position.*
“That wasn't a game that was played a lot over the floor. But I see him trying, trying, trying to do this better and better and better. But in that part of his game, there's still room for improvement – as there is for so many parts of our game in general.”