Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Arne Slot has a huge decision to make for Liverpool in the forward line with one ex-player explaining why Alexander Isak has yet to impress.
Liverpool don’t need to throw money at the current problem that is their form and their league position, although it would be a surprise if the spend for the season doesn’t go up again in January.
Arne Slot’s biggest problem for Liverpool
The defence and midfield that started against Inter isn’t far away from being Liverpool’s most solid, which is what they need in the current climate. Conor Bradley looked bright off the bench in the San Siro and he might have done enough to earn a start, although Joe Gomez did little wrong defensively. On the other flank, Andy Robertson backed up his outstanding display against Real Madrid with another assured performance against a European heavyweight, Milos Kerkez simply hasn’t hit the same heights yet.
Alexis Mac Allister has come in for criticism from some quarters for his efforts in Italy, and yet he ran further than any other midfielder, barely lost a duel and only missed a handful of passes. The Argentina international wsn’t effective in the final third, however, that wasn’t the role that Arne Slot had given him.It is in the forward line where Slot has more problems to solve. With no Cody Gakpo, Liverpool have no natural width, even if the Netherlands international seems to cut inside every time that he has possession.
Florian Wirtz did more than win the controversial penalty in the Champions League, he also added more pace and creativity in the final third. Hugo Ekitike was a constant menace, however, his strike partner Alexander Isak was miles off the pace, had an expected goals of 0.01, via Fot Mob, and struggled to make any sort of an impact. The attempts to partner Ekitike and Isak continue to look clumsy and Slot either has to stick and persevere knowing that Mohamed Salah will be away for a few weeks, or play the one who is in form.
Why Isak hasn’t impressed for Liverpool
According to Stephen Warnock, speaking on BBC Five Live, there is a reason why Isak has yet to find form after his record breaking Anfield move: “Are they both, I wouldn't have thought, when they first came in, you wouldn't have thought they did do the same job. But now they're in at Liverpool, it looks like they're trying to,” Warnock said of playing Isak and Ekitike together. Yeah, I think they can play together. I just don't think Alexander Isak is anywhere near fit enough. And probably halfway through the first half, he made a couple of runs in behind.
“And he was gasping for air. And I'm thinking, you can't play anywhere near 90 minutes. I mean, he struggles to get through a half of football without looking gassed. And I know you can have moments where you can do six or seven sprints on the bounce, but that's what a pre-season's for. He hasn't had a pre-season, he's not been tested in pre-season. And what I mean by that is, people will look at a pre-season and go, he's done all his running.”
Isak wasn’t injured during the summer so there is no excuse for him not being fit enough halfway through the season, yes, he has picked up a couple of minor injuries, but he looks a shadow of the player who starred at St James’ Park and Slot must make the call that everyone can see.
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