Alexander Isak has been thrust into the spotlight at Liverpool following Hugo Ekitike’s injury.
Ekitke could be out for six months, meaning a return is not expected until October 2026.
In turn, the onus will be on the Swede to provide the majority of Liverpool’s goals early next season, which is perhaps not the worst thing in the world given how good Isak normally is in the bigger games.
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Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring for Liverpool during their Premier League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford (Credit: Getty Images/Michael Regan).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Michael Regan
Alexander Isak turns up against the big teams
Former Red Jermaine Pennant highlighted how effective the striker generally is against the top sides when speaking to talkSPORT this week.
He said: “Isak is a quality striker, when he is firing, when he is fit, when he is up to the speed. He is a great striker, we’ve seen it, he’s shown us against the top teams. He’s not one of those players who goes missing against the bigger teams. He steps up and performs and scores goals.
“He just had a tough start to the season with no pre-season, which I’m telling you now, it does affect players. It does affect us all. Then, trying to get a pre-season while the season has started is not ideal in itself.
“Then the injury, it’s just really been bad luck after bad luck.”
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Pennant is correct in his assessment, as is clear when looking at who the former Newcastle man has scored the most goals against in his career.
Hugo Ekitike has struggled against Premier League big six
To date, Isak has scored his most goals against Tottenham, netting seven in just six matches.
Elsewhere in his top five, the 26-year-old has found the back of the net four times in seven matches against Chelsea and, prior to his transfer, he had scored four in six when playing against Liverpool.
Ekitike, on the other hand, has not been the most prolific against the top clubs since his move to the Premier League.
The Frenchman has scored once against Tottenham, netting alongside Isak during the 2-1 win back in December.
But in every other meeting against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, he has blanked.
That is not to say Ekitike is a bad striker. Instead, Liverpool fans should be excited, as once both players are fit at the same time later this year, Slot will have two very capable number nines he is able to rely on, no matter the opponents.
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