Arne Slot is grateful that Hugo Ekitike‘s long-term injury came when Alexander Isak is returning to fitness, but two other strikers will also be required.
Ekitike will miss the rest of the season, the World Cup and likely the majority of next season as he prepares for surgery on a ruptured Achilles.
That leaves Liverpool without their leading goalscorer and increases the burden on a fit-again Isak, who made his first start in four months on Tuesday but was restricted to 45 minutes.
Speaking ahead of the Merseyside derby, Slot explained that Isak is “not ready for 90 yet” and named Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa as other options.
“Very important, although there are also other players that can fill in that position,” he said when asked how important it is to use this time to get Isak back up to speed.
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“Those players have played in different positions throughout their lives more and more, but Cody did really well when he came in the second half [against PSG].
“Of course it’s important, but it would be even nicer if Hugo was still fit.
“Alex is not ready for 90 yet, depending on the intensity of the game by the way, because you never know how a game is going to work out.
“He’s getting closer and closer and now we need him, but there are different options to play as a No. 9 as well.
“Federico Chiesa is also one of them. There are different options, but it’s definitely good to have Alex back now Hugo is injured.”
LEEDS, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 6, 2025: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo during the FA Premier League match between Leeds United FC and Liverpool FC at Elland Road. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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The expectation is that Gakpo will start up front against Everton, with Slot insisting he is now used to finding solutions to problem positions due to injuries.
“Someone said to me the day after, you cannot write the script that on the day that Alex is back after four months of injury, his first start, on the same day the other one leaves the pitch with a long-term injury,” he continued.
“But it’s a good thing that Alex is back now even more.
“Although it wouldn’t be the first game that I would have to play without a particular type in a particular position.
“I’ve had many games this season that I didn’t have a right-back available for example.
“So we would have adjusted to that as well, but it’s nice to have Alex back – although we also know that he’s not ready to play 90 yet.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 7, 2026: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté (L) and Alexander Isak during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With Ekitike likely to miss much of next season and Isak not yet proven to be able to hold his fitness since joining from Newcastle for an eye-watering £125 million, there have been calls to sign another striker this summer.
In response, Slot appeared to laugh off accusations from recent weeks that Liverpool had overcompensated with two centre-forward signings in their breaking-record window last year while neglecting other areas.
“First of all it’s at least a good thing we signed two No. 9s. There were a lot of people who were debating why we signed two No. 9s,” he said.
“We thought maybe it’s a smart idea to not be the only club in the world that only has one No. 9, so that’s why we signed two.
“Now all of a sudden that looks maybe quite good and maybe people are questioning now if we thought sign another No. 9 in the summer!”