Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak have not yet started their Premier League matches at Liverpool. Alan Shearer says the former is not currently repeated for the Reds
Alan Shearer believes Arne Slot can’t afford to drop Hugo Ekitike right now. It’s still awaiting the start of his Maiden Premier League, despite Liverpool boasting another world-class striker for Alexander Isaac.
Both forwards joined the Reds at a hefty fee during the summer transfer period, but have not shared the pitch at the same time. Isaac was thrown straight to XI to face Atletico Madrid mid-week before Ekitique returned to the starting lineup and scored for Ekitique to a 2-1 victory at Everton on Saturday.
While questions remain about the tactical blueprints of slots and how often the pair appears together, Shearer claims that Ekitique has won his place in Starting XI.
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“Isn’t that a bad option?” Shearer said on NBC Sports. “That’s because if I were ekitike, there’s no way I think I deserve to rule out this side with the form I’m in, the goal I’m scoring.
“He can’t rule him out. He has to play him, so Isaac has to be patient. He’s not yet a 100% fit, he’s working on it.
“If things are going well, if they don’t, then at least he’s trying to chuck the player and try it out. If you’re going to call them a problem, have a good problem.”
Federico Chiesa was unable to secure a spot on the bench for alternatives as Liverpool played Everton over the weekend. The promising young man, Rio Nugumoja, nodded before the Italians, but he was an unused replacement.
Ekitike delivered another command display and was successfully set up by Ryan Gravenberch’s PinPoint Pass before being clinically finished. However, Shearer was not very impressed with Liverpool’s left-back Milos Kerquez.
Despite his solid performance against Everton, the Newcastle legend was not impressed.
“At that moment, I didn’t see the same player at Kerquez, as I saw with Bournemouth,” he said. “He was flowing freely. He had a license to go, walk, and move forward.
“Here it seems he’s caught up in two minds, whether he’ll stay or not, whether he helps him defend it with Virgil van Deek and Ibrahima Conate.”
Liverpool is next set to face Southampton in the League Cup, and slots are expected to make major changes to his first XI. Isaac has been able to see more game time as he continues to regain match fitness.
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