‘That’s what we inherited’ – Slot identifies reason for Isak’s slow start at Liverpool
Video credit: SNTV
Joe Cole has backed Hugo Ekitike, who hopes to outdo Alexander Isak over the next two seasons at Liverpool, while Owen Hargreaves likened the young French striker to a young Thierry Henry.
This heavy spending has left Liverpool head coach Arne Slott struggling to decide how to fit the big-money striker into his system, while continuing to use last season’s top scorer Mohamed Salah and another new signing, Florian Wirths.
Isak, who is finally fit for the game after an injury-plagued start at Anfield, is still looking for his first Premier League goal, but opened his account in last month’s League Cup game against Southampton.
Cole and Hargreaves appeared on TNT Sports’ The Breakdown: Strikers Special with Joe Hart and Ally McCoist, and the conversation turned to Liverpool’s new front line.
Ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with great rivals Manchester United on Sunday, Cole was asked whether he would remain at the club in two years’ time given Isaac and Ekitike’s shared ambition to start up front.
“I think Ekitike will outperform him (Isak) over the next two years,” Cole said.
“Isaak has missed football games, has had some injuries and is not fit enough to play every week.
“If you’re injured and you’re Newcastle’s number nine, it might take you until the second game back to get back into shape and then you’ll score.
“But when you go to a big club and come out of the team… Ekitike comes in and starts scoring goals. Then the manager thinks, ‘There’s no need to take him out, we’re winning games and scoring goals.’
“I think Isak is playing within himself. He will score goals for Liverpool, but I think other players could get better deals.”
Hargreaves similarly praised Ekitike, saying: “He reminds me a bit of a young Thierry. Technically he’s very good. He’s sharp, he’s quick. He’s 6ft 3in tall.”
Alexander Isaac 2024/25 season Hugo Ekitike 34 appearances 3323 goals 156 assists 846 shots on target 4842 chances created 4411 big chances created 1242 successful dribbles 52
Last season, the two sides fought a close battle despite being in different leagues, but Ekitike’s excellent performances attracted attention from early on at Anfield.
Their arrival coincided with a decline in Salah’s form. The Egyptian has scored just two goals in Liverpool’s opening seven league games.
“It’s interesting,” Hargreaves said. “They had Mo and he probably had one of the best seasons I’ve ever seen in terms of goals and assists.
“And now Mo’s numbers are down because he is playing with two different strikers instead of Luis Diaz and is adapting to them.”
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